Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Katar83 · 13th Oct 2023, 4:47 pm

Thought I'd mention here that my Bush VHF61 that I half restored last year still works perfectly fine. Thanks again to all that helped me restoring it. It is used regularly and I'm very happy with it.

Details of the restoration here:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=194479

It survived chassis wash in the dishwasher and still works like new.

One thing I will want to sort out soon is the magic eye. The existing one barely glows anymore and can only really be seen in the evenings. Might also check alignment while the chassis is out.

I also think the drift got worse over last year so I will look into replacing the rubber grommets for the tuning capacitors and see if that helps at all. It's not really a big issue, have to adjust it once or twice within first 20 minutes before it settles.

G6Tanuki · 13th Oct 2023, 5:05 pm

Magic Eyes do go dim with age and use, and a new old stock one will go dim after a while too..

On my Pye PCR that has been fitted with a Magical Optical Thing by a previous owner, to prolong the life of the ex-RAF VI103 I installed a switch to remove HT from the target electrode except when the Tune button was pressed.

paulsherwin · 13th Oct 2023, 5:23 pm

It certainly looks good.

Magic eyes have relatively short lives. They are largely cosmetic, and the original owners often didn't replace them when they wore out. As a result, almost every radio with a magic eye which undergoes restoration will need a new one, and they haven't been made for a long time. Inevitably, this makes replacements rare and expensive. At least your radio doesn't use an EM34 - good EM34s really are like gold dust.

Leon Crampin · 13th Oct 2023, 6:30 pm

Bush sets with the diecast box front end all drift. I have found thet the drift can be simply and largely reduced by fitting a blackened screening can to the ECC85.

Contemporary Murphy sets such as my A272C don't drift...

Leon.

Jez1234 · 13th Oct 2023, 8:22 pm

That's one domestic radio I could see myself getting... we had one when I was a kid and I remember sitting in front of it for "listen with mother"

Gabe001 · 14th Oct 2023, 6:53 am

The Russian 6e1p is an affordable em80 equivalent. Although your set uses an em81, it should be direct replacement and the differences between the 80 and 81 are mainly cosmetic. I think (from memory) the Russian version is about 1mm wider so just make sure you've got the space, and always try to buy new old stock

No affiliation. I've used a Russian valve of this type in my hmv
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394800924...mis&media=COPY

Beautiful set, I'm always surprised by how well these clean up

PaulR · 14th Oct 2023, 9:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leon Crampin

Bush sets with the diecast box front end all drift. I have found thet the drift can be simply and largely reduced by fitting a blackened screening can to the ECC85.

Contemporary Murphy sets such as my A272C don't drift...

Leon.

Interesting. I have one of these which drifts quite a lot meaning it doesn't take a turn as the living room set. I will try the blackened screening can fix. The current one is a McMichael FM55 which has a very restricted tuning range 88-95 MHz which suits me. Once warmed up it doesn't drift at all.

Katar83 · 17th Nov 2023, 1:52 pm

Right, got the magic eye replaced with another EM81 and that works well and is super bright and looks great.

Then I've looked at the tuning capacitor bushes. All were shot of course and they were mentioned as another possible cause of drift in my other thread. Took about an hour to replace them and I can confirm that after replacing them there is a significant positive change and drift is no more!
Well, maybe a tiny bit left but nothing like it used to be

Attached is a pic of replacement bushes, no idea why I had them in my parts bin or what they were for but they fitted perfectly fine. I imagine BnQ or Halfords should have something suitable too.

So if your Bush radio have an annoying drift, replace the cap bushes first!

Techman · 18th Nov 2023, 4:31 pm

Well done with sorting the drift problem with the mounting bushes, something I need to get round to doing on mine. I found that the black screening can trick made no significant difference on my set, but now that you've changed the bushes on your set, you may find that the last little bit of drift is cured if you now fit a black screening can to the valve.

That magic eye won't stay that bright for long if you give the set a lot of use, but having said that, those side view types do seem to last a lot longer than the earlier round end view types.

stevehertz · 18th Nov 2023, 5:10 pm

On my Bush VHF94 I tried everything suggested here to improve the drift including replacing the ECC85 a few times. It still drifted. I gave in and sold the set.

Katar83 · 19th Nov 2023, 5:52 pm

I think the drift will be down to multiple issues, bushes are definitely part of it but not all of it. The drift is mostly noticeable on BBC, two other stations now seem fine, I still have to adjust BBC maybe twice in the first 20 minutes for maximum signal, then of course its fine. Drift was definitely reduced significantly to a point where I can wait without adjustment though. I will try a blackened screening, see if that improves it further.

13th Oct 2023, 4:47 pm	#1
Katar83 Pentode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 117	Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! Thought I'd mention here that my Bush VHF61 that I half restored last year still works perfectly fine. Thanks again to all that helped me restoring it. It is used regularly and I'm very happy with it. Details of the restoration here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=194479 It survived chassis wash in the dishwasher and still works like new. One thing I will want to sort out soon is the magic eye. The existing one barely glows anymore and can only really be seen in the evenings. Might also check alignment while the chassis is out. I also think the drift got worse over last year so I will look into replacing the rubber grommets for the tuning capacitors and see if that helps at all. It's not really a big issue, have to adjust it once or twice within first 20 minutes before it settles. Attached Thumbnails

13th Oct 2023, 5:05 pm	#2
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,419	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! Magic Eyes do go dim with age and use, and a new old stock one will go dim after a while too.. On my Pye PCR that has been fitted with a Magical Optical Thing by a previous owner, to prolong the life of the ex-RAF VI103 I installed a switch to remove HT from the target electrode except when the Tune button was pressed. __________________ TURN IT UP! [I can't hear the Guitar] - TMBG.

13th Oct 2023, 5:23 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,119	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! It certainly looks good. Magic eyes have relatively short lives. They are largely cosmetic, and the original owners often didn't replace them when they wore out. As a result, almost every radio with a magic eye which undergoes restoration will need a new one, and they haven't been made for a long time. Inevitably, this makes replacements rare and expensive. At least your radio doesn't use an EM34 - good EM34s really are like gold dust.

13th Oct 2023, 6:30 pm	#4
Leon Crampin Octode Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,838	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! Bush sets with the diecast box front end all drift. I have found thet the drift can be simply and largely reduced by fitting a blackened screening can to the ECC85. Contemporary Murphy sets such as my A272C don't drift... Leon.

13th Oct 2023, 8:22 pm	#5
Jez1234 Banned Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Morpeth, Northumberland, UK. Posts: 936	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! That's one domestic radio I could see myself getting... we had one when I was a kid and I remember sitting in front of it for "listen with mother"

14th Oct 2023, 6:53 am	#6
Gabe001 Octode Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Stockport, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,516	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! The Russian 6e1p is an affordable em80 equivalent. Although your set uses an em81, it should be direct replacement and the differences between the 80 and 81 are mainly cosmetic. I think (from memory) the Russian version is about 1mm wider so just make sure you've got the space, and always try to buy new old stock No affiliation. I've used a Russian valve of this type in my hmv https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394800924...mis&media=COPY Beautiful set, I'm always surprised by how well these clean up

17th Nov 2023, 1:52 pm	#8
Katar83 Pentode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 117	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! Right, got the magic eye replaced with another EM81 and that works well and is super bright and looks great. Then I've looked at the tuning capacitor bushes. All were shot of course and they were mentioned as another possible cause of drift in my other thread. Took about an hour to replace them and I can confirm that after replacing them there is a significant positive change and drift is no more! Well, maybe a tiny bit left but nothing like it used to be Attached is a pic of replacement bushes, no idea why I had them in my parts bin or what they were for but they fitted perfectly fine. I imagine BnQ or Halfords should have something suitable too. So if your Bush radio have an annoying drift, replace the cap bushes first! Attached Thumbnails

18th Nov 2023, 4:31 pm	#9
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 4,829	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! Well done with sorting the drift problem with the mounting bushes, something I need to get round to doing on mine. I found that the black screening can trick made no significant difference on my set, but now that you've changed the bushes on your set, you may find that the last little bit of drift is cured if you now fit a black screening can to the valve. That magic eye won't stay that bright for long if you give the set a lot of use, but having said that, those side view types do seem to last a lot longer than the earlier round end view types.

18th Nov 2023, 5:10 pm	#10
stevehertz Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Rugeley, Staffordshire, UK. Posts: 8,634	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! On my Bush VHF94 I tried everything suggested here to improve the drift including replacing the ECC85 a few times. It still drifted. I gave in and sold the set. __________________ A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever..

19th Nov 2023, 5:52 pm	#11
Katar83 Pentode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Thetford, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 117	Re: Bush VHF61 - works well, no issues with it! I think the drift will be down to multiple issues, bushes are definitely part of it but not all of it. The drift is mostly noticeable on BBC, two other stations now seem fine, I still have to adjust BBC maybe twice in the first 20 minutes for maximum signal, then of course its fine. Drift was definitely reduced significantly to a point where I can wait without adjustment though. I will try a blackened screening, see if that improves it further.