Pye push button with no long or medium wave - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dick Glennon · 6th Aug 2010, 11:04 pm

Hello again, I have got no medium or long wave stations coming in on a Pye push button circa 1960. It is Irish made so I do not have a circuit diagram. Short wave is very good and very clear with a wire ariel. There is sound of sorts but no stations on the others. The frequency changer is ECH 81. Regards Dick.

Steve_P · 6th Aug 2010, 11:35 pm

Start by cleaning the buttons and checking the wiring to them. Then look at the coils in the oscillator stage. Does the oscillator operate on MW and LW and then is it on the right frequency. If not operating at all, check the coils and caps connected with MW and LW. If you haven't got the circuit then trace it through. If it's on the wrong frequency, which is rare, then look at the trimmers.

If it looks OK here, then put an aerial on the grid of the pentode of the ECH81 and see what happens.

Also, remember that capacitors have a loss at lower frequencies, so check the one on the grid of the triode.

What's the model number of the set. I might be able to find a similar one in the British sets.

Cheers,

Steve P.

AlanBeckett · 7th Aug 2010, 10:07 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

What's the model number of the set. I might be able to find a similar one in the British sets.

Or a picture of the innards.
Alan

Dick Glennon · 8th Aug 2010, 10:37 pm

Hi Steve P and Alan, could you please tell me what is the pin number for the grid of the pentode and the grid of the triode on the ECH 81 valve? Am I right in thinking that the heaters are pins 4 and 5? I have a lot to learn. Photos will be along soon. Thanks, Dick.

Darren-UK · 8th Aug 2010, 10:57 pm

This may help you, scroll the page down. If you click on the little book-like icon you arrive at a list of codes eg k = cathode, h = heater.......and so forth.

Steve_P · 8th Aug 2010, 11:08 pm

Yes, the heaters are on pins 4 and 5. With the pins facing you, Pin 1 is on the left of the gap.

The grid of the triode is pin 9. The pentode grid that goes to the aerial circuit is Pin 2.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Dick Glennon · 17th Aug 2010, 12:10 am

Hi Steve P, I put the aerial wire on pin no 2, it made no difference to M.W. or L.W. but short wave went all garbled. I replaced two hunts capacitors that were leading off the ECH 81. There is no capacitor coming off pin 9 but there is a small pf coming off pin 8 with a hefty looking resistor. Will I check all capacitors and resistors around the wave change keys area. Regards Dick.

Dick Glennon · 29th Aug 2010, 11:13 pm

Hello again, I have checked the capacidence of the pf capacitors and I came up with the following, 15pf @ 10% is now 19.4pf, 50pf @2% is now53.2pf, 10pf @ 0.5pf is now14.7pf, pf- is now 8.3pf, 150pf @2% is now 166.8pf. The pf- is as shown with no printed value on it. Could those differences stop M.W. and L.W. from coming in. If I have to replace those caps could ye recommend a present day equivalent with rated voltage. Thank you all, Dick.

Steve_P · 30th Aug 2010, 3:35 pm

Try a new ECH81. Does work sometimes, as they do go faulty. Check voltages on the valve as well.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Dick Glennon · 30th Aug 2010, 9:04 pm

Hi Steve, The ECH81 brings in M.W. and L.W. on a similar set. S.W. is perfect. How would I know if the long wave button is not engaging. Is there a voltage or signal I could check. Maybe these are stupid Questions to be asking. Regards Dick.

Steve_P · 30th Aug 2010, 10:17 pm

Do a substitute both ways to be sure...

Do a thorough clean and use your eyes and the Ohms Range of the meter. There should be 0 ohms across a switch when all is said and done.

Readings on the valve on all valves would help here. Are there any parts common to LW and MW but not SW. Check these first.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Dick Glennon · 1st Sep 2010, 11:08 pm

Hello again, The switch is indeed the problem. It seems to be a slider type but I cannot get to it as it is totally enclosed. Does this mean that I would need dis-assemble the whole switching unit plus any wires etc. I do have access to a similar set for reference. Also are such switches repairable. Thanks to everyone for your help. Dick.

Steve_P · 2nd Sep 2010, 10:06 am

Spray a load of switch cleaner in and work the switch back and forth. You never know.

A photo or two would help here.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Dick Glennon · 5th Sep 2010, 12:21 pm

Hello , This Thread can now be closed as the fault has been located, no luck with the switch yet. Thanks to all who helped me along the way. Dick.

6th Aug 2010, 11:04 pm	#1
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hello again, I have got no medium or long wave stations coming in on a Pye push button circa 1960. It is Irish made so I do not have a circuit diagram. Short wave is very good and very clear with a wire ariel. There is sound of sorts but no stations on the others. The frequency changer is ECH 81. Regards Dick.

6th Aug 2010, 11:35 pm	#2
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Start by cleaning the buttons and checking the wiring to them. Then look at the coils in the oscillator stage. Does the oscillator operate on MW and LW and then is it on the right frequency. If not operating at all, check the coils and caps connected with MW and LW. If you haven't got the circuit then trace it through. If it's on the wrong frequency, which is rare, then look at the trimmers. If it looks OK here, then put an aerial on the grid of the pentode of the ECH81 and see what happens. Also, remember that capacitors have a loss at lower frequencies, so check the one on the grid of the triode. What's the model number of the set. I might be able to find a similar one in the British sets. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

8th Aug 2010, 10:37 pm	#4
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hi Steve P and Alan, could you please tell me what is the pin number for the grid of the pentode and the grid of the triode on the ECH 81 valve? Am I right in thinking that the heaters are pins 4 and 5? I have a lot to learn. Photos will be along soon. Thanks, Dick.

8th Aug 2010, 10:57 pm	#5
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave This may help you, scroll the page down. If you click on the little book-like icon you arrive at a list of codes eg k = cathode, h = heater.......and so forth.

8th Aug 2010, 11:08 pm	#6
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Yes, the heaters are on pins 4 and 5. With the pins facing you, Pin 1 is on the left of the gap. The grid of the triode is pin 9. The pentode grid that goes to the aerial circuit is Pin 2. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

17th Aug 2010, 12:10 am	#7
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hi Steve P, I put the aerial wire on pin no 2, it made no difference to M.W. or L.W. but short wave went all garbled. I replaced two hunts capacitors that were leading off the ECH 81. There is no capacitor coming off pin 9 but there is a small pf coming off pin 8 with a hefty looking resistor. Will I check all capacitors and resistors around the wave change keys area. Regards Dick.

29th Aug 2010, 11:13 pm	#8
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hello again, I have checked the capacidence of the pf capacitors and I came up with the following, 15pf @ 10% is now 19.4pf, 50pf @2% is now53.2pf, 10pf @ 0.5pf is now14.7pf, pf- is now 8.3pf, 150pf @2% is now 166.8pf. The pf- is as shown with no printed value on it. Could those differences stop M.W. and L.W. from coming in. If I have to replace those caps could ye recommend a present day equivalent with rated voltage. Thank you all, Dick.

30th Aug 2010, 3:35 pm	#9
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Try a new ECH81. Does work sometimes, as they do go faulty. Check voltages on the valve as well. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

30th Aug 2010, 9:04 pm	#10
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hi Steve, The ECH81 brings in M.W. and L.W. on a similar set. S.W. is perfect. How would I know if the long wave button is not engaging. Is there a voltage or signal I could check. Maybe these are stupid Questions to be asking. Regards Dick.

30th Aug 2010, 10:17 pm	#11
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Do a substitute both ways to be sure... Do a thorough clean and use your eyes and the Ohms Range of the meter. There should be 0 ohms across a switch when all is said and done. Readings on the valve on all valves would help here. Are there any parts common to LW and MW but not SW. Check these first. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

1st Sep 2010, 11:08 pm	#12
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hello again, The switch is indeed the problem. It seems to be a slider type but I cannot get to it as it is totally enclosed. Does this mean that I would need dis-assemble the whole switching unit plus any wires etc. I do have access to a similar set for reference. Also are such switches repairable. Thanks to everyone for your help. Dick.

2nd Sep 2010, 10:06 am	#13
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Spray a load of switch cleaner in and work the switch back and forth. You never know. A photo or two would help here. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

5th Sep 2010, 12:21 pm	#14
Dick Glennon Hexode Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edenderry, Republic of Ireland. Posts: 428	Re: Pye push button with no long or medium wave Hello , This Thread can now be closed as the fault has been located, no luck with the switch yet. Thanks to all who helped me along the way. Dick.