Servicing Four Radios, SONY ICF7600AW – PHILIPS RL118 – SANGEAN SG700L – PHILIPS PRESTIGE 556
One day, I was surprised by one of my regular customers, when he brought three Radios for service. I will provide the details of these below:
Case (1) – Sony ICF7600AW :
I took this picture from a video and that is why you see the play mark on it. The complaint was it was dead. I opened and cleaned the set thoroughly. Found batteries had leaked and the minus side spring was rusted and broken.
Replaced it from my stock and adjusted it suitably for a proper seating. The spring was soldered to the base plate after scraping it very well. Then cleaned and lubricated the switches and controls. Set worked very well!
Case (2) – Philips RL118 : Problem reported, set was dead.
The work was very simple. I sprayed WD40 on the band switch and controls and also on the on/off switch of the volume control. The set was working superfine. Just see how a complicated looking problem got solved with simple lubrication. Many times, if we use very simple methods, sets can be brought back to life.
Case (3) – Sangean SG700L: Problem reported, set was dead.
In this case also, just cleaning and lubricating battery contacts, switches and controls solved the problems.
Though there were no complicated technical work in all the three Radios, except a little in one, I am sharing this with you all only to highlight how important it is to accept all the sets that come to you. Never ever decline a set without taking the trouble of looking into it. In this case, I only charged for two sets, as I had to open them and clean inside. That too very nominal amount (say around 3 US $)! It is always not money that gives us satisfaction; it is the result that provides it. How happy I was and the customer cannot be explained in words. That is the very reason I am sharing this experience with you all!
Unfortunately, there are many technicians whom I know never take Radios, Two-in-ones, DVD players and such audios. Well, I cannot blame them. What they need at the end of the day is money and nothing else can replace it. But I suggest that such technicians should take a brake at-least once in a while and do these types of odd jobs just for thrill and deviation from monotonous works. That is the very purpose of writing this article! Of-course, before I conclude, I allowed the satisfaction to get added thrice! (LOL)
Addendum:
Case (4) – Philips Prestige 556
After I completed the above article, one more radio came in, which compensated traces of chagrin that was created by the above article, which in fact did not contain anything worth mentioning. I was in two minds whether to post the article or not, in a forum of international repute run by our great Jestine Yong, when this case came to my rescue and solace. Since I forgot to click the front and back snaps, I downloaded following two pictures from the web in order for those who want to see the model:
The set belonged to my neighbor who stayed alone. He lost his only son long back and his wife almost an year back. His only entertainment was watching TVs and listening to this Radio. The complaint was it developed intermittent problems and subsequently become dead. Incidentally, this had visited me in August, 2011 for same problems.
On opening and checking the power cord, which was the case last time too, I found it cut and open. After replacing the power cord, the set came on and was working. But, I did not want to give the set to him without subjecting it to a thorough reconditioning. So, I replaced all the electrolytic capacitors, which of-course were way out of values. The Radio used a push-pull audio output, using AC187/AC188 Germanium transistors. I also cleaned and lubricated all the controls and switches. The shielded wire from volume control to audio section board was in bad shape and I replaced that also. It is very interesting to have a look at the inside of this Radio (Please use control and upward arrow keys to zoom):
The following two pictures are after I replaced the electrolytic caps and retouched the three boards.
After this time consuming work, when I played the radio, it was working so well that my techie friends in whatsupgroup were almost charged to throng my home to grab it, after I shared the video! I played the radio for several hours by selecting various bands and tuning stations. The Radio was working extremely well! It took a lot of courage to control my itch to ask the customer whether he would sell it off to me!
The last picture above and the following one are out of print screen I used while playing the video and that is why you see the symbols at the bottom of these two images. Well, well, well, the satisfaction this time was so bulged that the collection bag had to readjust its mouth like a python to swallow it! (LOL) Following two images are mandatory for conclusion of this article, which without this addendum would have looked stale!
This article was prepared for you by Parasuraman Subramanian from India. He is 72 years old and has more than 30 years’ experience in handling antique equipment like Valve Radio, Amps, Reel Tape Recorders and currently studying latest tech-classes conducted by Kerala State Electronics Technicians’ Association. He has done graduation in BBA degree, private diploma in Radio Engineering and retired as MD of a USA company. Presently working as Consultant to Hospital and other institutions.
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You may check on his previous article on Rejuvenation Of PHILIPS Tuner Amplifier Model AH719
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Albert van Bemmelen
March 3, 2023 at 9:19 pm
I understand your enthusiasm about fixing these older radios as it would be a real shame to just dump these aside for unknown reasons. The mentioned push/pull AC127/128 Germanium transistor amplifier pair these days are hard to come by when replacements are needed. It was odd that your techie whatsupgroup friends wanted that old Philips radio so much. It probably was just the great working multi-band function that they liked so much since all portable radios sound much alike?
Parasuraman S
March 3, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Many thanks for your detailed scrutiny and comments on the article. The AC127/128 and AC187/AC188 are still available in Aliexpress. There are collectors of antique items, and it is just a craze! A few customers keep buying very old and obsolete products and go to any extent to bring it back to working condition. Interests vary!
Imoudu.O
March 4, 2023 at 12:08 am
Good day sir, one thing I known about you is "hard to give up" and have succeeded in bringing laughter to most of ur customer.As Mr Albert pointed out,parts for such old devices are not readily available, especially mechanical parts.
Question: If I want to use power module to repair smps,Do I have to remove both power ic and switching transistor? Thanks for sharing.
Parasuraman S
March 4, 2023 at 8:35 pm
Yes, both should be removed. That is better than trying to isolate the gate drive and source and the Power Supply to the IC. Many thanks for your comments, observations and encouragement.
Waleed Rishmawi
March 4, 2023 at 2:52 pm
a job well done and well said about taking out time to help out the community I admire this kind of actions because it is still needed in an urgent way. yes, the smile on someone's face when the device is fixed is priceless and once a while we should go out of our own ways to help out as much as we can. God bless you my friend and keep up the good work
Parasuraman S
March 4, 2023 at 8:36 pm
Very touchingly encouraging words from you, dear friend! Many thanks for your comments coming from the bottom of the heart!
Dr Ganga Phd music
July 17, 2024 at 12:03 pm
Happy to learn u live Irijnalakuda where my father belonged but settled in trichur. Hence am connected to Kerala: )
Parasuraman S
August 2, 2024 at 10:53 pm
Glad to know you! Thanks!
Joao Mambiela
April 20, 2023 at 2:52 pm
Well done,
Thanks for sharing
Yogesh Panchal
March 5, 2023 at 12:18 am
Good Job! Sir,
Sir any solution for FM Radio .....When we light-up "LED Tube light" instantly noise appear in the Radio.....
Parasuraman S
March 7, 2023 at 7:56 am
Nothing can be done to the best of my knowledge. Some LED lights do not hinder. Some do. Frequency varies. Try changing the caps in the LED lights and also in the FM Radio. Make all caps fresh and new. I have never tried this, though!
Imran
March 5, 2023 at 6:39 pm
It is good to see that people like yourself still get the thrill of any challenge. It is also nice to see that there is still good out there.. Thank you for your article.
Parasuraman S
March 7, 2023 at 7:57 am
Many thanks for your comments and encouragements!
Ajay Kumar A K, Puducherry
March 9, 2023 at 11:17 pm
Very happy to see your article about radio servicing Sir! I too try to repair old radios and cassette recorders with whatever old parts I have accumulated. Repairing sets with outdated parts like AC127/128 pairs, gives a thrill when the sets start to work well! Wish I could pay you a visit when I come to Kerala!! Thanks for sharing Sir, and all the best for the future
Parasuraman S
March 10, 2023 at 8:21 pm
You are welcome! Many thanks for your comments, encouragement and sharing of experience!