This seems to simple to me. I need others with basic circuit knowledge to verify my find. This is an amplifier question for a 1952 unit. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ON ME, PLEASE READ! It keeps cooking a extremely large resistor(1200ohms 10Watt) connected to it's tested good 5U4 tube. The 5U4 is center tapped to the output transformer. This same output transformer also is connected to two tested good 6L6 tubes through there prospective pin three. I removed the 6L6 tubes and checked for continuity through a pin three socket, through the output transformer, to the other 6L6 pin three socket. This should be, according to the schematic, a whole one side of the output transformer. I GET AN OPEN! THe center tap to the before mentioned 5U4 tube is also on this side of the same transformer. I check continuity from the center tap to the first 6L6 pin 3. NOTHING. The second 6L6 pin three to the center tap I get continuity. So it looks like one half of my output transformer is open, correct? Could this be the cause of my getting my large resistor off of my 5U4 tube smoking hot in a matter of seconds? Everything else is either new, all caps, or tested, tubes. I swear by my work. Someone, the before owner, has replaced this resistor before. It is the original transformer to this amp. THank you for your time. Am I correct??? I hope so, if I don't get this thing going soon my wife is going to through me out! I kid. Joe

Pin 3 of the 6L6 is the plate. You should check if you have voltage on both of them. If only one has voltage, then I would think you do have a bad output transformer.
All the B+ is going to only one tube, and that will overheat that resistor.

Why would you think having one tube out of the circuit would increase the current drain? This makes no sense.

:Pin 3 of the 6L6 is the plate. You should check if you have voltage on both of them. If only one has voltage, then I would think you do have a bad output transformer.
:All the B+ is going to only one tube, and that will overheat that resistor.

Tube is still in the socket without plate voltage.

What you are doing.

:Tube is still in the socket without plate voltage.

Often quite amusing.

:What you are doing.
:
::Tube is still in the socket without plate voltage.

The person posting the problem never said he left any tube out of its socket. I think what Warren was saying is that the tube on the open output winding could cause a load on the power supply. And Yes this can happen.
Get over yourself

Thanks to everyone who offered a solution. My only concern is why my output transformer is open. I can only guess it is from 50+ years of use. When I recapped the amp I did find two or three caps not connected and the original Electrolytic caps still being used. This amp is from 1952 and never been really touched except for the one smoked resistor. I hope this is the reason. Like I mentioned before this amp has just gotten COMPLETELY RECAPPED. I just hope I don't smoke the new transformer I get for some unseen reason. We will find out, I think I fixed it. Thank you everyone!!! Joe @ thirdbayradios.com

Hi Joe

With two 6L6's wired this way the circuit is push-pull. An aplifier will still operate with one half output the transformer open.

Unlikely this is causing your resistor to burn. Have electrolytic filter caps been replaced? You most likely have an electrolytic filter cap shorted.

With an ohm meter measure One side of your 1200 resistor to ground. Resistance will most likely be low. May have to disconnect wires to find out what is shorted.

If there are caps from pin #3 of the 6L6s to ground check them for a short. This can cause the resistor to burn and also destroy an output transformer.

Norm

:This seems to simple to me. I need others with basic circuit knowledge to verify my find. This is an amplifier question for a 1952 unit. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ON ME, PLEASE READ! It keeps cooking a extremely large resistor(1200ohms 10Watt) connected to it's tested good 5U4 tube. The 5U4 is center tapped to the output transformer. This same output transformer also is connected to two tested good 6L6 tubes through there prospective pin three. I removed the 6L6 tubes and checked for continuity through a pin three socket, through the output transformer, to the other 6L6 pin three socket. This should be, according to the schematic, a whole one side of the output transformer. I GET AN OPEN! THe center tap to the before mentioned 5U4 tube is also on this side of the same transformer. I check continuity from the center tap to the first 6L6 pin 3. NOTHING. The second 6L6 pin three to the center tap I get continuity. So it looks like one half of my output transformer is open, correct? Could this be the cause of my getting my large resistor off of my 5U4 tube smoking hot in a matter of seconds? Everything else is either new, all caps, or tested, tubes. I swear by my work. Someone, the before owner, has replaced this resistor before. It is the original transformer to this amp. THank you for your time. Am I correct??? I hope so, if I don't get this thing going soon my wife is going to through me out! I kid. Joe

Sounds like your output transformer needs replacing - but do check both the power and output transformers for internal shorts that can shunt B+ where it shouldn't be... I've seen that condition get a porcelain resistor so hot it melted the porcelain coating!!!

And the one before. They do know what they are doing.

:Sounds like your output transformer needs replacing - but do check both the power and output transformers for internal shorts that can shunt B+ where it shouldn't be... I've seen that condition get a porcelain resistor so hot it melted the porcelain coating!!!