I recieved a Zenith B600 Trans-oceanic radio from my grandfather. About 9 years ago it still worked. I just got back into old radios and dug it out, it turned on but the speaker only makes a loud humming sound. I don't know how to fix this. If you have any info or schematics for this radio please email me. It would mean alot to get it working again. Thank You

Hi,
Open the back and look for an inked number on the back of the chassis, and look at the Zenith section in "Riders" on this site here:
http://www.NostalgiaAir.org/NostalgiaAir/Riders/

It sounds as if your filter caps have finally failed. If you are looking for the higher working voltage caps that are used in these, check Antique Electronic Supply, Digikey (the source I use for rebuilding the old caps for maintaining appearances), and a whole host of others too.

: I recieved a Zenith B600 Trans-oceanic radio from my grandfather. About 9 years ago it still worked. I just got back into old radios and dug it out, it turned on but the speaker only makes a loud humming sound. I don't know how to fix this. If you have any info or schematics for this radio please email me. It would mean alot to get it working again. Thank You

John thanks for the info. Tried to look up the number you said to find. Could not find it on website. Unfortunatley before I start working on it I really need the schematics. If you have any other ideas please let me know.

Thanks

: John thanks for the info. Tried to look up the number you said to find. Could not find it on website. Unfortunatley before I start working on it I really need the schematics. If you have any other ideas please let me know.

: Thanks

Try http://www.transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org/
The information you want is posted there

Actually, leave out the www ..

http://transoceanic.nostalgiaair.org

While the schematic is extremely useful, you can glean the information you need from the parts inside the chassis.

What your radio will need is to have the electrolytics replaced. I would use new production axial or radial lead capacitors of the same or higher working voltages. You can fit these new caps under the chassis, there is plenty of room, making sure to disconnect the old cans electrically.

Additionally, it has been my experience that replacing the waxed paper caps brings these radios back to full performance and provides long term reliability. I would suggest finding a copy of "The Royalty of Radio" by bryant and cones, schiffer publishing, which gives a very good overview of restoration techniques for these radios.

Also, this unit uses one very expensive tube -- the 1L6, while you are repairing/testing this radio, it's a good idea to substitute a 1R5 which is much cheaper and available. Your radio also uses a selenium rectifier, iirc, and should be replaced with a silicon diode and dropping resistor for absolute reliability and safety. Line voltages are higher today, and dropping the voltage to ~110 is good practice.

Was just at Mendelson's in Dayton, OH. They had a box of 4 section caps (60,40,40,20 mfd @150volts). The sign said "Good for Trans-Oceanics". I have know idea if they are correct for that model. They were $2 each.
Their website is www.meci.com. Don't know if they are listed on the site, but they are there in the store. You might try calling them if they aren't listed.