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txasylum
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Boyers, PA
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 Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 3:48 pm Post subject: AM Radio Experts? |
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| Anyone have any experience with old AM radios? I have a 61 with the original Sapphire 1 by Bendix. All I get is static. I put a new antenna on it, but only static. Not even a very weak signal. I'm guessing it is a lost cause, but thought I'd ask for assistance if there is any. |
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rcroane 
Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013
Posts: 2000
Location: Springfield, Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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I believe there is an antenna trimmer adjustment screw on the back of the radio. Not really sure how it works, but hopefully others will chime in.
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txasylum
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Boyers, PA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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I looked for one earlier today. No screw on the back of the radio.
| rcroane wrote: |
| I believe there is an antenna trimmer adjustment screw on the back of the radio. Not really sure how it works, but hopefully others will chime in. |
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rcroane
Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2013
Posts: 2000
Location: Springfield, Virginia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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I read somewhere that it might be covered up by a piece of tape?
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67 Florida Deluxe
Samba Purist
Joined: June 21, 2005
Posts: 7987
Location: Gainesville and Tampa, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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The antenna trim could be a small hex nut that extends off the back of the unit. The screw trim could be on the back or the side.
If you get static but no reception, turn the volume knob all the way up and scroll the dial until you hear something different from the ambient static (assuming the antenna is installed and fully extended.) Rotate the trim screw/nut and adjust the tuning knob to "zero in" on a station.
If you are not having success, PM me and I will give you the contact info of a guy that has serviced my '60s radio units.
-Kent
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34009
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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On some later radios the antenna trimmer is hiding behind one of the front knobs. But on a Sapphire I it is next to the antenna socket. See note 13:
Similar wording on #8 here:
This one shows the trimmer location:
Check that the antenna is grounded well and that the plug/wire isn't broken internally. Also, some wiring has shorter or longer plugs, so check yours is compatible with the depth of the socket. |
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sjbartnik
Samba Member
Joined: September 01, 2011
Posts: 5998
Location: Brooklyn
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 7:57 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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I have noticed on mine that if the antenna is collapsed down to its lowest height, I will not pull in any AM stations.
It's gotta have at least the 2nd segment pulled all the way out, and it pulls them in even better at full length even though the antenna is quite long at that point.
Also do ensure that you have AM stations broadcasting in your area 
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Zwitterkafer
Samba Member
Joined: November 17, 2007
Posts: 879
Location: Lanark County, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2020 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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Did it work at all before you installed the new antenna? If so, make sure that the new antenna is not accidentally grounded to the car body. To check this, pull the antenna cable out of the radio. Use a multimeter to check for continuity between the center conductor of the antenna cable, and the car body. There should be no conductivity = open circuit. In operation, the braided sheathing outer layer of the antenna cable IS supposed to be grounded, and therefore it too cannot be allowed to contact the center conductor.
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txasylum
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Boyers, PA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:30 am Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. I will check for continuity of the antenna. I also swear I did not find that adjustment screw, but I will look again. I don't know if the radio worked previously. It was in the car when I bought it, but the antenna was broken when I bought it.
I will check these later and respond. I might take a pic of the back of the radio if I don't find the adjustment screw.
| Zwitterkafer wrote: |
| Did it work at all before you installed the new antenna? If so, make sure that the new antenna is not accidentally grounded to the car body. To check this, pull the antenna cable out of the radio. Use a multimeter to check for continuity between the center conductor of the antenna cable, and the car body. There should be no conductivity = open circuit. In operation, the braided sheathing outer layer of the antenna cable IS supposed to be grounded, and therefore it too cannot be allowed to contact the center conductor. |
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txasylum
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Boyers, PA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 4:34 am Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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One thing I noticed is that I don't have the condenser on the generator or near the radio. But I'm also trying to get a signal without the car running so right now not sure if a condenser is needed. I know it is for use when the car is running, so if I do get the radio to work I will then have to determine if a condenser is needed.
| KTPhil wrote: |
On some later radios the antenna trimmer is hiding behind one of the front knobs. But on a Sapphire I it is next to the antenna socket. See note 13:
Similar wording on #8 here:
This one shows the trimmer location:
Check that the antenna is grounded well and that the plug/wire isn't broken internally. Also, some wiring has shorter or longer plugs, so check yours is compatible with the depth of the socket. |
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txasylum
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2004
Posts: 389
Location: Boyers, PA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:43 am Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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Yep, there was a piece of tape there and I did find the screw. Although, it did not resolve the problem. I turned it one way and the other, but not signal was received. I also double checked the continuity on the antenna and there is not problems with the antenna.
So I guess the radio needs to be restored. Any recommendations for this work?
| txasylum wrote: |
One thing I noticed is that I don't have the condenser on the generator or near the radio. But I'm also trying to get a signal without the car running so right now not sure if a condenser is needed. I know it is for use when the car is running, so if I do get the radio to work I will then have to determine if a condenser is needed.
| KTPhil wrote: |
On some later radios the antenna trimmer is hiding behind one of the front knobs. But on a Sapphire I it is next to the antenna socket. See note 13:
Similar wording on #8 here:
This one shows the trimmer location:
Check that the antenna is grounded well and that the plug/wire isn't broken internally. Also, some wiring has shorter or longer plugs, so check yours is compatible with the depth of the socket. |
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gt1953
Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002
Posts: 13848
Location: White Mountains Arizona
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:07 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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The antenna trimmer is used to tune the antenna to the radio. Back in the day if you have a radio station around 1400 Kilo Cycles you would set the radio to that station and turn the trimmer for the loudest audio.
Hope this helps.
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2506
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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fl59bug
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2005
Posts: 1976
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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You might try contacting this fellow who is on youtube, and really seems to know his stuff when it comes to old AM sets:
https://www.youtube.com/user/MrCarlsonsLab
I've never tried asking him a question, but he does a lot of restorations and might be able to pretty quickly point you in the direction of a solution or at least offer some things to try. |
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7028
Location: Clyde, TX
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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On a side note, I'm curious about step nine: "Install wheel static collectors on front wheels." Can't say offhand that I've heard of wheel static collectors. 
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34009
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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| There was a link, I think to a document here on the Samba, for those. I've never seen them in person, either. |
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mukluk
Samba Member
Joined: October 18, 2012
Posts: 7028
Location: Clyde, TX
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KTPhil
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006
Posts: 34009
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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| Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2020 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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That's it!
Explanation from Chevy forums:
| Quote: |
| Yes, they were OEM, but most mechanics took them off the first time they did a bearing job on the front hubs. The purpose of them was to offer a low resistance path to ground for static that is generated by the rubber tires to dissipate to ground. The static charge would eventually dissipate without them once the voltage was high enough jump through the grease in the bearings, but the static collectors were supposed to keep it bled down. The only purpose was to make the AM radio reception better. The same reason all the ground straps, ignition shielding and condensers were installed all over the car. They were trying to stop the "pops and crackles" that are so annoying on AM radios. |
| Quote: |
Those static collectors in the front hubs were normally made of brass so they would be unlikely to damage a wheel bearing even if broken, but they never seemed to do all that much in my experience.
I recall from when I was a kid that the radios in my grand father's '41 Pontiac and my mother's '41 Chrysler Windsor convertible seemed to work fine both with and without them. This was in the NYC area though, and in areas where radio signals were weaker the situation might have been different.
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tasb
The Distributor Distributor
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 6371
Location: Pentwater, Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: AM Radio Experts? |
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I spent many hours of my youth DX'ing= tuning in distant radio stations on AM and short wave. It was a great hobby. I eventually was able to log 41 states and seven Canadian provinces+Mexico and Belize on AM from my location in Michigan.
Static is always present on AM even under the best of circumstances. The idea of the static arrestor and resistors was to eliminate the additional noise caused by the cars components only. I learned to love that static and the weak or distant stations lurking beneath.
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