67 AM radio band not working

[Bill K.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

Finally had some time to look at this again. Removed and cleaned the ground connections on the frame and antenna mount. Cleaned and reseated the antenna contact itself. Did not see a way to remove the antenna base from the antenna cable so I left that alone. Still no AM. So I tried a cheap auto zone antenna ... just plugged it in to the radio in place of the original and held it in my hand. Presto .. am works.

So I'm going to look at the antenna gain adjustment mentioned above. Does anyone have a photo or the specific instructions mentioned ?

[Ed S.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

Bill,
I had my '64 am/fm radio restored by Jerry Rudbeck. When he sent it back to me he provided some "helpful tips", including one on how to adjust the am antenna gain. His verbatim tip follows:

"Adjust the recessed antenna trimmer screw on the case side rear near the antenna jack for maximum loudness on a very weak signal near 1600 on the AM dial. If the trimmer does not "peak" the loudness within its range of travel, an antenna or feedline problem is indicated."

Hope this helps.

[Daniel Y.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

Bill, I'd said the same thing you did. I replaced the antena cable and it worked fine. Since the aftermarket antenna with cable worked, I'm pretty sure that is the issue. As I said before these cheap replacement cables break easy buy a couple and try them all send back the ones that you don't need/bad. Or fine a nos one

[Keith B.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

I had the same issue. I was testing in my garage with florescent lighting. Once I shut off the lights the radio worked.

[Bill L.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

Hi:

First: I would totally agree with Dan Young on this issue ---his observation is spot on .....

Accordingly, I would suggest that the actual AM band stations are suspect vs. anything on the car (fluorescents acknowledged) ---

Meaning.... at any point in time I can crank up my radio (newly restored) in my '67 and get great reception... any time from 15 minutes to ten hours later with the car in the same position (garage) --- it is really dicey ---or non-existant...

If I drive around the AM band goes in and out like a yo-yo--- the FM is pretty consistent ---but by no means perfect --- I don't recall either of them being that great in my parents 1966 Oldsmobile 88 with an AM/FM radio and a bunch of other options!!!!!

Screen Shot 2015-08-02 at 8.56.03 PM.jpg

A final note: I also don't recall too many judges at various levels (chapter, regional,national) getting in a twist over AM reception --- it is just not that good and seems to be pretty flaky and intermittent at best --- (this is NOT the sixties!!!---thank goodness!!!)

If you are getting nothing regardless of location then you "might" have an issue ---but messing a bit with dial (in my experience) gets some fair reception --- but it does NOT last long at all ----

Just my two cents ---

Regards
Bill

[Bill K.]

Re: 67 AM radio band not working

Thanks Bill. Car is out of garage in open space. With the antenna on the car plugged in I get static. If I swap the antenna with a replacement that I'm literally holding in my hand I get reception from a local AM station. Don't have to touch the radio, change the dial etc. I am going to remove the antenna from the car and try the same thing before I decide to replace the current antenna.