1955 88 AM radio on the fritz

GTC · 05-22-2007, 07:34 AM

The radio in my 55' 88 was working fine until this past weekend. -It is the Deluxe AM radio. While driving and listening, it started to "pulse" in and out meaning the volume would fade to nothing and then back to listening volume then to nothing over and over and over. Then finally nothing but a quiet hum from the speaker. The next day I got just the hum, later in the day it worked OK, and then yesterday the pulsing and finally just a hum again.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Oldsguy · 05-22-2007, 08:55 AM

Those radios have tubes in them. Sounds like a you might have a tube going out to me. There are people on the internet that repair radios so you aren't totally out of luck.

ozoneblue · 05-23-2007, 04:48 AM

Diddnt Keith buy some tubes & repair his own a while back ?

Danny Wiseley · 06-26-2007, 07:06 PM

Look around under your dash for an OZ4. A "radio tube looking thing," usually aluminum housing about the size of a spool of thread. I think they are available online for about $4. Worth a try, anyway. Good luck.

keith6989 · 06-28-2007, 09:09 AM

OZ4 is the power supply for the speaker, It could be that, the vibrator, or a tube in the radio, the vibrator (big silver thing) should be making a faint hum, and you can also feel the vibration. If the oz4 is a goner, you should probably replace that with solid state. eBay is a good source for tubes, there are also some schematics online for it. The pulsing is probably a weak tube, I have a spare set of everything if you have no luck on eBay.

Keep me updated on how it goes.

Oldsguy · 06-28-2007, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith6989

The pulsing is probably a weak tube,

I totally agree. I Learned electronics in early 70's on tube theory and that is a classic failure.

troberts6 · 07-17-2007, 06:09 PM

how does the radio sound? as in how is the quality? mine doesn't work at all no nothing besides the light on the head unit.

I guess my overall question is, is it worth it to try and fix it or should i just find a nice place to put a new one where it is hidden and just hide two speakers to go with it?

keith6989 · 07-19-2007, 04:33 PM

mine was just the power supply thing, simple and cheap to fix. If I can do it, anyone can, you replace the tube, capacitators, and check the vibrator. Good luck, let me know how it goes.

05-22-2007, 07:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
GTC Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	1955 88 AM radio on the fritz The radio in my 55' 88 was working fine until this past weekend. -It is the Deluxe AM radio. While driving and listening, it started to "pulse" in and out meaning the volume would fade to nothing and then back to listening volume then to nothing over and over and over. Then finally nothing but a quiet hum from the speaker. The next day I got just the hum, later in the day it worked OK, and then yesterday the pulsing and finally just a hum again. Any suggestions would be welcome.

05-22-2007, 08:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
Oldsguy Administrator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lees Summit MO Posts: 2,857	Those radios have tubes in them. Sounds like a you might have a tube going out to me. There are people on the internet that repair radios so you aren't totally out of luck. __________________ Dan '46 2 door

06-28-2007, 09:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
keith6989 2Blue 55" Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 377	OZ4 is the power supply for the speaker, It could be that, the vibrator, or a tube in the radio, the vibrator (big silver thing) should be making a faint hum, and you can also feel the vibration. If the oz4 is a goner, you should probably replace that with solid state. eBay is a good source for tubes, there are also some schematics online for it. The pulsing is probably a weak tube, I have a spare set of everything if you have no luck on eBay. Keep me updated on how it goes. __________________ Robert 1955 Oldsmobile Super 88

07-19-2007, 04:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
keith6989 2Blue 55" Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 377	mine was just the power supply thing, simple and cheap to fix. If I can do it, anyone can, you replace the tube, capacitators, and check the vibrator. Good luck, let me know how it goes. __________________ Robert 1955 Oldsmobile Super 88

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-23-2007, 04:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
ozoneblue Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 407	Diddnt Keith buy some tubes & repair his own a while back ?

06-26-2007, 07:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Danny Wiseley Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 13	Look around under your dash for an OZ4. A "radio tube looking thing," usually aluminum housing about the size of a spool of thread. I think they are available online for about $4. Worth a try, anyway. Good luck.

07-17-2007, 06:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
troberts6 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: jacksonville, florida Posts: 21	how does the radio sound? as in how is the quality? mine doesn't work at all no nothing besides the light on the head unit. I guess my overall question is, is it worth it to try and fix it or should i just find a nice place to put a new one where it is hidden and just hide two speakers to go with it?