1962 Victor restoration

Hi all, I'm brand new to the forum. Maybe you folks can help w/ a little advice on my recently acquired 1962 Victor 3VF305. I got it cuz the cabinet & speaker cloth is in great shape, and it appears well cared for. It has dual 6BQ5 single ended outputs, cathode biased. Very nice.

I installed a grounded power cord, & replaced all the paper filter caps only. The other filter caps look like sturdier construction & hard to find replacements for so I formed them up on a Variac. I'm pretty sure I need to replace the coupling cap feeding the left channel since that socket makes the tube red-plate. I also fused the B+ (HT). That said, I have a couple of issues, not having any experience w/ RF amps. I have built 4 homebrew guitar amps, that's it.

The AM & phono channels sound fine, maybe a little low volume but they're workable.
The FM does work but at VERY low volume; "FM Stereo" is lower volume, almost non-existent.
Also, I'd like to overhaul the phonograph. It seems to need a little love. It works but it has a double stylus for some reason and plays different parts of the same song at the same time. I can't use it to play a regular LP, it's the darnedest thing. Maybe somebody can clarify, maybe a good source for replacement parts would help too. I've ordered replacement tubes for the entire FM signal path hoping it's just a weak tube; I have no idea how to proceed with the record player.
It has a really cool signal strength indicator tube which still works!
Anyway, if anyone can chime in I'm all ears. I'd really like to get this thing singing again.

BTW I do have the schematic, just no way of understanding it beyond the power rail & output section.

OK, I fixed the issue with the stylus, quite simple actually. A new one is on the way but the old one works fine.
Replaced both coupling caps in the power output section which seems to have fixed the redplating.
I tried an old scratchy R. Orbison record to test which sounded great, then tried Frank Zappa: Guitar since I haven't heard that one in a while......
Wow. WOW. I can't describe how great it sounds.
Anyhow, the FM channel still is not working right (low volume), still waiting on the tubes.
Aaaand I seem to have poked a hole in the speaker in my zeal to get the thing cleaned up. So, 2 isuues remain: Low volume on the FM channel & I'd just like to replace the speakers; any good web sites for those?

It had an open screen resistor to the FM limiter tube. After replacing that I get a pretty decent volume though I suspect it's not 100%- but it's good enough. I repaired the speaker hole with some fabric glue & I'm getting ready to button it up.
Even though I got no replies, there is a good amt. of info here that was helpful so thanks to all!

Firemedic: Thank you for posting. Many times responses from this group are delayed a few days; I suspect someone would have gotten around to helping you out. I did not reply simply because I'm pretty new to this and don't consider myself much of an expert. I would have said to replace all electrolytic and paper caps, and to patch the speaker with rubber cement and a scrap of paper on the back-side. Without a schematic in front of me I would hesitate to offer any advice of a more specific nature. Sounds like you did a very good job of figuring it all out though. Nice work! -Dion Morehouse

My aplolgies, also. I am not familiar with that radio, so, without a schematic in front of me, hesitated to say anything.
Congradulations on finding the problem. It is slow here, but, we are getting a good repair section here.
Congrats on a great job!
Bill Cahill

Doublecheck the values of the B+ feed resistors going to the 6BA6 I.F. tubes, they should be 4.7K.
And the B+ feed to the limiter 6AU6, 27K.
Notorious for being high in value.

Also the amp B+ feeds..... 82K.

Aw, I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad, thanks for your replies.
Since I have it all buttoned up, I hesitate to take it out again when it pretty much works fine. I basically checked all the plate & screen voltages to make sure there was enough to make a tube work- & left it at that. Since it's kind of a rat's nest of wire, it's very hard for me to trace out exactly what is what. I'm sure there are some leaky coupling caps & those CC resistors are probably all way out of tolerance but, I'm happy. I'll leave it.
The only issue I really have with the FM channel is that old problem of static when I stand in certain places in the room. Which I guess I can fix by attaching an aux. antenna.
Anyway, thanks to everyone for your responses & I will check those components when I do open it up again.

firemedic wrote:The only issue I really have with the FM channel is that old problem of static when I stand in certain places in the room. Which I guess I can fix by attaching an aux. antenna.

Mine had "static" too at times.
Cause? = those pesky B+ resistors!
(not enough gain to overcome weak signal)

Once the RC1205 chassis is re-capped and resistors checked/changed it played fine.

All right, you have appealed to my inner tinkerer, who must be obeyed. I'll go back in.
Thanks for the advice, I'm confident that this will fix it all the way. Stand by for results...

The 4.7ks were okay- they've drifted a little but not too bad. The 27k to the FM limiter was the one I mistakenly referred to as the 6AU6 screen resistor, I had missed that it was transformer-coupled to the plate as well. So that was already replaced. Pretty conveniently located, too, right there on top...
I got the tubes for the FM channel in today, they changed nothing. In fact the "NOS" (more like UOS) 6AU6 seems to cause lots more static. The old one is back in so I'm all set there. The station I listen to is not very powerful so that is probably contributing. The new EL84s sound just a little clearer, so my work here is done. Thanks repairtech for the advice!

As long as those 4.7K's are no more than 4.9K, fine.
One of mine drifted to 5.4K..... and that is no good.
Result is low sensitivity, weak AFC action too.

Plus new caps all around (paper ones are crap) and a good by the book alignment.... it's playing great.

Oh, one was 5.5k but I figured that was OK. I guess not.
When I get a chance I'll crack it open again but my honey-do list needs attending to first.
I already replaced the paper caps, the other ones (coupling caps, can caps) are too numerous and/or hard to find replacements for. I brought up the voltage real slow (over 24 hrs) initially in an attempt to form up whatever I didn't replace.
I have no idea how to do an alignment.

That radio needs re capping, and, electrolytic replacement, or, you are inviting more trouble.
Leaky caps can dammage tubes, circuits, etc. Electrolytics suddenly shorting, and, this has happenned, can cause alot of dammage.
Bill Cahill

firemedic wrote:Oh, one was 5.5k but I figured that was OK. I guess not.
When I get a chance I'll crack it open again but my honey-do list needs attending to first.
I already replaced the paper caps, the other ones (coupling caps, can caps) are too numerous and/or hard to find replacements for. I brought up the voltage real slow (over 24 hrs) initially in an attempt to form up whatever I didn't replace.
I have no idea how to do an alignment.

If you're going to do the job, shortcuts are not an option.
Replace those out-of-tolerance resistors, paper caps, 'lytics, and then see the change.
Most likely, if the aged sour parts didn't stress out any tubes, an alignment might not be needed.
Do NOT mess with the Matrix Balance control (Multiplex FM) on the side of the chassis!