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400 FM popping

so grounding the V3, V4, or V5 grid still has the pop? It should kill any radio signal since there wouldn't be anything coming in to the grid from the front end but not killing the popping is not what I was expecting.
Grounding each of those grids makes the radio signal faint, if I turn up the volume I can hear the popping distinctly.

Grid of V4 should just be whats at the plate of V3, so blocking whats coming out of V3 ought to stop it if V3 was the source. Ditto grid of V5, thats just what shows up at the plate of V4. Since it doesn't, that sort of points me somewhere else. Extra interesting that removing any tube stops it, but killing the signal coming in to the grid of any of the tubes does not
Yes understood
the extreme regularity of it definitely says some sort of oscillation problem like @dcgillespie said. I've had oscillating IF strips before, but grounding any of the IF amp tube grids would kill it.

squarely at the "I don't know" point here since this doesn't give results that seem logical to me.
Normally I'd look for a lead dress issue, but none of the wiring in these sections has been disrupted save for the filter caps. Unfortunately I didn't listen to the unit before replacing them, there were several other issues so I tackled them all at once. I suppose I could compare the lead dress to the other 400 I have here...
But I'm eager for any other ideas at this point!
Thanks --
 
Can you post a few pictures of this section, maybe we’ll see a flag. I often when I hit the stalemate on an amp, I take a few snaps and then return to them later. That usually reveals the problem.
 
So is it correct that with the RF Amplifier tube and the Oscillator/mixer tube removed the popping is gone? How about with just one of these tubes installed one at a time? Does it take both tubes being installed for the sound to occur?


Dave
 
So is it correct that with the RF Amplifier tube and the Oscillator/mixer tube removed the popping is gone? How about with just one of these tubes installed one at a time? Does it take both tubes being installed for the sound to occur?


Dave
If either V1 or V2 is pulled, all sound goes away including the popping.
I can't *see* any sign of the popping at the V3 grid, but it's obvious at the plate.
Incidentally, the metal cover for the oscillator section has a color code written out for Z1. Someone before me was looking at that...
IMG_2987.JPGIMG_2988.JPG
 
It looks like nothing has been touched in OSC Mix (V1, V2) or at V3. It is curious that someone was tracing with those markings. I don't see any reason the B+ caps on the MPX would cause this issue.

In my experience, though, those 2 330 ohm 'glass' resistors can fail under heat. I had a 400 that had a burning small, traced it to those 2 resistors, they tested fine but as soon as they got hot, they were failing. This would not cause the popping, though.

I would say your options at this point would be to measure any resistors, or the small ceramics in the OSC mix and at V3, and replace them. Clean up any old flux.
You could try to adjust the bottom and topside of Z1, 2, and 3 but it will affect your FM alignment. Finally, you could remove and inspect Z1, 2, and 3, but again it will affect alignment somewhat.

This might be an obvious question, but have you confirmed that the popping is on all stations and only on the Fisher? I ask because I had an issue where my local NPR station would also intermittently pop. I also thought it was the receiver, but then I heard it on another radio. If you had an FM signal generator, you could confirm whether it's the amp or the FM signal itself.
 
This might be an obvious question, but have you confirmed that the popping is on all stations and only on the Fisher? I ask because I had an issue where my local NPR station would also intermittently pop. I also thought it was the receiver, but then I heard it on another radio. If you had an FM signal generator, you could confirm whether it's the amp or the FM signal itself.
It's definitely this 400, my other one works without issue.
Thanks for the tips, I'll keep poking around
 
Sorry for the goose chase everyone, turns out it was indeed some sort of RFI.
I tried it on the other side of the house and it worked fine.
Interestingly, my other 400 exhibits no popping when used in this space...
I appreciate all the help!
 
Hummmm — makes me wonder if your other 400 is really the one with a problem— as in it is lacking sufficient sensitivity to pick up the RFI in that vicinity? Just a thought.

Dave
 
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