[R-390] My First Restoration

[Carole White-Connor]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses on my Vitamin Q question. I'm going
to leave them alone.

This is my first R-390A. Here's where I'm at:

1. When I got the set, the owner told me it was working but needed
recapping. When I first listened to it, I agreed. It sounded lousy.

2.  I removed the AF deck and looked around. The problem was pretty
obvious. C-603 and C-606 had been reversed. In other words, it had 30 mfds
where 45 mfds should be, and there was a two-section unit where a
three-section unit should be. Putting them in the correct sockets made
things a lot better. Replacing the filter caps made things ever better. It
sounded like an R-390A!

3. I replaced C-609, the infamous exploding cap. It had left its tell-tale
stain on the circuit board.

4. I checked the resistors. All were within 10% of their stated value. As I
looked around the set, I saw that this was a low-mileage set (EAC 1967).
Very clean. No gunk on the gears. No hacking.

5. One of the 6AK6s in the AF unit tested weak. I have a new one on order.
The voltage check point on the AF deck measures 150V, just as it should.

6. The prior owner had replaced the killer cap in the IF deck with an
orange drop so I don't have to worry about that.

My next step will be to remove the IF deck and check the resistors and caps
in there. I'm curious to see what I'll find.


Joe Connor