I did it! Yamaha R300 Receiver, had no cord in it at all. I got some 20lb braided fishing line from walmart and a little spring assortment kit from home depot (like $5) because the wheel had no spring. Found the schematic online which said how to route it, and now it works like new!
Back in the 60s I worked as an independent . I repaired many dial cords on old Crowsley , RCA , Admiral , Zenith , and the like , console tube radios . They were always a mind blower with all the pulleys and usually were broken . Owing to a lack of available info , I took a guess at the routing and number of turns on many of them , but I stuck in there and fixed them anyway . Those jobs became the barometer with which I judged the difficulty of any other kind of repair I did later ..chainsaw engines,cars ,etc . Nevertheless , I loved fixing stuff . Oh yeah , and I ran into many a vermin nest or spider web along the way . The warmth from the tubes was quite attractive to them , I'm sure . 😀
Great vid thanks. I used to string up dial cords back in the day. I don't think I ever got it 100% right. I do remember effing a lot thought. Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the informative video. I’m conflicted about trying this on a super clean HK Citation tuner and was searching for some advice to steel my nerve! The only other time I tried something like this was many years ago and it did not end well. In my case the dial cord looks great, but as near as I can tell, the only way to get access to the burned out back-light lamp is by removing it’s cover, which has the flywheel assembly attached to it. You have some great tips in here. By the way, watching this with a BT headset on, and your audio is excellent. Great job on the production values... Back to my problem, I think I’m going to find something at a flea market so I can practice before I tackle a perfectly working dial cord assembly. And, before anyone says anything, without that lamp, you can’t see ANY frequencies.
When the shaft is locked up it is curtains? Maybe I misunderstood. A stuck tuning cap shaft can be heated up and it should loosen up the fat or whatever it is. Great video ! Edit: I just remembered I filmed the heating of the stuck AM tuning shaft The video is called: "Tandberg SS11-73 Fault finding & Seized AM wheel (part3) "
Awesome video just discovered it , this is helping me out some, because I’m in a bit of a fix helping a friend with a broken dial cord on an old Sony receiver of similar era as the realistic. I am confused with it a little rt now but It’ll get there 👍🏾👍🏾
It helps to have a highly qualified foreman to oversee a job like that. You should put out an advertisement for anyone with a busted dial cord to bring you their stuff :o) I took on a stereo of that vintage that belonged to a friend if mine a few years ago. It had an intermittent popping noise and a few other problems, one of which was record player :o/ The spindle was locked up due to bad grease and I liked to never got that thing working again. I had a lot of hours in it when he got it back but he was happy so it was all good. 73 NE5U Mike
One thing that you didn't show is placement and adjustment of the indicator . Also, the Sansui 1000A tube receiver has a dial cord. Most don't though. Love your videos though. Thanks!
Thank you Sir for upload this video, the dial diagram is pretty similar to my stereo receiver setup. My st. recv. is a vintage 1979 ZONDA mexican made.
Yikes! I remember those days I use to use hemostats as a second hand to keep tension, those were not fun. Many times the dial cord would be broken and that was even more fun. Nice video
Doesn't really matter that the actual value of the unit is not that great, a lot of the older stuff is cool, so in my opinion, well worth it. Only a brave man goes into dial cord territory, though!!!
Nice video but you skip over 2 important parts. You should show a closeup of the specs for the braided nylon fishing line you are using. I had to freeze frame over and over again. Looks like 20lb braided nylon fishing line, 20lb. You also skip over the detail on how to tie off and properly tension the string. What's the trick for tying it off at the spring and getting the right tension?
I wished he'd have shown that. My guess is that after you know that the string is installed correctly, you can turn the receiver and tune in to your favorite station. Then, reattach the dial indicator and reglue it.
"..May be for another ten years .." I do not think so, because you have two capacitors that had to be changed, 3:41 right next to the heat sink of the transistor (TO-39) it is probably he heated, so always change the capacitors that are near the heat sinks. They warmed well with time and their liquid evaporated, so they changed values. 4:11 There, we can clearly see the two capacitors
Great video! Thank you. I have to replace the dial cord on an old Graetz 613. Could you please tell me if the new dial cord is only cut where it connects to the dial itself or is it also cut where it goes around/connects to the main cap? Hopefully you have time for a quick comment. Chris in Red Deer, Alberta
Yes I just got a realistic TM-102 1964 is the year that it was made in at the 3:55 mark my tuning barely moves so I turned the knob but the cord just stays put and this cord is in very great shape just the part moves it not locked up is there a way to free up a little bit
Got an old am/sw radio. The indicator needle was lost. When the case was opened everything had already popped off. The radio is from the 50's. I will try to fix it.
i have a grundig ks620u ch=45u console . the tuning cable is just lying in the chassis . how can i get info on redirecting/ routing the cable on correct pulleys etc... this cable has a eye on each end . thank you sir.
Though I’m very capable of replacing worn out drive cord, it is one of those jobs I very much dislike doing. Do you find more and more Vintage Radios are requiring the drive cord replacing? I certainly do! Problem is, nylon braided glass yarn, and woven flax yarn drive cords are no longer produced here in the UK. I too use high tension plated flax fishing line as a substitute for proper drive cord. I never use nylon fishing line. it is too slippery, and very springy, therefore difficult to fit round the drive spindle, pullies, and master drum. it can also stretch slightly after a few weeks from fitting, therefore causing drive slippage. Phil.
Parabéns amigo. Você possui uma jovem ajudante igual eu quando minha neta era pequena mas era quando eu desnhava em casa a eletrônica é só um passa tempo. Vida longa e próspera pra vocês! Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil
Would it not be possible to use alcohol to free the stuck part I seen a similar video he freed up the old grease with a type of alcohol maybe it was a different issue though.
I was replacing capacitors and lamps on an Onkyo T-4055 this past weekend and the dial cord broke. I left it in place and I have dial cord I used to replace on Luxman receiver, but that was 20 years ago and I can't remember what type of glue to adhere the cord to the spring. Would someone suggest what type of glue to use? Thanks in advance.
Hey i have a 1968 harmon kardon five thirty that looks similar to this. Anyway it made a pop noise and now a loud hum comes through the speakers now along with music. Any idea what happened? Did it bust a cap somewhere?
You have a chance p.m. me I have a radio it's been modified I don't know what the day to it it works it's got a little issue with it how much do you charge the Fitbit stereo receiver 9090
Hi ! Thanks for making those videos btw. I am doing a tuning cord change on my dad 1978 HK 730 and after i install the cord.. the radio channel are the wrong side.. the low are of the right and the high channel are on the left.. how fix that ?
i have a 77 i was working on and my dumb self didn't take a picture and i lost tension on it and all sprung out.now i have to tune by hand until i feel i have enough patience to re spool it lol.thx
I have the service manual for the sa-500 technics. Looking at buying it, but seller says the tuning knob only moves dial to the right and not left. Is this am easy fix? How did you set the needle to make sure it was reading proper stations?
Pry?! Break?! Hosed?! My wife heard you say that, me laughing and she said "that guy sounds like he'd be one your cronies in the basement". A compliment I Think? Heh heh Anyway, I'm working on a telefunken console radio and doing the same thing. Pretty confident as I've fixed sewing machine loopers, remote mirror control cables etc. I have a question though and you seem like the guy to ask. This radio has a separate LW & SW tuning cap and picks up some promising scratchy but audible noise. Quite a bit of dust in there. Can I use contact cleaner on it safely and would I want to lube the shaft ends afterwards? Or, am I just dreaming that I might get the SW reception. Guessing I might have to run a SW antenna as well? Any help would be appreciated. Great info btw.
Nice work Terry !!!! Unrelated question if I may. When you test an amp with the dummy load resistor, what do you use to inject the signal ? I have a single generator , would that work at like 1000mhtz? thanks as always Ron
Great video Terry, lovely production and sound, Sissy the star! I have similar problem I think, on A&R (Cambridge) T21 FM tuner, bought in 1981. The tuning knob been slowly less effective, now doesn't move the frequency. T21 does not have a vertical frequency marker, instead has 21 red LEDs at intervals of 1MHz, but I assume a similar string or cord. Fortunately T21 has 5 preset channels, manually tuned at back of unit. These, almost never used, seem to be working still. Will attempt your approach, the technology must be similar.
Where do I get genuine dial cord. The stuff sold on ebay and amazon stretches like a rubber band and is almost impossible to string because you have to pull it incredibly tight and then it relazes and you have to shorten it again a few days later. Obviousally this stuff is not dial cord because dial cord does not stretch. Even after all this when tuning the radio it still has some stretch to it. Where do I get the real stuff. I need .08mm cord. Dont care what color.
Hi, I just ordered an old radio which was a cheap Bell and Howell. It is analog AM FM SW. The tuning dial - needle is kind of not in line Can I straighten it out? Thanks
I did it! Yamaha R300 Receiver, had no cord in it at all. I got some 20lb braided fishing line from walmart and a little spring assortment kit from home depot (like $5) because the wheel had no spring. Found the schematic online which said how to route it, and now it works like new!
Back in the 60s I worked as an independent . I repaired many dial cords on old Crowsley , RCA , Admiral , Zenith , and the like , console tube radios . They were always a mind blower with all the pulleys and usually were broken . Owing to a lack of available info , I took a guess at the routing and number of turns on many of them , but I stuck in there and fixed them anyway . Those jobs became the barometer with which I judged the difficulty of any other kind of repair I did later ..chainsaw engines,cars ,etc . Nevertheless , I loved fixing stuff . Oh yeah , and I ran into many a vermin nest or spider web along the way . The warmth from the tubes was quite attractive to them , I'm sure . 😀
Great video and Sissy is adorable!!🥰
Great vid thanks. I used to string up dial cords back in the day. I don't think I ever got it 100% right. I do remember effing a lot thought. Thanks for the memories.
I bought a Curtis Mathis tube console stereo, broken dial cord already. Trial and error, but successfully restrung it with new cord and works well.
Awesome patient broski, good explanation and video for the Vintage electronic tech. Cheers...
Thanks for the informative video. I’m conflicted about trying this on a super clean HK Citation tuner and was searching for some advice to steel my nerve! The only other time I tried something like this was many years ago and it did not end well. In my case the dial cord looks great, but as near as I can tell, the only way to get access to the burned out back-light lamp is by removing it’s cover, which has the flywheel assembly attached to it. You have some great tips in here. By the way, watching this with a BT headset on, and your audio is excellent. Great job on the production values... Back to my problem, I think I’m going to find something at a flea market so I can practice before I tackle a perfectly working dial cord assembly. And, before anyone says anything, without that lamp, you can’t see ANY frequencies.
I respect your experience and advices thanks
What a cutie pie...and the kid is adorable, too. 😊
21anthem12 kid issa brat
@@marksymbala1193 you're a brat
What a gorgeous kid... Doing in the workshop... Good job Sir... ✌️🇧🇭
Someone once told me to thread a string thru springs like that so if/when they slip & go flying you have them on a tether.
When the shaft is locked up it is curtains? Maybe I misunderstood. A stuck tuning cap shaft can be heated up and it should loosen up the fat or whatever it is. Great video ! Edit: I just remembered I filmed the heating of the stuck AM tuning shaft The video is called: "Tandberg SS11-73 Fault finding & Seized AM wheel (part3) "
Awesome video just discovered it , this is helping me out some, because I’m in a bit of a fix helping a friend with a broken dial cord on an old Sony receiver of similar era as the realistic. I am confused with it a little rt now but It’ll get there 👍🏾👍🏾
It helps to have a highly qualified foreman to oversee a job like that. You should put out an advertisement for anyone with a busted dial cord to bring you their stuff :o)
I took on a stereo of that vintage that belonged to a friend if mine a few years ago. It had an intermittent popping noise and a few other problems, one of which was record player :o/ The spindle was locked up due to bad grease and I liked to never got that thing working again. I had a lot of hours in it when he got it back but he was happy so it was all good. 73 NE5U Mike
One thing that you didn't show is placement and adjustment of the indicator . Also, the Sansui 1000A tube receiver has a dial cord. Most don't though. Love your videos though. Thanks!
Got a Pioneer sx-1250 that needs string reattached, thanks for the pointers .
Thank you Sir for upload this video, the dial diagram is pretty similar to my stereo receiver setup. My st. recv. is a vintage 1979 ZONDA mexican made.
Yikes! I remember those days I use to use hemostats as a second hand to keep tension, those were not fun. Many times the dial cord would be broken and that was even more fun. Nice video
Doesn't really matter that the actual value of the unit is not that great, a lot of the older stuff is cool, so in my opinion, well worth it. Only a brave man goes into dial cord territory, though!!!
Nice video but you skip over 2 important parts. You should show a closeup of the specs for the braided nylon fishing line you are using. I had to freeze frame over and over again. Looks like 20lb braided nylon fishing line, 20lb. You also skip over the detail on how to tie off and properly tension the string. What's the trick for tying it off at the spring and getting the right tension?
UA-cam- Tying a perfection knot.
I know you're an expert and not a hack because you said "long-nose" pliers and not "needle-nose"...nice going! ;^)
i got one of these to do. i'd like to say i am looking forward to it.
How do you determine where to attach the indicator needle after stringing the new cord?
I wished he'd have shown that. My guess is that after you know that the string is installed correctly, you can turn the receiver and tune in to your favorite station. Then, reattach the dial indicator and reglue it.
Very helpful, thank you! I have a late 70s Grundig radio cassette unit that has exactly the same problem. Need to order some fishing line I think!
"..May be for another ten years .." I do not think so, because you have two capacitors that had to be changed, 3:41 right next to the heat sink of the transistor (TO-39) it is probably he heated, so always change the capacitors that are near the heat sinks. They warmed well with time and their liquid evaporated, so they changed values. 4:11 There, we can clearly see the two capacitors
Coffee! Glad you got it in there Terry. I hate them things
Nice job Terry. Gotta love it when the little ones steal the show lol. ☺
You're a brave man.
But you didn't show how you wrapped the cord around the Tuning Cap
yeah. Mostly useless
Great video! Thank you. I have to replace the dial cord on an old Graetz 613. Could you please tell me if the new dial cord is only cut where it connects to the dial itself or is it also cut where it goes around/connects to the main cap?
Hopefully you have time for a quick comment.
Chris in Red Deer, Alberta
Replace wire on a car radio once, happen to get the scale backward, but I did not want to try again, so I used it as that ..!
Yes I just got a realistic TM-102 1964 is the year that it was made in at the 3:55 mark my tuning barely moves so I turned the knob but the cord just stays put and this cord is in very great shape just the part moves it not locked up is there a way to free up a little bit
How did you finish the repair? Did you tie it?
My service manual says "use bond". No idea what that means.
Look for UA-cam - tying a perfection knot.
When you restring it does dial needle need to be certain spot on cord to tune right station?
I would start at one end till it stops then you cancalibrate the needle too your favorite station.
End point travel at both ends, then attatch pointer for equidistant position.
I held my breath through part of this...
Got an old am/sw radio. The indicator needle was lost. When the case was opened everything had already popped off.
The radio is from the 50's. I will try to fix it.
You didn't show how to make the connection at the spring and wheel.
...which is the hard part. If you don't get enough tension, nothing works.
My grandpa has a vintage radio repair hobby and that tuning cord os always the biggest pain in the butt!
Great patience
How can you get rid of the scratchy noise when you use the tuner and volume?
Electronic contact cleaner. Isopropyl Alcohol with cotton swabs.
i have a grundig ks620u ch=45u console . the tuning cable is just lying in the chassis . how can i get info on redirecting/ routing the cable on correct pulleys etc... this cable has a eye on each end . thank you sir.
See if you can find a Sams photofact on that radio, the dial cord string info will be included.
Though I’m very capable of replacing worn out drive cord, it is one of those jobs I very much dislike doing.
Do you find more and more Vintage Radios are requiring the drive cord replacing? I certainly do! Problem is, nylon braided glass yarn, and woven flax yarn drive cords are no longer produced here in the UK.
I too use high tension plated flax fishing line as a substitute for proper drive cord. I never use nylon fishing line. it is too slippery, and very springy, therefore difficult to fit round the drive spindle, pullies, and master drum. it can also stretch slightly after a few weeks from fitting, therefore causing drive slippage.
Phil.
30 lb test fishing line. Violin bow rosin will keep it from slipping.
Parabéns amigo. Você possui uma jovem ajudante igual eu quando minha neta era pequena mas era quando eu desnhava em casa a eletrônica é só um passa tempo. Vida longa e próspera pra vocês! Rio de Janeiro RJ Brasil
Great video thanks
But still trying to repair old national Panasonic lw sw am FM radio chord had to take off to get to citcuit
Stringing a dial cord is something I never could do.
...the real fun, is when you open the case...and there is no string...yep...going to be a very bad day!
Right there with you lol. Fortunately there is a service manual online for mine and it shows how the cord is routed.
Hi , could you have used builders string line?
Cheers
I have a maranta cassette deck 5010 B plays but motor slows down and stops playing I believe it needs a new motor can you help
where can I buy a needle for the turntable on a hp-238?
Would it not be possible to use alcohol to free the stuck part I seen a similar video he freed up the old grease with a type of alcohol maybe it was a different issue though.
I was replacing capacitors and lamps on an Onkyo T-4055 this past weekend and the dial cord broke. I left it in place and I have dial cord I used to replace on Luxman receiver, but that was 20 years ago and I can't remember what type of glue to adhere the cord to the spring. Would someone suggest what type of glue to use? Thanks in advance.
I have to replace the dial cord on a grundig 97, this is my first time doing it and I am not looking forward to it, any tips?
Hey i have a 1968 harmon kardon five thirty that looks similar to this. Anyway it made a pop noise and now a loud hum comes through the speakers now along with music. Any idea what happened? Did it bust a cap somewhere?
Hello, That sounds like a leaky output transistor. Check the speaker leads, see if there is DC voltage present. Normally there should not be.
TD
I passed up an old Hallicrafters yesterday because of 2 broken dial cords.
Hey! I was wondering where my Mackinaw city cup went too.......
what was the diameter of the line, I think I need .08
You have a chance p.m. me I have a radio it's been modified I don't know what the day to it it works it's got a little issue with it how much do you charge the Fitbit stereo receiver 9090
do you ever show you actually doing the fix?
Yes, in many videos
Pete Schreiber I watched the video only for how to assemble the cord and spring back on the flywheel ! with no luck at all.
Pete Schreiber Avery?
Hi ! Thanks for making those videos btw.
I am doing a tuning cord change on my dad 1978 HK 730 and after i install the cord.. the radio channel are the wrong side.. the low are of the right and the high channel are on the left.. how fix that ?
i have a 77 i was working on and my dumb self didn't take a picture and i lost tension on it and all sprung out.now i have to tune by hand until i feel i have enough patience to re spool it lol.thx
I have the service manual for the sa-500 technics.
Looking at buying it, but seller says the tuning knob only moves dial to the right and not left.
Is this am easy fix?
How did you set the needle to make sure it was reading proper stations?
I had the same problem with a Siera old radio which I found the thread has been cut already, any idea to help please?
Try it on a telefunken portable. Took about 2 hours
Pry?! Break?! Hosed?! My wife heard you say that, me laughing and she said "that guy sounds like he'd be one your cronies in the basement". A compliment I Think? Heh heh Anyway, I'm working on a telefunken console radio and doing the same thing. Pretty confident as I've fixed sewing machine loopers, remote mirror control cables etc. I have a question though and you seem like the guy to ask. This radio has a separate LW & SW tuning cap and picks up some promising scratchy but audible noise. Quite a bit of dust in there. Can I use contact cleaner on it safely and would I want to lube the shaft ends afterwards? Or, am I just dreaming that I might get the SW reception. Guessing I might have to run a SW antenna as well? Any help would be appreciated. Great info btw.
Do you have any advice for a magnavox solid state alarm clock radio. Has no power to it. And i have questions
in my radio that flywheel suddenly got realy hard to turn
Bearings
Nice work Terry !!!! Unrelated question if I may. When you test an amp with the dummy load resistor, what do you use to inject the signal ? I have a single generator , would that work at like 1000mhtz? thanks as always Ron
Hi Ron, I use an old Heathkit audio generator set at 1KHZ, 150mv
thank you sir
1000 mhz is radar stuff - L band.
Is Solid State Sissy available for hire?
Why didn't you even mention the need for calibrating the dial?
Good job !
A Complicated run of cord on my Grundig R25 Receiver.
it has 8 pulleys and no diagram for this rare unit.
thanks for the video. wouldn’t it be easier to add your fishing line and than just remove the old cord? simply put
I use 65lb test fishing line It lasts forever!!!
in that like kenwood , receiver from japan . they are sound gread.
Great video Terry, lovely production and sound, Sissy the star! I have similar problem I think, on A&R (Cambridge) T21 FM tuner, bought in 1981. The tuning knob been slowly less effective, now doesn't move the frequency. T21 does not have a vertical frequency marker, instead has 21 red LEDs at intervals of 1MHz, but I assume a similar string or cord. Fortunately T21 has 5 preset channels, manually tuned at back of unit. These, almost never used, seem to be working still. Will attempt your approach, the technology must be similar.
Where do I get genuine dial cord. The stuff sold on ebay and amazon stretches like a rubber band and is almost impossible to string because you have to pull it incredibly tight and then it relazes and you have to shorten it again a few days later. Obviousally this stuff is not dial cord because dial cord does not stretch.
Even after all this when tuning the radio it still has some stretch to it.
Where do I get the real stuff. I need .08mm cord. Dont care what color.
Too Cute!!
Hosed - been there before...
Very carefully....
I hate that string when it jumps out its a pain
God dammit this is adorable.
Is sissy a certfied tech. She is so cute.lol
showed everything but how to do this project..
adorable! lol
Hi, I just ordered an old radio which was a cheap Bell and Howell. It is analog AM FM SW. The tuning dial - needle is kind of not in line
Can I straighten it out? Thanks