Pye Continental VHF2D - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

pichacker · 15th Jun 2020, 8:30 pm

Hi Chaps,

I had a message today from a guy who I did my apprenticeship with at Marconi's asking if I could look at the attached radio with a view to bringing back to life. I have no idea of its history yet and also I need to find a suitably safe method of getting it to my workshop.

I do have a version 1 copy of the forum's excellent radio data DVD but could not easily find a "Pye Continental" as I am lead to believe it may be. I apologise if the picture is not too good as it's a screen shot of my WhatsApp message.

Have any of you got an idea of the model number it is likely to be so I can have a further look please?

I'll post a few pics as and when I get hold of it.

Cheers

Steve

60 oldjohn · 15th Jun 2020, 8:50 pm

I think it may be a Pye VHF2D.

John.

Nanozeugma · 15th Jun 2020, 8:51 pm

Model is VHF2D in the data DVD.

pichacker · 15th Jun 2020, 8:53 pm

John,

Cheers for that. It certainly looks like that in the trader sheet save for the "Continental" badge.

Steve

Station X · 15th Jun 2020, 9:35 pm

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_vhf2dvhf_2.html

pichacker · 15th Jun 2020, 9:44 pm

Thank you Graham.

pichacker · 1st Jul 2020, 12:24 pm

Well it finally arrived and it didn't take a genius to figure out the fault

I was quite surprised how few paper capacitors were inside. Even "that" cap was a ceramic. So I outed all 3 of them, 2 across the HT secondary and one for tone control.

I then checked the electrolytics and all bar the FM discriminator one were dried up. The main smoother had some capacitance but also a reasonable amount of leakage. This is explained the hum.

So I ordered a replacement EABC80 from my normal UK supplier which unfortunately was DOA. Filaments glowed nicely but the triode section would not draw any current. OV on grid and cathode with 0ma on the anode. So talked to the supplier, who was great and another replacement is on its way

Whilst i'm waiting I wound a couple of 1N4148's across the pins on the broken original EABC80 and a cap from Anode to Grid on the triode and the radio has been quietly playing BBC Essex for the past couple of days.

I have high hopes that when I plug in the EABC80 the job will be complete.

Whilst waiting I got out my Megger and checked the insulation resistance of the transformer and switch at 500V and all appears in order. (I did disconnect the voltage selector as this showed leakage. Guess something had been spilt on it. Hard wired for 240V tap now.) Last thing I want is the chassis being live. The more I run the radio the higher the insulation resistance reading gets. I suspect the nice heat is clearing out moisture.

I was told this radio had one careful lady owner and that it just stopped working recently. Not too sure how long "recently" might be as when I powered it up lots of hot dust smoke from the audio output as the latent dust burned off. The hum must have competed with the radio broadcasts.

I'll run it for a week after the EABC80 turns up and then it'll go back to it's owner.

Steve

P.S. Didn't look in the FM tuner head. So if there is a waxy in there it can stay put

Also the plug now sports a nice 3A fuse. Got a good collection of 13A fuses.

15th Jun 2020, 8:30 pm	#1
pichacker Hexode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 370	Pye Continental VHF2D Hi Chaps, I had a message today from a guy who I did my apprenticeship with at Marconi's asking if I could look at the attached radio with a view to bringing back to life. I have no idea of its history yet and also I need to find a suitably safe method of getting it to my workshop. I do have a version 1 copy of the forum's excellent radio data DVD but could not easily find a "Pye Continental" as I am lead to believe it may be. I apologise if the picture is not too good as it's a screen shot of my WhatsApp message. Have any of you got an idea of the model number it is likely to be so I can have a further look please? I'll post a few pics as and when I get hold of it. Cheers Steve Attached Thumbnails __________________ 6.3v on my heaters is no longer enough to get me going in the morning!!

15th Jun 2020, 8:50 pm	#2
60 oldjohn Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 3,987	Re: Pye Continental I think it may be a Pye VHF2D. John. __________________ My favourite text message "I'll be there in five minutes, if not read again"

15th Jun 2020, 8:51 pm	#3
Nanozeugma Heptode Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: London, UK. Bury, Lancashire quite regularly :) Posts: 611	Re: Pye Continental Model is VHF2D in the data DVD. __________________ Thermionic Emission, warms the cockles of your tubes.

15th Jun 2020, 8:53 pm	#4
pichacker Hexode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 370	Re: Pye Continental John, Cheers for that. It certainly looks like that in the trader sheet save for the "Continental" badge. Steve __________________ 6.3v on my heaters is no longer enough to get me going in the morning!!

15th Jun 2020, 9:35 pm	#5
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Pye Continental https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/pye_vhf2dvhf_2.html __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

15th Jun 2020, 9:44 pm	#6
pichacker Hexode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 370	Re: Pye Continental Thank you Graham. __________________ 6.3v on my heaters is no longer enough to get me going in the morning!!

1st Jul 2020, 12:24 pm	#7
pichacker Hexode Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 370	Re: Pye Continental VHF2D Well it finally arrived and it didn't take a genius to figure out the fault I was quite surprised how few paper capacitors were inside. Even "that" cap was a ceramic. So I outed all 3 of them, 2 across the HT secondary and one for tone control. I then checked the electrolytics and all bar the FM discriminator one were dried up. The main smoother had some capacitance but also a reasonable amount of leakage. This is explained the hum. So I ordered a replacement EABC80 from my normal UK supplier which unfortunately was DOA. Filaments glowed nicely but the triode section would not draw any current. OV on grid and cathode with 0ma on the anode. So talked to the supplier, who was great and another replacement is on its way Whilst i'm waiting I wound a couple of 1N4148's across the pins on the broken original EABC80 and a cap from Anode to Grid on the triode and the radio has been quietly playing BBC Essex for the past couple of days. I have high hopes that when I plug in the EABC80 the job will be complete. Whilst waiting I got out my Megger and checked the insulation resistance of the transformer and switch at 500V and all appears in order. (I did disconnect the voltage selector as this showed leakage. Guess something had been spilt on it. Hard wired for 240V tap now.) Last thing I want is the chassis being live. The more I run the radio the higher the insulation resistance reading gets. I suspect the nice heat is clearing out moisture. I was told this radio had one careful lady owner and that it just stopped working recently. Not too sure how long "recently" might be as when I powered it up lots of hot dust smoke from the audio output as the latent dust burned off. The hum must have competed with the radio broadcasts. I'll run it for a week after the EABC80 turns up and then it'll go back to it's owner. Steve P.S. Didn't look in the FM tuner head. So if there is a waxy in there it can stay put Also the plug now sports a nice 3A fuse. Got a good collection of 13A fuses. Attached Thumbnails __________________ 6.3v on my heaters is no longer enough to get me going in the morning!! Last edited by pichacker; 1st Jul 2020 at 12:34 pm. Reason: Added a ps...