Uploaded August 2011 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
I removed all of the old mica sheets, trimmed the contacts to avoid shorting, and put a little super glue on the leads so they won't move around. One thing I found after making this video is to try and clamp the IF transformer in the vise grips along the same plane but with the metal can still on while drilling out the rivet. Leaving the can on helps reinforce the structural integrity while drilling.
Another tip is to check continuity of the coils with an ohmmeter before re-assembling the can. One of them had a broken wire from the coil to the terminal and I had to extend the internal terminal with a piece of stiff wire and carefully file the enamel of the coil wire and re-solder it. Also check continuity to the can (there should be none) to make sure there are no shorts.
I removed all of the old mica sheets, trimmed the contacts to avoid shorting, and put a little super glue on the leads so they won't move around. One thing I found after making this video is to try and clamp the IF transformer in the vise grips along the same plane but with the metal can still on while drilling out the rivet. Leaving the can on helps reinforce the structural integrity while drilling.
Another tip is to check continuity of the coils with an ohmmeter before re-assembling the can. One of them had a broken wire from the coil to the terminal and I had to extend the internal terminal with a piece of stiff wire and carefully file the enamel of the coil wire and re-solder it. Also check continuity to the can (there should be none) to make sure there are no shorts.
