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Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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24th Oct 2011, 6:16 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Bush DAC90A
I picked this rather sad looking little set from my local car boot sale for the princely sum of £10, it was all there, complete with its original bush connector, ( have seen just the connector fetch more than that ) although someone had replaced the mains lead with that horrible clear twisted stuff, at the other end was a 'Clix' two pin plug, so obviously had not been used for a while....
Apart from being very mucky, there was a couple of small scratches, the wavechange knob was broken the expanded metal speaker grille had been pushed in. After a quick check over, applied power via my variac, and it came to life, both the volume pot wavechange switch were both crackly, and the latter intermittent, the sound was awful, both buzzing rattling at the same time! So to work, as can be seen in the photos, the chassis was covered with a thick blanket of dust cobwebs, so a good sign that it had not been messed with. After stripping the set down, it became apparent that the set had not been touched since leaving the factory, all original ullard valves still in place. After cleaning the chassis, gave both the volume pot wavechange switch a good dose of switch cleaner, which worked wonders, the buzzing rattling was due to the speaker, the 'bellows' having come detached from the frame, maybe the reason someone had pushed in the speaker, in a vain attempt to stop the rattling! This was an easy repair, used a small screwdriver dipped in evostick re-glued the bellows to the frame, the next day ran up the chassis on the bench while working on the cabinet, it now worked flawlessly, the speaker repair was a 100% success As the cabinet was quite dirty, washed it with washing up liquid cold water, then dried it got polishing it with T-cut, followed by neutral shoe polish, the results are excellent. Back to the chassis, as it was working so well, just replaced the two AF caps the mains filter cap applied a tiny drop of oil to the tuning cord guide wheels, also fitted two new dial bulbs, these are one of the problem areas on these sets, at best they give a dim glow, but due to the dust dirt in the light tray its diffuser, they could not be seen! After a good clean, we know had a nice warm glow, a careful clean of the dial glass competed the work, now to the speaker grille, very carefully pushed it out gave it a good clean, it was really filthy, but came up like new. The set was then reassembled given another polish, luckily had a spare wavechange knob from a scrap set, so it was polished up with the other knobs & refitted, at this point, fitted a new mains lead period brown 13 plug (fitted with a 2amp fuse). From what looked a real mess, now have a set that works really well looks good for it's sixty years. Mark The Before photos. |
24th Oct 2011, 6:20 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Bush DAC90A
And some more...
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24th Oct 2011, 6:23 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Bush DAC90A
And the after photos....
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24th Oct 2011, 6:26 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Lynton, N. Devon, UK.
Posts: 7,088
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Nice to come across a set like this - no real damage, little rust, no phantom fiddler - good carbooting!
Seems to be a common DAC90a problem - this was the case with mine too. |
24th Oct 2011, 7:06 pm | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,453
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Re: Bush DAC90A
A lovely set.
Both mine had detached bellows too. - Joe |
24th Oct 2011, 7:48 pm | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK.
Posts: 7,580
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Very nice and now looks superb. I think you may be taking a risk with the remaining caps although you've replaced the most critical ones. Only time will tell.
Excellent job. SB
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24th Oct 2011, 7:52 pm | #7 |
Octode
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: St Ives, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 1,180
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Nice job Mark! I'm going to have to get one sometime. I spy a nice GEC in the background, next candidate on your bench?
Andrew
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24th Oct 2011, 9:23 pm | #8 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 421
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Nice one Mark!
cheers Mark |
24th Oct 2011, 10:22 pm | #9 | ||
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Thanks for the positive replies chaps, this little set had a few of the problems common to these, I have repaired/restored quite a few DAC90's over the years.
I have only had the speaker problem once before, and that set was stored for years in a damp shed, this set looks to have been well stored. The usual problems are rotten rubber wiring to the speaker and dial lamps, chipped or broken knobs (usually by someone who does not know they are held on by screws!) and duff UL41 o/p valves. Quote:
Quote:
It will not get a lot of use, it will go on display with its relatives I must admit to having a love of all things Bush, I have 2 DAC90's, 5 DAC90A's, 3 DAC10's, in fact I have over 40 Bush sets in my collection One more photo with it sitting next to a close relative I recently restored.... Mark |
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25th Oct 2011, 9:01 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 3,767
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Very nice Mark it's cleaned up lovely, I thought I was looking at my bench even down to the t'cut . Mick.
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25th Oct 2011, 9:18 am | #11 |
Octode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bath, Somerset, UK.
Posts: 1,033
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Re: Bush DAC90A
I don't know what it is about digital cameras - but it makes the bakelite look 200% better than in real life!
I do like the 90a - a great shape and rewarding to work on as they are so much more 'obvious' for the beginner (like me). If only they had a mains transformer they would be good for the kids to begin on! A nice job - well done. SEAN
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25th Oct 2011, 10:16 am | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 900
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Nice job Mark - like you, I love most things Bush - have lots of them!
Cheers Andy |
25th Oct 2011, 11:58 am | #13 | |||
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK
Posts: 5,185
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Quote:
I do find that it can make wooden sets look better than they are in real life, having bought sets from auction sites But i am the first to admit, my photographic skills are a bit hit and miss, i tend to take several shots, and pick the best ones. Quote:
Quote:
Mark |
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25th Oct 2011, 12:02 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,935
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Re: Bush DAC90A
Last UL41s I bought were ex military at a tenner on eBay.
David |