Fisher MPX decoder re-cap

[NYListens]

My Fisher 500-B re-cap is nearly complete and I am down to one last capacitor. I have been using it for about a month now, as I just had the MPX unit to re-cap and haven't been using the radio. So I went to finish the job tonight and after replacing one of the last two remaining caps, I realize that the final cap is absolutely buried. I have no idea how I am going to replace it. If I could cut the leads, I could bend them and snake the orange drop through with some heat shrink on the leads to prevent a short. But I can't figure out how to cut them. Can anyone suggest a tool that can cut these that is real long and slender?

By the way, I did try the FM Stereo and one channel didn't sound so hot. I thought it was probably the capacitors, but under closer examination I noticed that instead of two 12AT7 tubes, there was one 12AU7 tubes in and one 12AT7 tubes. I now assume it is the 12AU7 tube that is the problem.

[Old1625]

Can you show a picture of the component and its location? My thought is that you can perhaps flex the body of the component in such a way that the flexure occurs where its leads enter the body, and then when the leads break off, leaving standing leads, attach the new component by coiling the new component's leads around some stiff wire a little larger in gauge than the original leads, and then positioning the coils to fit over the old leads and sweating into place with a pencil iron.

When I'd worked on any of those old Fisher FM rcvrs back in the day I never was overly impressed by the MPX cktry originally used, and had always supplanted them with a more modern module wired up on a perfboard, and using a PLL chip such as the LM1800. Quick and easy, and very reliable.

Just my .02....

[NYListens]

Can you show a picture of the component and its location? My thought is that you can perhaps flex the body of the component in such a way that the flexure occurs where its leads enter the body, and then when the leads break off, leaving standing leads, attach the new component by coiling the new component's leads around some stiff wire a little larger in gauge than the original leads, and then positioning the coils to fit over the old leads and sweating into place with a pencil iron.

When I'd worked on any of those old Fisher FM rcvrs back in the day I never was overly impressed by the MPX cktry originally used, and had always supplanted them with a more modern module wired up on a perfboard, and using a PLL chip such as the LM1800. Quick and easy, and very reliable.

Just my .02....

Not bad suggestions. However, it would be impossible for me to wiggle that thing. It really is buried. On the MPX circuitry, I have often thought about such a set up for the 500-S I am working on.

[NYListens]

Ok, I got it!!!! I used a pair of cuticle clippers (please don't say anything to my wife!) I snipped them and then fished the orange drop through, bent the leads around the outside of the post and soldered away. Clearly not the cleanest job I have ever done (there are remnants of the old leads sticking out), but it should work. Now I can't wait to get the correct tube (12AT7) and try it out.

[Old1625]

Good show! :thmbsp: Hope it aligns well and renders a good image.

As for your distaff side if she whines tell her to count her blessings that you are not as bad as Old1625, who rebuilt a truck engine on the kitchen table.

[NYListens]

Good show! :thmbsp: Hope it aligns well and renders a good image.

As for your distaff side if she whines tell her to count her blessings that you are not as bad as Old1625, who rebuilt a truck engine on the kitchen table.

I will have to remember that!