Ferguson 218 UXL - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Clydeuk · 9th Jun 2016, 3:42 pm

To he honest I would leave the can as is unless it is proved to be faulty. I am not one who believes in blanket capacitor replacements except for known bad types (wax paper/ mouldseals etc). Some of the big drawbacks of just replacing them all are that you may introduce a fault through error (incorrect connection - wrong value etc.) and also just replacing all capacitors will teach you nothing about the equipment at all.

If the electrolytic is visibly leaking/venting or the set has severe hum and the can is getting warm then replacement will be needed. If you look through the stickies you will find out about reforming electrolytics. A simple lamp limiter will help you and can be made cheaply.

paulsherwin · 9th Jun 2016, 4:43 pm

If the set has been used recently then the smoothers may indeed be OK.

mjddewet · 10th Jun 2016, 10:28 am

Yep, I after I had a look at the ridiculous amount of moolah wanted locally for the replacement elctro's for the smoothing can, I am indeed going to leave that alone. I'll do a few tests on it before I'll part with half of my children's inheritance.

The weekend is upon us, and the Cape weather forecast seems to suggest it's best to stay indoors, I'll spend some time on the Ferguson.

mjddewet · 6th Mar 2017, 10:39 am

See my previous thread here:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=126881

Some feedback/progress:
My UK-residing son sourced some UL84 valves for me, and I've ordered some caps from local RS. The conversion from UL41 to UL84 will therefore happen.

He arrived here on Friday with the glass envelopes and contents intact.

The restore is now set for the next weekend or two and maybe more.

I will try and keep a running commentary on here on progress.

Boater Sam · 6th Mar 2017, 10:54 am

Hope you got some B9A valve sockets too!

mjddewet · 7th Mar 2017, 8:01 am

Yep, some B9A valve sockets left over from a previous project: Clone of a Fender Blackface Champ valve amp.

I SO enjoyed building the amp (with very limited electronic knowledge) that I'm hooked on valve technology.

Down our side gthe costs of transformers are more than an arm and a leg, and with the exchange rate not in our favour, it's gotten to the point where I'm considering building my own.

mjddewet · 29th May 2017, 10:11 am

Some feedback / progress report on the Ferguson:

Recap of those old paper waxies has been done, but I've left the ones in the tuning side quite alone. Tests on those revealed that they are still OK for now.

Waxies around the valves have all been replaced. I couldn't get (read afford) the nice axial caps, so had to settle with what was available from RS here in South Africa.

I've also installed a B9A valve socket (ceramic one) and wired up for the UL84 with 220ohm and 25uF bias circuit.

I also replaced all the wires that had become brittle over the years with similar colour from old PC PSU wires...

Tonight will be wiring in the output transformer.
(mobile phone 'before' photos does help)

And then power on sans valves and looking for magic smoke...
And then with valves...

Down here, the name Ferguson only has one connotation, and it's either good or 'orrible: The old grey Ferguson tractor.

Thank goodness the one on the workbench didn't loose it's sleeves into the sump at startup...

9th Jun 2016, 3:42 pm	#21
Clydeuk Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 453	Re: Ferguson 218 UXL To he honest I would leave the can as is unless it is proved to be faulty. I am not one who believes in blanket capacitor replacements except for known bad types (wax paper/ mouldseals etc). Some of the big drawbacks of just replacing them all are that you may introduce a fault through error (incorrect connection - wrong value etc.) and also just replacing all capacitors will teach you nothing about the equipment at all. If the electrolytic is visibly leaking/venting or the set has severe hum and the can is getting warm then replacement will be needed. If you look through the stickies you will find out about reforming electrolytics. A simple lamp limiter will help you and can be made cheaply.

9th Jun 2016, 4:43 pm	#22
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,947	Re: Ferguson 218 UXL If the set has been used recently then the smoothers may indeed be OK.

10th Jun 2016, 10:28 am	#23
mjddewet Triode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 25	Re: Ferguson 218 UXL Yep, I after I had a look at the ridiculous amount of moolah wanted locally for the replacement elctro's for the smoothing can, I am indeed going to leave that alone. I'll do a few tests on it before I'll part with half of my children's inheritance. The weekend is upon us, and the Cape weather forecast seems to suggest it's best to stay indoors, I'll spend some time on the Ferguson.

6th Mar 2017, 10:39 am	#24
mjddewet Triode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 25	Re Ferguson 218 See my previous thread here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=126881 Some feedback/progress: My UK-residing son sourced some UL84 valves for me, and I've ordered some caps from local RS. The conversion from UL41 to UL84 will therefore happen. He arrived here on Friday with the glass envelopes and contents intact. The restore is now set for the next weekend or two and maybe more. I will try and keep a running commentary on here on progress. Last edited by AC/HL; 6th Mar 2017 at 4:14 pm. Reason: Thread reopened

6th Mar 2017, 10:54 am	#25
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Re Ferguson 218 Hope you got some B9A valve sockets too!

7th Mar 2017, 8:01 am	#26
mjddewet Triode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 25	Re: Ferguson 218 UXL Yep, some B9A valve sockets left over from a previous project: Clone of a Fender Blackface Champ valve amp. I SO enjoyed building the amp (with very limited electronic knowledge) that I'm hooked on valve technology. Down our side gthe costs of transformers are more than an arm and a leg, and with the exchange rate not in our favour, it's gotten to the point where I'm considering building my own.

29th May 2017, 10:11 am	#27
mjddewet Triode Join Date: May 2016 Location: Somerset West, Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 25	Re: Ferguson 218 UXL Some feedback / progress report on the Ferguson: Recap of those old paper waxies has been done, but I've left the ones in the tuning side quite alone. Tests on those revealed that they are still OK for now. Waxies around the valves have all been replaced. I couldn't get (read afford) the nice axial caps, so had to settle with what was available from RS here in South Africa. I've also installed a B9A valve socket (ceramic one) and wired up for the UL84 with 220ohm and 25uF bias circuit. I also replaced all the wires that had become brittle over the years with similar colour from old PC PSU wires... Tonight will be wiring in the output transformer. (mobile phone 'before' photos does help) And then power on sans valves and looking for magic smoke... And then with valves... Down here, the name Ferguson only has one connotation, and it's either good or 'orrible: The old grey Ferguson tractor. Thank goodness the one on the workbench didn't loose it's sleeves into the sump at startup...