RCA 118 Won't pick up anything

8/15/2011 7:46:55 PMRon

I have and RCA 118(http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/723/M0014723.pdf) that I picked up at an auction and someone has been here before me. The set was re-capped, but not working. I couldn't even get an IF frequency to punch through. I found that he had hooked up the center tap to the volume control to the wrong place. Once I hooked it up correctly I could get IF frequency through and I did an alignment - it was really far off. When I tried to align the Ant coil and Osc coil I could not get any other signal other than 460 through. The coils were both screwed down almost all the way. No matter how much I adjusted I could not get a signal through. I am afraid now that I have the coils way out of alignment. I would appreciate any help or advice on what to try next.

Thanks,
Ron

8/15/2011 11:12:37 PMNorm Leal

Ron

Since only the IF Frequency gets through maybe oscillator isn't operating? You can check it by measuring grid #1 voltage on the 6A7 or tuning your radio to 1000 and listening for interference in a second radio tuned to 1460.

The osc uses grid #1, grid #2 and cathode of 6A7. Check voltages and components around these pins. Sometimes oscillator coils are open.

Norm

:I have and RCA 118(http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/723/M0014723.pdf) that I picked up at an auction and someone has been here before me. The set was re-capped, but not working. I couldn't even get an IF frequency to punch through. I found that he had hooked up the center tap to the volume control to the wrong place. Once I hooked it up correctly I could get IF frequency through and I did an alignment - it was really far off. When I tried to align the Ant coil and Osc coil I could not get any other signal other than 460 through. The coils were both screwed down almost all the way. No matter how much I adjusted I could not get a signal through. I am afraid now that I have the coils way out of alignment. I would appreciate any help or advice on what to try next.
:
:Thanks,
:Ron
:

8/16/2011 1:43:25 PMRon

Norm
Thanks for the advice, it will be a few days before I can check like you suggested - but I wanted to say thanks and I will post the results of what I find

Ron

:Ron
:
: Since only the IF Frequency gets through maybe oscillator isn't operating? You can check it by measuring grid #1 voltage on the 6A7 or tuning your radio to 1000 and listening for interference in a second radio tuned to 1460.
:
: The osc uses grid #1, grid #2 and cathode of 6A7. Check voltages and components around these pins. Sometimes oscillator coils are open.
:
:Norm
:
::I have and RCA 118(http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/723/M0014723.pdf) that I picked up at an auction and someone has been here before me. The set was re-capped, but not working. I couldn't even get an IF frequency to punch through. I found that he had hooked up the center tap to the volume control to the wrong place. Once I hooked it up correctly I could get IF frequency through and I did an alignment - it was really far off. When I tried to align the Ant coil and Osc coil I could not get any other signal other than 460 through. The coils were both screwed down almost all the way. No matter how much I adjusted I could not get a signal through. I am afraid now that I have the coils way out of alignment. I would appreciate any help or advice on what to try next.
::
::Thanks,
::Ron
::
:
:

8/16/2011 2:59:48 PMEdd

Sir Ron . . . . .

I also heartily concur on the STRONG possibility of your set's 6A7 local "ossifrier" section not "ossifrying"

Also confirm solid switch contacting action of your osc circuit associative S4 and S5 switches.

On that sets circuitry the 6A7's G2 on pin #4 is thinking it is a plate and fully in that mind set, so
checking pin #4 should reveal B+ upon it IF the osc coil winding is continuity intact with its L6 winding.

That winding is the lesser of turns count of the L6/L5 coils that constitute the BCB osc coil, with the
L5 winding needing the large turns count for resonating with the C9 tuning condenser.

Since you DO seem to have a signal generator, with only a 460 khz signal now being able to barrel completely
through the set.

You might initially switch to shortwave mode and inject a tone modulated 5????---18 Mhz RF signal in at the antenna terminals and try to receive it.

(? ? ? ? . . . meaning . . . none of my specs were giving this receivers low band limits !)

That move would be using a completely different oscillator coil of L7 / L8 and the other one is not in circuit.

PLUS SW coils of fewer turns and larger wire are less prone to failure than the more massive BCB ones.

(Excluding both of their commonly shared proclivity to . . . . "terminalitus connectuvus" . . . . or . . . . . .

" The Blue /Green Gloomphs" . . . . ( connection /wire erosion into a copper sulfate state.)

Now . . . if that Shortly Wave signal then punches thru, the BCB osc circuitry is now CERTAINLY being at suspect.

73's de Edd

:Norm
:Thanks for the advice, it will be a few days before I can check like you suggested - but I wanted to say thanks and I will post the results of what I find
:
:Ron

:
::Ron
::
:: Since only the IF Frequency gets through maybe oscillator isn't operating? You can check it by measuring grid #1 voltage on the 6A7 or tuning your radio to 1000 and listening for interference in a second radio tuned to 1460.
::
:: The osc uses grid #1, grid #2 and cathode of 6A7. Check voltages and components around these pins. Sometimes oscillator coils are open.
::
::Norm

::
:::I have and RCA 118(http://www.nostalgiaair.org/PagesByModel/723/M0014723.pdf) that I picked up at an auction and someone has been here before me. The set was re-capped, but not working. I couldn't even get an IF frequency to punch through. I found that he had hooked up the center tap to the volume control to the wrong place. Once I hooked it up correctly I could get IF frequency through and I did an alignment - it was really far off. When I tried to align the Ant coil and Osc coil I could not get any other signal other than 460 through. The coils were both screwed down almost all the way. No matter how much I adjusted I could not get a signal through. I am afraid now that I have the coils way out of alignment. I would appreciate any help or advice on what to try next.
:::
:::Thanks,
:::Ron
:::
::
::
:
: