UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Success Stories

Notices

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!

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 12th Jan 2020, 9:22 pm   #1
EdWilliams
Triode
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 24
Default Pye PE80

I bought this Pye PE80 off EBay, largely because I liked the idea of a set with so many shortwave bands.

On getting it home I took the back off to check it was all present and then decided to apply some mains power (I know this is not recommended but I couldn’t stop myself). The set initially worked quite well but after a few minutes the sound degraded into a mess of crackles. The volume control pot was also very noisy.

I took the chassis out from the case and investigated further. The components under the chassis were all original, but there was little dust on the chassis top and at least one of the valves had been replaced as it was of a different make. The tone control knob had broken at some point and a previous repairer had twisted some wire round it to help it grip the shaft. This had only been partially successful as it slipped occasionally.

The volume control pot was fixed with switch cleaner, and I fixed the tone control knob by cunningly adapting a car hose jubilee clip to fit round. The crackling after a few minutes turned out to be a rotten connection of the IF valve in its holder.

I then spent a few weeks replacing the Hunts capacitors. To be fair they looked to be in quite good condition, much better than those in the Bush VHF 62 I did a while ago. On completion the only noticeable differences were that the volume control could now reduce the sound to zero, and after changing the tone control capacitors (evil job) it did sound better with more consistent steps between each tone setting.

The dial cord broke itself during the work so it was replaced. I also managed to put my fingers through the speaker cone and then spent some time with kitchen roll and PVA glue fixing this.

I noticed that the set was very quiet on the highest frequency short wave band but that this was resolved if I swapped the front end and IF valves over. However then there were many tuneable whistles on all bands. I bought a new valve and these problems disappeared.

There is no mains hum on the set and the power supply electrolytics remain cool so I left them.

A lot of the work was to improve the wooden case. It was quite dinged and battered. I sanded it down and resprayed the sides in gloss black and treated the rest of the case to several applications of beeswax polish. Anybody remember the Ford Capri 1300? These had an enormous bonnet but when you opened it the space round the tiddly engine was comically vast. I think the PE80 is similar; an enormous case for a much smaller chassis.

The speaker cloth was holed so I replaced it; I might have another go at it because the tension isn’t great and the material used isn’t a close match to the original.

The set now works well with great bass and plenty of volume but it’s disappointing how much interference and noise there is on the bands and the short wave bands aren’t as interesting as they were 40 years ago. I’ve made it more useful by plumbing in a flying plug for a small external Bluetooth module so it can be driven from a mobile phone for any internet station.

I found a BVWS article on the PE80 which recommended some modifications to brighten up the sound. I did these and they did brighten the sound a bit but I think it would need a tweeter unit adding to sound much better.

I now have six valve radios and have run out of space (and patience from the rest of the family) for any more. So I think I will concentrate on further improvements to the current collection rather than getting any more - maybe there might be some fun in building a BFO circuit next.

Ed
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	0EF0B5F6-03F3-4046-A15C-0F17EB4E8192.jpg
Views:	234
Size:	45.1 KB
ID:	196965   Click image for larger version

Name:	6B373DF5-186D-4550-B57D-7BBDA7FD616C.jpg
Views:	210
Size:	43.8 KB
ID:	196966  
EdWilliams is offline  
Old 12th Jan 2020, 10:20 pm   #2
cathoderay57
Nonode
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,364
Default Re: Pye PE80

Nice work, Ed. Nine valves to play with and lots of shortwave bands so there was plenty to go wrong. Looks like you were lucky insofar as the em34 magic eye still glows green. Re BFO, if you have a signal generator that is reasonably stable and with a frequency dial that isn't too coarse you can just tune it to approx same frequency as the PE80 and that will enable you to resolve SSB after a fashion. You might know this already - if so sorry for teaching you to suck eggs. Cheers, Jerry
cathoderay57 is offline  
Old 13th Jan 2020, 1:26 pm   #3
Edward Huggins
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: Pye PE80

I wouldn't worry too much about adding a Tweeter. All this may do is to reproduce the many undersirable noises of limited bandwidth AM. An option is to dope around the dome at the centre of the 10" speaker cone, about 1.5".
__________________
Edward.
Edward Huggins is offline  
Old 14th Jan 2020, 8:46 am   #4
Beardyman
Hexode
 
Beardyman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 421
Default Re: Pye PE80

That's a handsome looking set! You've done a good job there & an excellent write up too, well done.
__________________
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. (Einstein)
Beardyman is offline  
Old 14th Jan 2020, 8:58 am   #5
jjl
Octode
 
jjl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ware, Herts. UK.
Posts: 1,082
Default Re: Pye PE80

Ed

The PE80 is a great set, I wish I still had mine. You've inspired me to look out for one to replace it.

John
jjl is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:34 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.