replacement can capacitors

[Ted Reese]

Hi, does anyone have a source for the screw-based power supply can capacitors? Hate to start drilling holes for the "newer" mounting styles. All I seem to be able to find are of unknown age and origin. Thanks much, Ted

[Norman S Braithwaite]

I doubt that you will be able to find any serviceable threaded filter capacitors.  Two confident options exist.  The most popular is to install a couple terminal strips under the chassis using existing hardware (mounting hardware for chokes) to support axial electrolytic capacitors and isolate the original wet electrolytics while leaving them in place for cosmetics.  The other is to carefully open the original wet electrolytics, gut, and install new dry electrolytics inside.  I have used a jewelers saw to open the wet electrolytics just under top cap for installation of modern axial electrolytics.  Another possibility consists of replacing the borax solution in the wet electrolytics with new borax solution.  This used to be a common repair technique but I'm not sure it will work well after 70-years of deterioration.

Norman

[Ted Reese]

Thanks Norman, I was just hoping. I've done a LOT of taxidermy (gut & stuff) of the old cans and Bakelite blocks, its just so messy, so I guess it is back to it; anything to keep from drilling holes and maring things up. Thanks much, Ted

[Leonid Soloviev]

Ted, electrolitic capacitors do deteriorate with time. They are the weakest link in the chain - should be replaced - all of them, if you plan to use the radio. I would not use any electrolitic capacitor older than 10 years, even NOS.

[Ted Reese]

Thanks Leonid, I have been using XICON caps at 450 volts that seem to hold up well. Take care, Ted