6v radio help

By chance does anyone know someone who can fix an old Motorola 6v radio? It is in my 48 dodge d24 and when it is turned on the light comes on, but no sound. Would like to get it working so I can add the rediradio (sp?) to is so I can hook up my I pod or xm radio.
I am located in Schertz just outside of San Antonio Tx and would like to find someone local or if need be can ship.

 

I'm no expert, but aside from the vacuum tubes which you expect to occasionally fail, the main problem with old radios is the "vibrator" and the next are the paper rolled capacitors. Everything else inside is pretty bulletproof.

 

I would agree with Mike51Merc. All the old caps for sure should be replaced
to start. A new vibrator and all tubes checked for shorts and leaks.
I sent you a pm for restortation price.

 

Thanks guys, got the PM Visor.

 

There is nothing in your radio that is not common on all radios of the times. Tubes and parts are available. If you ask around you may be able to find an old time radio and TV repair man or a ham or hobbyist who can rebuild your radio.

If not there are several who advertise on the net. One charges $35 per tube. Your radio has either 5 tubes (standard quality car radio) or 7 (deluxe quality car radio).

You need to know your radio is in 2 parts, it has a dynamic speaker with the amp built into the speaker section, which plugs into the receiver section. That is, if it is the stock Dodge radio .

 

I am not expert but I have played with them since was a kid. I cannot tell you how to make it work but I can usually get one to work.

 

There are always repair shops listed in the "Services Offered" in Hemmings

 

She still has the stock speaker too, so could it be the amp is out on the speaker ? Might look up and see how to test the tubes and pull the radio to to check it.
Is there a way to hook up a modern speaker to see if that is the prob or will it not work cuz of the amp?

 

Rusty O'Toole (care to sell me your name?) states the radio is in 2 pieces ... one has amplifier and speaker and other has receiver (and I assume power supply). Assuming true that would be absolutely great as one can easily get a solid state amplifier module for $10 and modern speaker to replace that part. Automatically the power consumption is cut in half and reliability increased by 10. Next, clean the points on the vibrator. Ignore those who insist on changing capacitors. Only bad caps need changing and chances are all are good. GL

 

Capacitors in radios are always bad after 50 or 70 years. If it "clunks" in the garbage can, it was bad. Trust Me. Usually some of the resistors too, the high meg types typically. The capacitors act more like resistors, or dead shorts. The vibrator itself also has a capacitor that must be replaced, they are usually rated for 1600 volts, because they saw such severe service. The tubes strangely enough are almost always good, and even better, are cheap and plentiful if not.

Everybody usually thinks tubes are hard to get, or fragile, unreliable, or expensive. Not so. Some types were even used as artillery fuses, and the rugged loktals were designed for aircraft use. The waxed paper & foil capacitors are the achilles heel, they absorb moisture, and acids in the paper cause it to degrade, like old pulp paperbacks or newspaper. Modern poly film replacement capacitors are practically bulletproof.

Anyway a properly refurbished and aligned old tube or valve radio is a real treat, they really do have excellent, crisp LOUD audio and good sensitivity and selectivity. If the cone is OK, the speakers usually need no attention, and probably better than a lot of the stuff out there for replacement. If you balk at the price of a professional restoration, look at doing it yourself. It's not particularly difficult, a soldering iron, rosin core electronics solder, etc.