GE 516F - static and intermittent reception after playing for 10-15 minutes

The IF's are 3/4 inch.

Another note. Tonight I replaced the 47mmf mica on the oscillator. Might have been my imagination, but the signal strength and quality seemed a bit better. However, after 10 minutes or so, back to the lightning storm. And as before, signal tracer found a strong signal off the 12BA6 into the second IF, but a very weak signal and lightning out of the 2nd IF. And, about 1 vdc out of the 2nd IF when the static was occurring.

Personally, this is not something that I would do, but, to get it temporarily working, I have a friend who has done this with success. I make no claims here.
Take a little household oil. Not detergent, not heavy weight.
Turn chassis upside down.
Purt a fairly liberal amount of oil around the terminls on bottom of can, and, around pop rivent in center. Then, turn radio right side up, and, put more oil though top hole. Let sit over night. It should be better in morning.
The problem is that the pop rivet corodes around the mica insulators, and, causes corosion between the capacitors mounted in base of can. This is a common problem.
If that doesn't work, something else can be done, but, it's more extreme, and, alot of work.
Do you have a schematic on this set, and, if so, do they show capacitor values for the primary, and, secondary windings on I F cans?
Bill Cahill

I've been reading online about servicing the IF caps. I have a schematic and it shows the specs. I also found some 455 IF's at Talon Electronics. None are listed as a direct replacement for RTL117, which is the part number for the IF's installed in the radio. Would any 3/4 inch, chassis mount 455 designed for use with tubes be compatible?

Bill, I'm having a blast restoring and learning a lot. I really appreciate your help and help from members of this forum.

It would depend on the wiring of the replacements. If both the ones in your radio, and, replacements are four prong replacements, they should work fine.
The green dot is on secondary.
Bill Cahill

Thanks for the help. Found one online today...got it coming. The second IF, the one that has the static on the output side thru the tracer, will get replaced first while I search for another. Then, I might try a repair on the old IF.

Remember, in most cases the second I F is called just that, and, you would not want to replace that one with one that is intended to be the first I F.
Good luck on the set. You should get it working, again. What brand I F did you purchhase, and, from who, if I may ask. Some of the new old replacements were made just as poorly, others better.
Bill Cahill

This GE has the same part number for the 1st and 2nd if's. I bought a Meissner part from Talon Electronics.

That was it. The IF came today, installed it and the radio played for well over an hour while I tuned the dial around and aligned it. No loss of signal, no lightning, it sounded great. My voltages are correct and steady. I would still like to find a replacement for the 1st IF given the output side runs about +.5 volts. Now I can finish the small repair on the case and it can take up residence on my nightstand. Thanks all for your help.

You are most welcome!
Bill Cahill

Here's the 2nd IF. To my inexperienced eye, I would say the wafer looks pretty bad. The spec on the caps is 75pf. I just need to find a couple and solder them in and test it. Meanwhile, the replacement I found is working like a champ. Radio has been playing for a little over 3 hours now. Nothing like listening to oldies on an oldie.....and working on radios.

Yep. That's the problem. Then, you can keep that one as an extra when first can gets bad enough, or, just replace forst can.
Replacement is fine.
Bill Cahill

Let's see...
The 9th posting to this thread was me, suggesting stocking up on 100pf silver-mica caps. (because I knew what the problem was.)
Was that not enough of a hint?
Oh well.

Well glad you got it fixed and have it playing...Sprman : )

1st if quit now. Since 1st and 2nd are identical, repaired the one with a pair of micas and it works like a champ again. thanks again gang for the help.