grundig: 3028 USA; Grundig Majestic

My Grundig Majestic 3028 does not receive BC stations below 80 on the dial. Above 80 the reception is as it should be. I do not even hear any background noise when I move into the 80 or less part of the radio spectrum.

Does anyone have any idea what I should check to fix this? I have the schematic and have done a full re-capp of this unit and it sounds beautiful

Also, is it possible to get the magic eye to be less sensitive? It is brand new and a conversion from EM34 to 6E5C. The two beams actually overlap slightly and the worst signal closes the eye 3/4

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Don,

One of the first things I'd check is the variable tuning capacitor to see if the vanes on the rotary vanes are coming in contact with the stator vanes.  Your symptoms could be due to this.  There are two sections to the capacitor, one for the RF and one for the local oscillator.  A short in either section would cause the problem you have.  Do you have the same problem on other AM bands (not FM, since it does not use this capacitor for its tuning)?  A short in the tuning capacitor would effect all AM bands.  If it doesn't happen on all the bands, it's not your problem.

Other possible causes would be a poor ECH81 -- try another.  It could be the local oscillator is no longer oscillating.  You can use a second radio (portable is easiest) to detect the local oscillator (LO).  The local oscillator should be oscillating 468 kHz above what the dial is indicating.  So in your case, the 80 represents 800 kHz, 468 kHz above this is 1268 kHz.  So a second radio should "hear" the local oscillator at 1268 kHz.  The second radio needs to be near (like on top) of the Grundig 3028.  As you move the dial on the Grundig, the second radio will detect the LO 468 kHz above the Grundig dial indication.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Jim

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I changed the Mullard ECH81 for a VALVO ECH81 and the AM band works. The tube tested okay on a tester.

Thanks for the advise

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