Philips 580a volume up and down! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

vinrads · 4th Apr 2019, 6:09 pm

This is my latest project, I have been after on of these for a while, I have the set working by re stuffing both the wet electrolytic capacitors, replaced all the paper capacitors all were leaky however I noticed that the volume was going up and down, the fault turned out to be the IF trimmer capacitors leaky, one was waving a flag it was smoking, I have found two capacitors ex equipment, so I have posted in the wants section wanting two 140pf capacitors or near capacitance, Mick.

PJL · 4th Apr 2019, 6:58 pm

I restored the 588A upright version and had the exact same problem only worse. I ended up drilling out the rivets, cleaning all parts, and replacing the rivets with a small nut and bolt with an insulating sleeve cut from some tubing. Started off just doing the IF but an attempt to align the set revealed the RF ones would benefit from the fix too. The final performance was remarkably good and better than most of the period.

vinrads · 4th Apr 2019, 8:11 pm

That's a good idea I will investigate tomorrow, maybe that's the way to go, thanks for that, Mick.

PJL · 5th Apr 2019, 11:55 am

Philips tried every possible solution for trimmers. Early sets used a rod, later have wound wire that can only be adjusted to a smaller value, these ones that fail, and finally beehive trimmers. Any used part will no doubt suffer the same fault.

4th Apr 2019, 6:09 pm	#1
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,755	Philips 580a volume up and down! This is my latest project, I have been after on of these for a while, I have the set working by re stuffing both the wet electrolytic capacitors, replaced all the paper capacitors all were leaky however I noticed that the volume was going up and down, the fault turned out to be the IF trimmer capacitors leaky, one was waving a flag it was smoking, I have found two capacitors ex equipment, so I have posted in the wants section wanting two 140pf capacitors or near capacitance, Mick.

4th Apr 2019, 6:58 pm	#2
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Philips 580a volume up and down! I restored the 588A upright version and had the exact same problem only worse. I ended up drilling out the rivets, cleaning all parts, and replacing the rivets with a small nut and bolt with an insulating sleeve cut from some tubing. Started off just doing the IF but an attempt to align the set revealed the RF ones would benefit from the fix too. The final performance was remarkably good and better than most of the period.

4th Apr 2019, 8:11 pm	#3
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,755	Re: Philips 580a volume up and down! That's a good idea I will investigate tomorrow, maybe that's the way to go, thanks for that, Mick.

5th Apr 2019, 11:55 am	#4
PJL Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seaford, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 5,997	Re: Philips 580a volume up and down! Philips tried every possible solution for trimmers. Early sets used a rod, later have wound wire that can only be adjusted to a smaller value, these ones that fail, and finally beehive trimmers. Any used part will no doubt suffer the same fault.