Ekco ACT96 restoration

[stevehertz]

Here's a couple of shots of how we're looking at the moment.

[stevehertz]

Thanks Lloyd, I've got a fair collection of grommets of different sizes. One is mixed sizes box from Aldi a few years ago.

[stevehertz]

The grommet supporting and isolating the tuning capacitor frame from the chassis has now been replaced. The original one was perished and had collapsed, lowering the rear of the tuning cap compared to the front end and creating an incorrect angle to the tuning knob compared to the case. It was a one piece grommet but I have replaced it with not one, but four new ones. That's two below the mount and two above. Why two above and below? The larger grommet had an inside diameter way too big to centre it on the 4BA bolt, so a smaller grommet was slipped inside the larger one to perform that centering function. See photos.

[Mr 1936]

Hi again

Very glad to hear that you have got the old girl up and running !

That grommet looks more like a Rowntree's Fruit Pastille (Blackcurrant flavour ?). I often come across that sort of thing, in addition to throwing the dial out of whack, they can make the set microphonic as they are no longer doing their job.

[vinrads]

Hi Steve I knew you would crack it well done the dial looks very nice . Mick.

[stevehertz]

Thanks Mick, and I agree, no need to redo the dial. If no snags I'm hoping to get it all back together today, cased and polished up, otherwise within a few days. Life has a habit of throwing jobs at me, taking me away from real work..

[stevehertz]

Nearly there, pretty much all back together, but came to put the knobs back on and the replacement volume pot's shaft was fractionally too short, forcing the knob's grub screw to continually slip off the end of the shaft when attempting to tighten it. I tried changing the grub screw for a pointed one and I cut a slot in the shaft end to accommodate it, but still no joy. So I found a rubber washer/spacer of 1/4" internal diameter, greased it slightly and slipped it over the pot shaft. I then poured in Araladite level with the top of the washer. Hopefully the Araldite will bind into the previously cut slot, I'd degreased everything anyway. When it's gone off I'll remove the washer, tidy up the Araldite if necessary, and fit the knob.

[stevehertz]

Well, the Araldite extension to the pot shaft worked - for a couple of minutes. In truth I was always doubtful that it would hold, but it was the first post, easiest route to try. I've now cut down a section of 1/4" brass rod and Araldited into it a length of 8BA rod that will be used as a spigot to insert into a corresponding hole in the pot shaft. In the photo the right hand side of the rod will be cut off leaving the brass extension piece and threaded spigot. I'll use the previously used rubber spacer to keep the pot shaft and extension piece inline, as the hole in the pot shaft will be drilled slightly oversize to allow for the inevitable drilling angle inaccuracies in both pieces.

[stevehertz]

A quick update. The pot shaft has been drilled and the brass extension with spigot is Araldited in place, accurately aligned using the rubber spacer. I forgot to cut the top side length of 8BA threaded rod off, but I can easily do that with a Dremel cutter once all is set.

[stevehertz]

This time the brass pot shaft extension piece with steel spigot worked a treat, solid as a rock.

[stevehertz]

Finished. With one last look at how it was when I got it. Thanks for following.

[Lloyd 1985]

That’s come up really nicely! All the hard work has paid off the new dial looks spot on, is the speaker cloth original? Funny, you don’t see this model come up for sale very often, quite a nice design.

Regards
Lloyd

[stevehertz]

Thanks! The speaker cloth is original Lloyd. Take a look at the very first photos and you can see that apart from mould growth all around the central part, it was nigh on perfect.

[Nickthedentist]

Wow, that’s amazing work!

A really stylish and unusual cabinet too, it looks stunning.

Love the rural backdrop too

[stevehertz]

Cheers Nick.

[stevehertz]

Oh, and many thanks to Mike Barker for his excellent rewinds!

[Station X]

Brilliant job Steve. Well done. There's something nice about the appearance of polished brown Bakelite.

[vinrads]

Hi Steve well done it looks superb, all your perseverance has paid off ,I must say whenever I wash an old speaker cloth they tend to fall to pieces ,next project ! .Mick.

[PJC58-Hythe]

Well done Steve I knew you would get there in the end, and a fantastic job you have done with it! I'm glad you found my recreation of the dial helpful.

[stevehertz]

Thanks guys, you all helped me with advice and encouragement. There was never a time when I would have given up and used it for 'vision only'.

Mick, I didn't have to wash the speaker cloth, just carefully brush off all that mould and some careful vacuuming.

That's the strange thing about this set, the cabinet and grille cloth were in superb condition, whilst the chassis - especially that one side - was a total wreck. I can only conclude that the set, in good physical condition, was put away into a shed with its back corner near to a partially open door or broken window, and the associated damp caused the damage, meanwhile certain parts at the front of the cabinet that were not affected by damp, escaped it.