I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Hi Vinny

50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?

It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.

Norm

:I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
:Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

I tried bending pins a little but same happens. Is there anything else, liquid metal, sleeve for socket, or any thing else. Can I run a wire from the chassis as a harness to hold tube in place? or any other idea you may have?
:Hi Vinny
:
: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
:
: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
:
:Norm
:
:
:
::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Vinny, here's what I would try now. It works. Scuff up the pins on the 50B5, scrape, wire brush, etc. Then apply some soder to the pins. Think of doing it as if making candles, get all pins somewhat thin coated. Insert tube see what happens. That socket is a decent one, bending the socket contacts should have done it. From what you describe, the tilt tube...you aren't causing a pin to go down the side rather than thru the center?
Bill

:I tried bending pins a little but same happens. Is there anything else, liquid metal, sleeve for socket, or any thing else. Can I run a wire from the chassis as a harness to hold tube in place? or any other idea you may have?
::Hi Vinny
::
:: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
::
:: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
::
::Norm
::
::
::
:::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
:::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Why not just replace the tube socket and be done with it.

Radiodoc
******************

:Vinny, here's what I would try now. It works. Scuff up the pins on the 50B5, scrape, wire brush, etc. Then apply some soder to the pins. Think of doing it as if making candles, get all pins somewhat thin coated. Insert tube see what happens. That socket is a decent one, bending the socket contacts should have done it. From what you describe, the tilt tube...you aren't causing a pin to go down the side rather than thru the center?
:Bill
:
::I tried bending pins a little but same happens. Is there anything else, liquid metal, sleeve for socket, or any thing else. Can I run a wire from the chassis as a harness to hold tube in place? or any other idea you may have?
:::Hi Vinny
:::
::: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
:::
::: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
:::
::::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
::::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Great advice, but I'm not at that stage yet, I am however going to practice on a parts chassis.
Thank you for answering
Vinny

:Why not just replace the tube socket and be done with it.
:
:Radiodoc
:******************
:
:
::Vinny, here's what I would try now. It works. Scuff up the pins on the 50B5, scrape, wire brush, etc. Then apply some soder to the pins. Think of doing it as if making candles, get all pins somewhat thin coated. Insert tube see what happens. That socket is a decent one, bending the socket contacts should have done it. From what you describe, the tilt tube...you aren't causing a pin to go down the side rather than thru the center?
::Bill
::
:::I tried bending pins a little but same happens. Is there anything else, liquid metal, sleeve for socket, or any thing else. Can I run a wire from the chassis as a harness to hold tube in place? or any other idea you may have?
::::Hi Vinny
::::
:::: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
::::
:::: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
::::
::::Norm
::::
::::
::::
:::::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
:::::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Bill, does hating up the tube for the solder pins damage the tube, or should I use something I saw in radio shack called liquid solder?
Thank you for answering.
Vinny

:Vinny, here's what I would try now. It works. Scuff up the pins on the 50B5, scrape, wire brush, etc. Then apply some soder to the pins. Think of doing it as if making candles, get all pins somewhat thin coated. Insert tube see what happens. That socket is a decent one, bending the socket contacts should have done it. From what you describe, the tilt tube...you aren't causing a pin to go down the side rather than thru the center?
:Bill
:
::I tried bending pins a little but same happens. Is there anything else, liquid metal, sleeve for socket, or any thing else. Can I run a wire from the chassis as a harness to hold tube in place? or any other idea you may have?
:::Hi Vinny
:::
::: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
:::
::: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
:::
::::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
::::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.

Norm: that was great advice, I wound up using a hypodermic needle (very thin gauge) to get between the wall of the socket and the contact and bend them inwardly. I also bent the pins and it worked.
Thank you
Vinny

:Hi Vinny
:
: 50B5 is a standard 7 pin tube. No other tube that will fit tighter. You could slightly bend pins on the 50B5? Can you bend socket contacts?
:
: It may be loose for several reasons. Tube is taller than most other 7 pin miniature so would tend to have more socket movement. Tube fails more than others so inserted in the socket often. Tube operates very hot which may have effected tension of socket pins.
:
:Norm
:
:
:
::I hope tis is the last question on this radio which is wearing me down.
::Tube 50B5 always sits loose in this socket, I have tried a couple of different tubes and still the same result. It seems this socket was built for a different tube. It moves so easily and you have to go in and bend the tube till it starts. Is there a "sleeve" for this socket to tighten this tube or is there a different tube substitute with maybe thicker or longer prongs that makes it sit tighter and more secure???? I would hate to take out the socket if that's the problem. Or is there a certain solvent that is available. I have sprayed the socket already with deoxit... Thank you for any assistance in this issue.