A new RP25 in the family

[Nebogipfel]

Good evening all,

I thought I'd take this opportunity to announce the arrival of our new Sovereign II via Ebay. It was bought as non-functioning but I'm delighted to say reseating the plug on the amplifier board resulted in the set bursting into life on all three bands Aside from the inevitable miising rear plastic grille it's a nice tidy old set.

It's not without problems, the switches are very noisy which brings me to the first of my novice questions:-

Is there a right and wrong way to use servisol? Sorry if that seems a daft question but I'd hate to do something stupid.

My second question is about the rexine. Luckily it remains taut, but could do with a good clean and polish. I wonder if there is a recommended method or product?

On the subject of the elusive plastic grille. I have been wondering if it might be possible to make a replica using one of the moldable plastics? It doesn't look too difficult. Has anyone on the forum given it a go? It seems that a significant percentage of Hackers on Ebay are sans grille.

For the database the serial number is 05731 and it is fitted with a Goodmans speaker (with three screws in the magnet) I assume the set is pretty early and I can see AF117's looking at me. It's a black one.

Thanks for your attention

[Joe]

I'm with Steve_P on AF117s: they must have varied by batch. I've got an Autocrat and all the ones in there are fine but I've had the usual problems with other sets, Sovereigns, Roberts R200s and Bush TR82s.

- Joe

[Radio Fixer]

Well I would say the best way to use Servisol is sparingly on paxolin switch wafers particularly if switching HT or worse mains. Even if the the switching is low voltage I still would only use a little. Some advocate spraying into a lid top and applying with just the tube by dabbing. Work the switch back and forth of course. And do check visually if you can (dentists mirror helps) that there are no bent or lose contacts

Servisol will give an immediate improvement but on some sets it may not last. The best for this, that I have found and no connection, is De Oxit sold by the BVWS. Expensive but it goes a long way.

Gary

[pwdrive]

What about Electrolube they used to sell it in a dispensing "pen" we used it on the rotary tuner contacts back in the VHF TV days, it was quite expensive as I recall.

Lawrence.

[Nebogipfel]

Well I would say the best way to use Servisol is sparingly on paxolin switch wafers particularly if switching HT or worse mains. Even if the the switching is low voltage I still would only use a little. Some advocate spraying into a lid top and applying with just the tube by dabbing. Work the switch back and forth of course. And do check visually if you can (dentists mirror helps) that there are no bent or lose contacts

Servisol will give an immediate improvement but on some sets it may not last. The best for this, that I have found and no connection, is De Oxit sold by the BVWS. Expensive but it goes a long way.

Gary

Thanks for the input Gary. I was thinking specifically of the volume pot and the wavechange switches on the Sovereign so no danger of mains or HT. I asked the question because I have read references to Servisol in this context many times but the posts invariably assume that the person being advised is aware of how to use it properly. On this radio the volume pot is quite noisy and the wavechange is quite crackly and a bit hit and miss.

It's a nice old set, my second Hacker and my first goer and I'd like to make things better rather than worse

[Radio Fixer]

Unlikely to fix the vol pot but you can try ... some say WD40 works better!! On these over the years the carbon type material wears away ... new one maybe.

Switch it should help but look for mechnical probs ... you can get used to looking and actually see the contacts rise up on Yaxely type switches. Adjustment is possible but that take as bit of experience. Stick a bit of new grease on the ball and indent.

Gary

[Mark Hennessy]

It's not a rotary switch - just 4 standard pushbuttons.

Servisol or equivalent will help, and depending on how worn the various contacts are, you might need to repeat in a few days/weeks/months/years time...

To get the stuff into the switches, put the top face of the set on your lap and squirt small amounts into the rear of the switch - exercise them a few times.

Mark

[Nebogipfel]

Thanks Mark, I'll give it a whirl

So, I wonder, what does the Hacker man do to make his rexine look posh?

[boiss]

I just got my RP25 yesterday from ebay, It was a spares or repairs special. On arrival No Sound!!!. A quick touch with a screwdriver showed that the audio was working, tapping produced sound temporarily on FM. This was tracked town the ext I/P skt. There is no AM though.!! Taking out the chassis etc showed that (It had been got at) all the AF117s had been changed to BC214LBs,!!! Some had the bases connected to the screen connection??? Voltages on the devices were completely wrong, desoldering and checking the 214s showed that they were connected wrongly anyway. Substituting BCY70s for the 214s in the IF stage produced some noise but the Voltages were not all OK, there was a broken track!! changing the LO tr to MPS5815 and repairing yet another track brought sound at last. Now I JUST have to realign it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Model is Black rexine with a stuffed antenna
Serial No is 11220
Cheers

[Nebogipfel]

You sound like a chap who knows what he's doing with these magical devices

Whoever bought the (Ebay) 25 Hackers for £16 got a bargain .... assuming they live in the south of France of course