Just got my first real answer from a forum after asking about fixing my old radio

Last week, my grandpa's old radio from the 70s just stopped working. I tried looking online but all the guides were for newer stuff. So I posted here asking if anyone knew how to fix the tuner dial on a Zenith model. I didn't think I'd get a real answer, but two days later, a user named 'Mike_in_Tulsa' sent me a full step-by-step guide with pictures! He said he used to repair them back in the day. I followed his steps, bought a $12 capacitor from the local electronics shop, and it actually worked. The radio plays again and my grandpa was so happy. It felt amazing to get help from a total stranger who just knew his stuff. Has anyone else fixed an old piece of tech thanks to a random tip from a forum?

4 comments

4 Comments

leewalker3mo ago

Was it actually a capacitor you replaced? Those old Zenith tuners usually have a bad transistor in the dial circuit. If it's working now, that's great, but keep an eye on it.

pat_moore3mo ago

Heard those old caps are a common fix.

oliver_nguyen153mo ago

Wow, that's awesome it worked! Did Mike's guide mention checking the transistor too, or was he totally focused on the capacitor fix? I'm curious because if the transistor is the real culprit, that capacitor might not last too long.

xena_bailey181mo ago

Kinda read that guide and honestly thought transistors were just those little legs you see on circuit boards that look like a tiny centipede. My bad. Yeah, Mike only talked about swapping the cap and crossing your fingers, no transistor mention at all. Now I'm kind of worried I just threw a band-aid on a leaky pipe, you know? Guess I'll be saving up for another one of these old Zeniths if this one finally kicks the bucket. What do you think, should I slap a new transistor in there now just to be safe?