Problems with a Leak Troughline 3. Works intermittently...

[emmw]

My Leak radio has followed me round - coped with different voltages courtesy of the nice dial on the back (better than my other kit which required step down/up transformers) but for the last few years has been sitting on the top of the bookshelf.

Initially I didn't think it worked at all - however the last time I tried it I suddenly got sound and everything working....and then it disappeared again.


The main issue (I think) seems to be a temperamental aerial/reception. Everything turns on but I don't get the bright green tuning bars coming up. I did get signal for about 10 minutes but for very few radio stations and then I lost it (without moving anything).

Anybody got any ideas? Is this fixable? Is there something I can do?

Thanks
Emm

[jostber]

There might be some useful information here:

http://www.44bx.com/leak/TLalign.html

Another link:

http://www.fmtunerinfo.com/tubetuners.html

[emmw]

Slightly unnerving reference to skilled knowledge of UHF circuits etc... though I probably could get a hold of an oscilloscope.

I will read through the various posts and see if they get me further...
Thanks
Emmeline

[emmw]

Okay - self repair is beyond my level of skill...

I still occasionally get a signal - could it just be to do with the power of the aerial? I have a very basic aerial set up - either a basic T-formation fm aerial, or the worst amplified aerial from Nikkai (which I am never sure is working). The Leak used to work okay with the basic T-form aerial. Is it worth trying a better aerial?

If it something more complex -who could fix it? and what sort of cost am I likely to be looking at?

Thanks
Emm

[Mr Kipling]

I can suggest two things:

Remove the valves one at a time and clean the pins.

Remove the backs of the two slide switches and clean the contacts. They will pretty black and oxidized. They do have quite meaty copper contacts inside and just need a clean. Just be careful not to lose any bits.

Chances are, however, a number of resistors will have gone high.

Kind Regards,
Stephen

[Alex_UK]

I personally have no experience of this guy - but looks ideal for the job to me...

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=20014

[The Grand Wazoo]

You need a good strong signal to make any sense out of a Troughline. Just as an experiment, try connecting your TV aerial into it. You will almost certainly get a more usable signal from that than what you're using. It won't hurt anything to do this.