Zenith Console Restore & Troubleshooting

[robin54]

Just picked up a Zenith Tube console I want to restore. It powers on and I have sound coming out of the small tweeters but nothing out of the 12" woofers. I'm going to start with cleaning the pots first before I move on unless there are any other suggestions. Everything inside looks to be original without any modifications. I will post pictures soon.

After cleaning all the pots, the speakers are working correctly. Now moving on the next issue, no am/fm (just static). Also fixed the broken tuning string and cleaned up the face plate a little bit.

 

[robin54]

Hello. I just joined this and came on here and actually DONT know anything about what I am doing. But I bought an old zenith console stereo a couple years ago and it worked fine. It stays in a vacation home so is rarely used. So today I am here and the sound isn’t coming out of the speakers at all. I am a 65 year old lady and not techy at all. But if someone would know a simple thing for me to try, I would sure appreciate it.

 

[RWood]

Hi and welcome to Audio Karma.

So it used to work and after sitting idle for a period of time it doesn’t?

A few questions to help us help you......
On the back is there a model # or better yet, a chassis #?
Are you able to remove the back panel?
Does the Zenith have glass vacuum tubes inside it?

if those last two are “yes”s, then a simple thing to try is to gently wiggle the tubes in their sockets. I try to hold them by their tops and gently rotate them so that the tube pins will move up and down slightly in their sockets. Sometimes this will be enough to disrupt corrosion that has formed in the socket. At least it is something to try that doesn't require technical know how.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[HutchAmpMan]

Two different Sams folders (1962) for amp 7F30 and tuner 7F20 - I should have them both. I checked Radiomuseum - they don't have those scans... yet.

Did you find those schematics? I have a Zenith MHT-15 that I could use them for. Thanks! Tom

 

[Tom Bavis]

MHT15C OR MHT15L? Different folders. Chassis number may help, as there were several combinations.