I had a pre 1968 Vox Amp that lit up my world in summer of 1969. I touched the metal on off switch, didn't turn it on, but it rurmed me on. Ive had a huge respect for eletrical equipy since then
That was a great troubleshooting video. I was trying to tell you "don't solder that wire till we check the transformer output with no load." and then you did. Whew! 😉 I love working on transformer sets bc you can check so much with the tubes out. But they are hard to come by and if the transformer is bad ...
Ha, yes I must have heard you! It was a fun project to work on. I have had a few blown transformers to deal with; in Part 2 of the Emerson 641B radio video I rewound one with no special tools, just bits of rusty junk and some luck I guess. Thanks!
Wonderful video! Educates me on how the technician likely brought mine purchase to life. Will rewatch your video to better understand and appreciate my Eico!
Doesn't mean you suck, just means you are human. :) I have the AM and FM tuners which go with this series, was looking to buy the amp, but I need to win the lottery first. LOL Good speakers make a big difference. Nice thing about these, they mainly use disc caps which are usually just fine.
Hello Doug and thanks for watching. I left in (but sped up) the wrangling necessary to get that transformer lead attached to give an idea of how awkward the access is, and maybe why it wasn't connected nor soldered well in the first place, and perhaps contributed to it falling off. The amp sounded great on a decent loudspeaker (my little RS monitor wasn't a good representation for sure). Thanks again
Thanks for the question. Typically that is not the first thing I check. This particular unit had a power transformer; if it has one that is the first thing I check to see if has shorted or burned open. I want to know if the unit is safe to have power applied, and even then at low voltage and current limited. If the transformer is dead, usually so is the project - no reason to do anything further unless I can repair or replace it. If it is a series string set I will see if all the tube filaments are ok as it may just be the pin socket connections need cleaning and will light right up with a little tube movement. Then I go to power up to look for other serious issues like a short or open circuit or dead output transformer or oscillator coil on a radio - then again that can end a project unless repaired or replaced (and if the unit is worth it). I find that tubes are rarely what keeps a unit from working, and tubes which a tester will flag as weak will usually still work pretty well. That is one of the advantages of voltage and current control, I can check a unit's functionality even if some things need to be replaced during restoration. I do a check of the tubes if something else is not right, such as an issue with the audio coupling capacitor damaging the audio output tube. In that case for example, I want to fix the problem cap and not just replace an expensive audio output tube just to have the bad coupling capacitor possibly damage the new tube as well. Then I will check all the tubes if a unit makes it all the way to restoration for use. This unit was just for diagnosis - I wasn't asked to restore it, even though I did get it working. Thanks
I have the stereo preamp that looks alot like this on the outside. I've always liked eico products.. Metal scrappers love to clip cords too. Anything that is out on recycling day for any length of time, the power cord is gone.
HI Mark, yes me too. I have many EICO test gear units and use most of them fairly often. This little amp has great sound. Makes me want to get myself in gear and work on some of the other tube push-pull projects I have in line awaiting work. Thanks for the comment.
![RCA Victor 1-X-51 Vacuum Tube Radio Repair 1951 - This was - Supposed - to be Easy! - Part 1 [4K]](/img/1.gif)
I had a pre 1968 Vox Amp that lit up my world in summer of 1969. I touched the metal on off switch, didn't turn it on, but it rurmed me on. Ive had a huge respect for eletrical equipy since then
That was a great troubleshooting video. I was trying to tell you "don't solder that wire till we check the transformer output with no load." and then you did. Whew! 😉
I love working on transformer sets bc you can check so much with the tubes out. But they are hard to come by and if the transformer is bad ...
Ha, yes I must have heard you! It was a fun project to work on. I have had a few blown transformers to deal with; in Part 2 of the Emerson 641B radio video I rewound one with no special tools, just bits of rusty junk and some luck I guess. Thanks!
Wonderful video! Educates me on how the technician likely brought mine purchase to life. Will rewatch your video to better understand and appreciate my Eico!
Hello Cruz. Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the note and Sub! Happy New Year.
I always believe in a mechanical connection first then test this is why many kits fail
Doesn't mean you suck, just means you are human. :) I have the AM and FM tuners which go with this series, was looking to buy the amp, but I need to win the lottery first. LOL Good speakers make a big difference. Nice thing about these, they mainly use disc caps which are usually just fine.
Hello Doug and thanks for watching. I left in (but sped up) the wrangling necessary to get that transformer lead attached to give an idea of how awkward the access is, and maybe why it wasn't connected nor soldered well in the first place, and perhaps contributed to it falling off. The amp sounded great on a decent loudspeaker (my little RS monitor wasn't a good representation for sure). Thanks again
I use 2 8ohm speaker in series
Did you test any of the tubes before working on it that’s step one on any work done
Thanks for the question. Typically that is not the first thing I check. This particular unit had a power transformer; if it has one that is the first thing I check to see if has shorted or burned open. I want to know if the unit is safe to have power applied, and even then at low voltage and current limited. If the transformer is dead, usually so is the project - no reason to do anything further unless I can repair or replace it. If it is a series string set I will see if all the tube filaments are ok as it may just be the pin socket connections need cleaning and will light right up with a little tube movement. Then I go to power up to look for other serious issues like a short or open circuit or dead output transformer or oscillator coil on a radio - then again that can end a project unless repaired or replaced (and if the unit is worth it). I find that tubes are rarely what keeps a unit from working, and tubes which a tester will flag as weak will usually still work pretty well. That is one of the advantages of voltage and current control, I can check a unit's functionality even if some things need to be replaced during restoration. I do a check of the tubes if something else is not right, such as an issue with the audio coupling capacitor damaging the audio output tube. In that case for example, I want to fix the problem cap and not just replace an expensive audio output tube just to have the bad coupling capacitor possibly damage the new tube as well. Then I will check all the tubes if a unit makes it all the way to restoration for use. This unit was just for diagnosis - I wasn't asked to restore it, even though I did get it working. Thanks
I have the stereo preamp that looks alot like this on the outside. I've always liked eico products.. Metal scrappers love to clip cords too. Anything that is out on recycling day for any length of time, the power cord is gone.
HI Mark, yes me too. I have many EICO test gear units and use most of them fairly often. This little amp has great sound. Makes me want to get myself in gear and work on some of the other tube push-pull projects I have in line awaiting work. Thanks for the comment.
6.3V