Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!

Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

Bert,
I copied an article from the Philco Forum, but can't locate it at hand. Try using vibrators in the subject line on Google and the Forum, then maybe you'll be successful. It helped me a great deal and has waveforms (good/bad points) etc. Even buying a NOS vibrator, seller usually suggests opening it and cleaning the points. If you got the old one and the coil is still OK, thats cheaper than buying/restoring a NOS unit.

marv

:Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
:
:Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

:Bert,
:I copied an article from the Philco Forum, but can't locate it at hand. Try using vibrators in the subject line on Google and the Forum, then maybe you'll be successful. It helped me a great deal and has waveforms (good/bad points) etc. Even buying a NOS vibrator, seller usually suggests opening it and cleaning the points. If you got the old one and the coil is still OK, thats cheaper than buying/restoring a NOS unit.
:
:marv
:
::Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
::
::Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

Marv: Thx. for the pointers, I do appreciate your input. I will continue searching.

Regards,

Bert

Also used my Dremel and cut-off wheel to cut a series of slits around the perimeter on the can bottom. This allows each segment to be lifted to gain access to the interior. Usually pretty well sealed with rubber foam of yesteryear.

marv

:Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
:
:Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

:Also used my Dremel and cut-off wheel to cut a series of slits around the perimeter on the can bottom. This allows each segment to be lifted to gain access to the interior. Usually pretty well sealed with rubber foam of yesteryear.
:
:marv
:
::Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
::
::Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

:Also used my Dremel and cut-off wheel to cut a series of slits around the perimeter on the can bottom. This allows each segment to be lifted to gain access to the interior. Usually pretty well sealed with rubber foam of yesteryear.
:
:marv
:
::Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
::
::Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca

Greetings. I recall old timers conn. a 40 w. lamp bulb in series with the armature in vibrator and conn. to 120V and run it until lamp became brighter with steady illum. It supposedly cleaned any film from contacts. I have used it also. Worked for me.
Harold

Hi All,
I tried to find the web site, but was also unable to.
This is what I did back in 2003 when I restored an Airline miracle Farm radio, model 62-282. Being a farm radio, it had a vibrator like autos.
I used a socket in a bench vise to hold the vibrator. I opened the vibrator, and cleaned and adjusted the points inside as best I could.
I then reassembled the vibrator and plugged it in. Using a 6 volt battery, I got the vibrator running. Using a battery provides isolation for the coil supply which is needed for the cleaning process.
I then connected 110 AC thorugh a light bulb to each set of contacts (points) successively. I had forgotten the wattage, but Harold's recommendation of 40 watts sounds right.
When the bulb lights consistantly I moved on to the next set of points, even the points that switch the 6 volts. I even recommend doing them first, but don't run the AC thorugh the battery of course.
If the bulb doesn't light at all, you need to clean and adjust the point a little more.
After I was done, I re-capped the radio and it played very well. After aobut two months, though sensitivity dropped off considerable. I tried troubleshooting it a few years ago and found that sensitivity is good when it is out of the case. In the case it still performs poorly.
Not a power supply issue, so I think the vibrator repair worked well.

One note on NOS vibrators: Unlike tubes these deteriorate in the box. NOS vibrators usually need this treatment before use.

The buffer capacitor in my radio had dripped out much of its wax. The required voltage rating is no joke, either. Replace it with a modern one with similar rating. The capacitor has to cope with significant peak currents with each switch of the vibrator.

Best Regards,

Bill Grimm

Bert,
Here's the site I mentioned in my 12-04 post
http://antiqueradios.com/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=vibratorsupplyservicing

marv

:Greetings all- Further to my post yesterday regarding auto radio vibrators:(Pos. or Neg.) I would really appreciate someone E-mailing me the procedure that was mentioned,i.e. describing the method of cleaning the points using household current, 120v. Many Thanks!
:
:Bert E-mail: bert@inetlink.ca