Hello:

Restoring a 42-380X and thus far replaced all the capacitors except one in a really difficult place to reach. Radio works ok but reception on the three tunable bands is weak at best. I have a 20' single wire antenna on it while it's on the test bench. The AM band is weak with with few stations coming in, the middle band is the weakest and requires you turn the volume way up to hear anything, and the other SW band receives some stations the stations, although, are garbled when tuned in making it near impossible to understand what is being said on the station. I think it needs to be tuned but I don't know how to tune it Your thoughts on what the problem is?

Second, ther are a series of what appears to be trimmer screws on the side of the top surface of the chassis, which seems to be for tuning purposes. Does anyone know where I can get the operation manual for this, perhaps on line and for free? Thank you for your help

God bless,

Dave: The trimmers are for alignment. Riders has instructions for alignment and identifies the trimmers (compensators): http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/533/M0013533.pdf
Doug

:Hello:
:
:Restoring a 42-380X and thus far replaced all the capacitors except one in a really difficult place to reach. Radio works ok but reception on the three tunable bands is weak at best. I have a 20' single wire antenna on it while it's on the test bench. The AM band is weak with with few stations coming in, the middle band is the weakest and requires you turn the volume way up to hear anything, and the other SW band receives some stations the stations, although, are garbled when tuned in making it near impossible to understand what is being said on the station. I think it needs to be tuned but I don't know how to tune it Your thoughts on what the problem is?
:
:Second, ther are a series of what appears to be trimmer screws on the side of the top surface of the chassis, which seems to be for tuning purposes. Does anyone know where I can get the operation manual for this, perhaps on line and for free? Thank you for your help
:
:God bless,
:
:

Doug

Please forgive my poor choice of words, "controls" I know how they work and what they do in that I have been restoring this radio for about a month. The components I am referring to are the presets in the back and the trimmers on the top right side of the chassis.

The presets on the back, I have trimmed them and they improved their station response somewhat but not all together. But above the preset screws there are other screws, smaller in size and brass in color, what are they for and how does one reset the presets?

The trimmers on the top right side as you indicated are trimmers or compensator's. I have never tuned a radio before but have a signal generator in good operating condition. I don't know how to use the generator, I've read the manual but still do not understand it's operation and where you attach the leads to interject he signal.

Finally, the tubes generally are good with the exception of the two 41 tubes which tested out as poor or 30% and 40% respectively. Could the issue be these two tubes? Ron I did not realize the importance of it's antenna, which I have, I thought the 20' one wold be superior, I will hook it up and try again.

The one thing I would really like to accomplish is tuning it, if someone is willing to allow me to call them I'll call them and invest the time where perhaps you can talk me through the process, I have a military SG 85C/URM-25D signal generator. Thanks again, I appreciate all your help

:Doug
:
:Please forgive my poor choice of words, "controls" I know how they work and what they do in that I have been restoring this radio for about a month. The components I am referring to are the presets in the back and the trimmers on the top right side of the chassis.
:
:The presets on the back, I have trimmed them and they improved their station response somewhat but not all together. But above the preset screws there are other screws, smaller in size and brass in color, what are they for and how does one reset the presets?
:
:The trimmers on the top right side as you indicated are trimmers or compensator's. I have never tuned a radio before but have a signal generator in good operating condition. I don't know how to use the generator, I've read the manual but still do not understand it's operation and where you attach the leads to interject he signal.
:
:Finally, the tubes generally are good with the exception of the two 41 tubes which tested out as poor or 30% and 40% respectively. Could the issue be these two tubes? Ron I did not realize the importance of it's antenna, which I have, I thought the 20' one wold be superior, I will hook it up and try again.
:
:The one thing I would really like to accomplish is tuning it, if someone is willing to allow me to call them I'll call them and invest the time where perhaps you can talk me through the process, I have a military SG 85C/URM-25D signal generator. Thanks again, I appreciate all your help
:
:
:
You can get the service bulletin at the following:

http://www.audiophool.cjb.net/Misc/philco_42-380.djvu

You will need the djvu software to open, so if you do not have it download it from www.audiophool.cjb.net, I think it is under the LizardTech section

Good ludk, Doug

Dave,
That group of trimmers in a line is to set the station of each push button. They do not move the mechanical tuning mechanism like some others, but electronically tune. The dial will never move. Just finished a 42-350 with the same arrangement. There is 1 trimmer for the RF and 1 trimmer for the osc for each button. My docs (Riders) provided a range of frequencies that each button could be set. Using that info I switched between broadcast and push buttons with the mode switch. Tuning to a selected station, then switch to buttons mode and set the osc first to broadcast station freq/audio program, then peak the RF trimmer. Do this only after radio has warmed up in the case. Mine drifted severly after warm-up, and took several repeats to get it stabilized.

marv

:Hello:
:
:Restoring a 42-380X and thus far replaced all the capacitors except one in a really difficult place to reach. Radio works ok but reception on the three tunable bands is weak at best. I have a 20' single wire antenna on it while it's on the test bench. The AM band is weak with with few stations coming in, the middle band is the weakest and requires you turn the volume way up to hear anything, and the other SW band receives some stations the stations, although, are garbled when tuned in making it near impossible to understand what is being said on the station. I think it needs to be tuned but I don't know how to tune it Your thoughts on what the problem is?
:
:Second, ther are a series of what appears to be trimmer screws on the side of the top surface of the chassis, which seems to be for tuning purposes. Does anyone know where I can get the operation manual for this, perhaps on line and for free? Thank you for your help
:
:God bless,
:
:

Gentlemen:

Please forgive my poor choice of words, "controls" I know how they work and what they do in that I have been restoring this radio for about a month. The components I am referring to are the presets in the back and the trimmers on the top right side of the chassis.

The presets on the back, I have trimmed them and they improved their station response somewhat but not all together. But above the preset screws there are other screws, smaller in size and brass in color, what are they for and how does one reset the presets?

The trimmers on the top right side as you indicated are trimmers or compensator's. I have never tuned a radio before but have a signal generator in good operating condition. I don't know how to use the generator, I've read the manual but still do not understand it's operation and where you attach the leads to interject he signal.

Finally, the tubes generally are good with the exception of the two 41 tubes which tested out as poor or 30% and 40% respectively. Could the issue be these two tubes? Ron I did not realize the importance of it's antenna, which I have, I thought the 20' one wold be superior, I will hook it up and try again.

The one thing I would really like to accomplish is tuning it, if someone is willing to allow me to call them I'll call them and invest the time where perhaps you can talk me through the process, I have a military SG 85C/URM-25D signal generator. Thanks again, I appreciate all your helpJoh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born againDavid B

Posts: 43
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Location: Plymouth, MA
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When tuning the radio do you always have to use a signal generator or can you do so by tuning to it's best reception? Further, do you have to use plastic screw drivers when tuning to eliminate body capacitance? Thanks for the info.

Dave B.

Gentlemen:
:
:Please forgive my poor choice of words, "controls" I know how they work and what they do in that I have been restoring this radio for about a month. The components I am referring to are the presets in the back and the trimmers on the top right side of the chassis.
:
:The presets on the back, I have trimmed them and they improved their station response somewhat but not all together. But above the preset screws there are other screws, smaller in size and brass in color, what are they for and how does one reset the presets?
:
:The trimmers on the top right side as you indicated are trimmers or compensator's. I have never tuned a radio before but have a signal generator in good operating condition. I don't know how to use the generator, I've read the manual but still do not understand it's operation and where you attach the leads to interject he signal.
:
:Finally, the tubes generally are good with the exception of the two 41 tubes which tested out as poor or 30% and 40% respectively. Could the issue be these two tubes? Ron I did not realize the importance of it's antenna, which I have, I thought the 20' one wold be superior, I will hook it up and try again.
:
:The one thing I would really like to accomplish is tuning it, if someone is willing to allow me to call them I'll call them and invest the time where perhaps you can talk me through the process, I have a military SG 85C/URM-25D signal generator. Thanks again, I appreciate all your helpJoh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born againDavid B
:
:Posts: 43
:Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:35 pm
:Location: Plymouth, MA
:Private messageE-mail