Bush TR106 G - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

AD360 Rob · 25th Oct 2012, 10:36 pm

Evening all, I came across this little set at a local classic car show a couple of months ago, it was on one of the many autojumble stalls, right at the back in a box along with a late 70's early 80's Radiomobile (badged as chrysler) car radio. Both looked to have been in that box for quite some time, Anyway, some skilled haggling got me the pair for under a tenner.

Upon getting them home, I whipped the back off the Bush to find a brand new PP9 sitting there not connected to anything. After connecting it the set still did not work but did pop when the wave change switches were pressed, several good squirts with servisol got the set to actually power up and I could get a couple of very strong stations coming thrugh quietly.

After a bit of tapping of the AF117's I thought they were all ok and began to look elsewhere for the low gain. Tracing the signal back from the audio stages with my scope revealed a really weak signal right the way back to the mixer stage. Yes, you've guessed it, VT1 the first AF117 was indeed faulty, it had not quite gone short collector/screen but was reading about 50 ohms, enough to allow the L/O to work at the correct frequency but pulling the supply down to about 4 volts meaning the remaining I/F stages hardly worked.

I replaced it with a BC214 which restored normal operation on MW but LW was just noise so I decided to try one of my precious AF200's instead. . . RESULT! perfect reception on both bands. This experience has taught me that the AF11x range still has the capacity to surprise me and that a silicon replacement that works in the L/O position in one set may not work in the same position in another set even from the same manufacturer.

Now on to the cabinet, It was filthy as you'd expect but remarkably undamaged, I carefully dismantled it ready for washing and it came up quite well, the speaker grill was cleaned then lightly sprayed gold as it was originally, the Bush badge was cleaned and highlighted in the same gold colour, the brass trim was given a good going over with the solvol autosol and came up nicely, the set was then reassembled and is now on soak test in the kitchen.

Rob.

P.S. I really must get into the habit of photographing sets before I start on them as well as after I finish!

alanworland · 25th Oct 2012, 10:41 pm

Great job, it's great to give these old sets a new lease of life!

Alan

SeanStevens · 26th Oct 2012, 9:40 am

Nice looking set - well done.

SEAN

AD360 Rob · 30th Oct 2012, 11:39 pm

Thanks Guys for your encouraging words, I do get a lot of pleasure from bringing an old set back to life.

Rob

Tazman1966 · 2nd Nov 2012, 2:52 pm

A good result and a nice write up too

25th Oct 2012, 10:36 pm	#1
AD360 Rob Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Chester, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 421	Bush TR106 G Evening all, I came across this little set at a local classic car show a couple of months ago, it was on one of the many autojumble stalls, right at the back in a box along with a late 70's early 80's Radiomobile (badged as chrysler) car radio. Both looked to have been in that box for quite some time, Anyway, some skilled haggling got me the pair for under a tenner. Upon getting them home, I whipped the back off the Bush to find a brand new PP9 sitting there not connected to anything. After connecting it the set still did not work but did pop when the wave change switches were pressed, several good squirts with servisol got the set to actually power up and I could get a couple of very strong stations coming thrugh quietly. After a bit of tapping of the AF117's I thought they were all ok and began to look elsewhere for the low gain. Tracing the signal back from the audio stages with my scope revealed a really weak signal right the way back to the mixer stage. Yes, you've guessed it, VT1 the first AF117 was indeed faulty, it had not quite gone short collector/screen but was reading about 50 ohms, enough to allow the L/O to work at the correct frequency but pulling the supply down to about 4 volts meaning the remaining I/F stages hardly worked. I replaced it with a BC214 which restored normal operation on MW but LW was just noise so I decided to try one of my precious AF200's instead. . . RESULT! perfect reception on both bands. This experience has taught me that the AF11x range still has the capacity to surprise me and that a silicon replacement that works in the L/O position in one set may not work in the same position in another set even from the same manufacturer. Now on to the cabinet, It was filthy as you'd expect but remarkably undamaged, I carefully dismantled it ready for washing and it came up quite well, the speaker grill was cleaned then lightly sprayed gold as it was originally, the Bush badge was cleaned and highlighted in the same gold colour, the brass trim was given a good going over with the solvol autosol and came up nicely, the set was then reassembled and is now on soak test in the kitchen. Rob. P.S. I really must get into the habit of photographing sets before I start on them as well as after I finish! Attached Thumbnails

25th Oct 2012, 10:41 pm	#2
alanworland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southend, Essex, UK. Posts: 802	Re: Bush TR106 G Great job, it's great to give these old sets a new lease of life! Alan

26th Oct 2012, 9:40 am	#3
SeanStevens Octode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,033	Re: Bush TR106 G Nice looking set - well done. SEAN __________________ There are only 10 types of people, those who understand the binary system, and those who don't.

30th Oct 2012, 11:39 pm	#4
AD360 Rob Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Chester, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 421	Re: Bush TR106 G Thanks Guys for your encouraging words, I do get a lot of pleasure from bringing an old set back to life. Rob

2nd Nov 2012, 2:52 pm	#5
Tazman1966 Nonode Join Date: May 2006 Location: St Albans, Herts, UK. Posts: 2,193	Re: Bush TR106 G A good result and a nice write up too __________________ All the very best, Tas