Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Pgs49sullit · 6th Mar 2018, 1:53 pm

Hi Folks, I thought I'd share an experience I've recently had with one of the above sets, the white one rather than the brown. It was salvaged from a skip and was in a non-functional state. There are one or two excellent repair guides on here and following them I proceeded to swap out all the old caps, fitted new dial bulbs and generally gave the set a make-over and it seemed initially to work well. The heat that had been evident in the set was much reduced. However, that band-changing sliding switch caused me the 'normal' problems and again following the guides I carried out the work-around. Unfortunately there was still arcing across the centre after the fix and so I had to abandon it and have a rethink. What I came up with appears in the attached photos and is self evident. A 250v micro-switch superglued to the inside of the chassis with the default or open position at MW with the band switch operating the button when switched to VHF. Simple, cheap and effective - works a treat.

newlite4 · 6th Mar 2018, 2:55 pm

I did a similar fix with a Pye P28 where mains on/off was incorporated into the tone control wafer switch. The original mains contacts had failed so I added a microswitch onto the wafer with a cam and have had no problem since.
Neil

Boater Sam · 6th Mar 2018, 3:10 pm

I did the same fix but put the switch further in and mounted a pin on the switch opperating bar. Better than new!

Pgs49sullit · 6th Mar 2018, 3:16 pm

Here's a few photos from the refurbishment.

Pgs49sullit · 6th Mar 2018, 3:18 pm

And a few more.

Pgs49sullit · 6th Mar 2018, 3:19 pm

And the penultimate lot.

Pgs49sullit · 6th Mar 2018, 3:20 pm

And finally...

Boater Sam · 7th Mar 2018, 12:00 pm

I see that the bezel around the wavechange switch is missing, they often are. I have made a few of these from perspex, from old baths!
They take a while to file to shape but take paint well and finish the job off.

Tractionist · 7th Mar 2018, 2:48 pm

Nice job .... I note that the background bottle of beer is ..... 'empty'! Well done - you deserved it!!

Pgs49sullit · 13th Mar 2018, 3:24 pm

Heh heh, the beer bottle was drained some time ago, it now contains tap water to top-up my solder station sponge. Honest.

Pgs49sullit · 13th Mar 2018, 3:27 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

I see that the bezel around the wavechange switch is missing, they often are. I have made a few of these from perspex, from old baths!
They take a while to file to shape but take paint well and finish the job off.

Thanks for that tip Boater Sam, I've given him (my brother) the radio back and he's delighted with it. If it ever comes my way again, I'll consider your bezel replacement method. Thanks again.

6th Mar 2018, 1:53 pm	#1
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair Hi Folks, I thought I'd share an experience I've recently had with one of the above sets, the white one rather than the brown. It was salvaged from a skip and was in a non-functional state. There are one or two excellent repair guides on here and following them I proceeded to swap out all the old caps, fitted new dial bulbs and generally gave the set a make-over and it seemed initially to work well. The heat that had been evident in the set was much reduced. However, that band-changing sliding switch caused me the 'normal' problems and again following the guides I carried out the work-around. Unfortunately there was still arcing across the centre after the fix and so I had to abandon it and have a rethink. What I came up with appears in the attached photos and is self evident. A 250v micro-switch superglued to the inside of the chassis with the default or open position at MW with the band switch operating the button when switched to VHF. Simple, cheap and effective - works a treat. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Pgs49sullit; 6th Mar 2018 at 2:02 pm. Reason: Simply adding more photos.

6th Mar 2018, 2:55 pm	#2
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair I did a similar fix with a Pye P28 where mains on/off was incorporated into the tone control wafer switch. The original mains contacts had failed so I added a microswitch onto the wafer with a cam and have had no problem since. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

6th Mar 2018, 3:10 pm	#3
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair I did the same fix but put the switch further in and mounted a pin on the switch opperating bar. Better than new!

6th Mar 2018, 3:16 pm	#4
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair Here's a few photos from the refurbishment. Attached Thumbnails

6th Mar 2018, 3:18 pm	#5
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair And a few more. Attached Thumbnails

6th Mar 2018, 3:19 pm	#6
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair And the penultimate lot. Attached Thumbnails

6th Mar 2018, 3:20 pm	#7
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair And finally... Attached Thumbnails

7th Mar 2018, 12:00 pm	#8
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair I see that the bezel around the wavechange switch is missing, they often are. I have made a few of these from perspex, from old baths! They take a while to file to shape but take paint well and finish the job off.

7th Mar 2018, 2:48 pm	#9
Tractionist Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 875	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair Nice job .... I note that the background bottle of beer is ..... 'empty'! Well done - you deserved it!! __________________ Red to red, black to black. Throw the switch and stand well back!

13th Mar 2018, 3:24 pm	#10
Pgs49sullit Triode Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Birkenhead, Merseyside, UK. Posts: 10	Re: Bush VHF90 - 'That' Slide Switch Repair Heh heh, the beer bottle was drained some time ago, it now contains tap water to top-up my solder station sponge. Honest.