So what Pilot receiver do I have?

[PoppaSteve]

When I first saw this in a local thrift last week, I didn't pay much attention to it. It looked like a fairly generic early- to mid-seventies receiver. It was missing a couple of knobs, and it seemed overpriced at $14.95.

Then I noticed the brand name. Pilot. And I thought "tubes", maybe? Nope. But on 25% off day on Monday, I noticed that it had been marked down to 5.95, so I gave it a shot.

Sounds good until it warms up, then the right channel goes kablooie, and pretty much quits. I haven't pulled it apart to deoxit the controls yet, but I have a feeling that ain't going to help a whole bunch.

I cannot find a model number anywhere on it. The Pilot logo looks like other pieces of their later solid state gear that I've seen here.

Some of you Pilot guys might be able to identify it. The tuning knob is not original, nor is the mode selector. Everything else is just as I got it.

Good luck, Jim...

[PoppaSteve]

Well, the model number is conveniently hidden on the bottom of the unit.:thumbsdn: I found it as I was taking it apart to clean it. Go figger.

This is a Model 252, or, as it is actually marked, Model-252.

A search here tells me some of us have this, but if anybody can give me a hint on how to get it apart, I'd be obliged. So far, I have succeeded in getting the bottom off it. After that, it looks like a Chinese puzzle box.:yikes:

[jimbofish]

Well, this is certainly a coincidence! I picked up a Pilot 252 today at GW for $3.99. I was just about to leave empty-handed and I noticed it sitting in a cart of new stuff under a BPC Pioneer dual casette deck. I was really surprised at how heavy this bugger is, especially on the transformer side (Note: just weighed it at 25 lbs). Seems quite well made. Looks exactly like your pics, except that all it's knobs appear to be correct. :thmbsp:

So far, testing with head phones hasn't turned up any problems, other than a dial light and the stereo lamp appear to be out. I noticed that the only screws visible were on the bottom. I'll start taking it apart tomorrow and hopefully there will be a solution. So far all I've done is cleaned off the knobs which were filthy!:yuck: Right now I'm searching for more info about it. With a 300watt power consumption, I'd expect about 50-60 total watts of power. :scratch2:

[Chazb11]

Well don't that beat all. I've been looking for a Pilot solid state receiver to add to my collection for I don't know how long!
Either of you want to make a quick profit please PM me!
(I hope that's not against the rules)

[jimbofish]

A search here tells me some of us have this, but if anybody can give me a hint on how to get it apart, I'd be obliged. So far, I have succeeded in getting the bottom off it. After that, it looks like a Chinese puzzle box.:yikes:

Well, I figured it out last night. When you take off the bottom cover, look at the flanges along the sides where the two screws for the bottom cover were. Near those holes, there are two larger holes, about 5/16" diameter. If you look straight down through those holes you'll see that there is a screw directly below it on the main panel of the chassis. Those are the screws that hold the case on. Remove them and the cover will be free. There is an angle bracket screwed to the sides of the case that those screws engage. You can't see this because it's on the hidden side of the chassis.

BTW, if you want to take off the front plate, there are two screws on the top and three on the bottom edge of the face plate. Disregard the two outermost screws on either side of both top and bottom. They only hold the trim on the sides of the faceplate. You'll also have to remove the trim nut on the headphone jack as it's attached to the faceplate. Be careful removing the two screws on the dial... get a phillips bit that fits and press firmly to break them loose. The 4 dial lamps are behind this and are 8v/.25a fuse lamps. I'm guessing the power lamp (behind the "Pilot" logo) is also 8v since it feeds off the same terminal, but it's a wheat bulb. Don't know about the 'stereo' lamp.

I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow.

[PoppaSteve]

Jimbofish, thanks for the update!

I haven't had time to look at the Pilot lately, but I'm looking forward to getting it apart. The right channel on mine is now completely dead, or at least it was the last time I tried it. Getting it apart will allow me to look for anything really obvious.

If not, well, there are a lot of pots and switches in there that can be put to use in other units.

[Chazb11]

I have an interesting side note here.

I just purchased a DHC (Dayton Hudson Corp.) Model 220 receiver. I never heard of them before but the receiver is obviously a Pilot 220.
After a bit of research it turns out that Dayton Hudson was a department store chain. Later, the same corp. opened a chain of discount stores named Target!

I wonder how many other names Pilot was sold under???

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6914/dhc220uq7.jpg

[Modegard]

I have an interesting side note here.

I just purchased a DHC (Dayton Hudson Corp.) Model 220 receiver. I never heard of them before but the receiver is obviously a Pilot 220.
After a bit of research it turns out that Dayton Hudson was a department store chain. Later, the same corp. opened a chain of discount stores named Target!

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/6914/dhc220uq7.jpg

Dayton's were the flagship stores for the Dayton Hudson Corporation. Right in my backyard. The company was renamed Target Corporation in 2000. They sold off the luxury department store chain in 2004 and focused on the Target discount store chain. Up until the late 1980s/early 1990s, Dayton's had an electronics department. My dad bought a Pilot console set in 1962 there. Still have the receipt, but sadly the console is long gone. The big box stores like Best Buy eventually killed th electronics department.

Neat find.