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Post by wrench78 on May 16, 2017 9:44:04 GMT -5
I found a Realistic TRC-55 23 channel radio on Letgo. Talked the guy down to $10. I would have to travel to Philly to get it. Here's the problem, it has no power cord and don't know if it even works. Is it worth getting it? Are they good radio's? Where could I find the power cord? Thanks for your help guys.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss 
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Post by Sandbagger on May 16, 2017 15:32:57 GMT -5
I found a Realistic TRC-55 23 channel radio on Letgo. Talked the guy down to $10. I would have to travel to Philly to get it. Here's the problem, it has no power cord and don't know if it even works. Is it worth getting it? Are they good radio's? Where could I find the power cord? Thanks for your help guys. Fabricating a power cord should be no big deal. If the radio is in good cosmetic shape, whatever could be wrong with the radio electrically (if anything) can be fixed rather easily. The nice thing about 70's vintage crystal rigs, they don't use many "special" parts that are expensive and/or hard to get. I like the looks of the TRC 55. It was a nice radio in its day. Pete has one. |
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Post by bluemax on May 16, 2017 17:31:54 GMT -5
C'mon Boss, tell him straight. It sounds to me like he's already infected. Sure, it starts off innocently enough; 10 bucks here, 20 bucks there. And it's always something that will have SOME use along the way. Then, before you know it, that nice compact radio table covers 2 walls floor to ceiling. I've seen the photos, I've heard the stories. And now another hard working, budding classic radio enthusiast heads down the road toward collection heaven and full boxes of inventory.
And AIN'T IT GRAND!!!
Good Luck Wrench. You might get a perfectly good radio for the time it takes to drive for it and to fabricate a new cord.
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Post by wrench78 on May 17, 2017 12:32:35 GMT -5
Well I got it. Got power to it. Powers up but all kinds of electrical gremlins to work out. Pretty cool. Clock is noisy. Attachments:
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,247
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Post by Sandbagger on May 17, 2017 13:35:11 GMT -5
Well I got it. Got power to it. Powers up but all kinds of electrical gremlins to work out. Pretty cool. Clock is noisy. With radios that old, clock noise is typical. What usually helps is to drill a very tiny hole in the metal can of the clock motor, and spray a little dry graphite lubricant inside, and then cover up the hole with a piece of tape. That will quiet the clock noise for a little while anyway. Looks like you found a power cord. That's one step closer. |
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Post by wrench78 on May 23, 2017 11:31:10 GMT -5
So went on ebay and got me a 5pin to 4pin converter works great with my road devil. I'm off work tomorrow so talk to you all then on Classic Radio Roundup |
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Post by BBB on May 27, 2017 9:03:54 GMT -5
Those mic adapters open up so you can move wires around to fit even more radios.
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Post by bluemax on May 29, 2017 10:56:31 GMT -5
I was wondering about that for months. I was thinking I'd have to make some short jumpers in different configurations, but that makes life a bit easier. Do you have to get any specific brand/model or do they all have that ability. As a matter of fact, it would be handy if they made 4pin to 4pin. That way you could leave a mic as is but use it on another rig. Lots of deals on radios with no mics, and an adapter costs less than a mic! Maybe not as much fun as collecting mics, but easier on the pocket.
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Post by ytradio on Jun 3, 2017 12:41:30 GMT -5
I don't know about the adapters, but I have made up 4 pin to 4 pin pigtails, for a Comstat 35 & one for a Gemtronics. This way I use microphones that are all wired for Cobra, and I don't have to solder & unsolder in those small connectors anymore. Any other radios that I will be coming across will likewise have Cobra pigtails made for them also.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,247
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Post by Sandbagger on Jun 3, 2017 16:34:15 GMT -5
I don't know about the adapters, but I have made up 4 pin to 4 pin pigtails, for a Comstat 35 & one for a Gemtronics. This way I use microphones that are all wired for Cobra, and I don't have to solder & unsolder in those small connectors anymore. Any other radios that I will be coming across will likewise have Cobra pigtails made for them also. All of my radios that have 4 pin mic jacks have been rewired for the Cobra "standard", if they weren't that way already. For radios with other types of mic jacks (5 pin DIN, 5 pin UNIDEN, 4 pin TRAM, 1/4 phone plug etc.) I made 4 pin to "other" pigtails. That's seems to cover the gamut of most of my stuff.. |
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Post by ytradio on Jun 5, 2017 14:09:23 GMT -5
I don't know about the adapters, but I have made up 4 pin to 4 pin pigtails, for a Comstat 35 & one for a Gemtronics. This way I use microphones that are all wired for Cobra, and I don't have to solder & unsolder in those small connectors anymore. Any other radios that I will be coming across will likewise have Cobra pigtails made for them also. All of my radios that have 4 pin mic jacks have been rewired for the Cobra "standard", if they weren't that way already. For radios with other types of mic jacks (5 pin DIN, 5 pin UNIDEN, 4 pin TRAM, 1/4 phone plug etc.) I made 4 pin to "other" pigtails. That's seems to cover the gamut of most of my stuff.. So you just rewired the panel mount in the radio itself to match the cobra mic on your 4 pin radios then? |
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,247
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Post by Sandbagger on Jun 5, 2017 19:24:53 GMT -5
All of my radios that have 4 pin mic jacks have been rewired for the Cobra "standard", if they weren't that way already. For radios with other types of mic jacks (5 pin DIN, 5 pin UNIDEN, 4 pin TRAM, 1/4 phone plug etc.) I made 4 pin to "other" pigtails. That's seems to cover the gamut of most of my stuff.. So you just rewired the panel mount in the radio itself to match the cobra mic on your 4 pin radios then? Yep. To the real purist, that wants to keep things 100% original, this will probably give them pause for concern. But I'm ok with it. It makes life a lot simpler when you have a dozen or so radios and 6 different mics to run with them. |
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Post by BBB on Jun 5, 2017 19:59:02 GMT -5
Down side to those mic barrel adapters is that stick out a good 2".
More than once I've clocked them with something adding stress to that connection. Then they do tend to "wobble" a bit more after frequent use.
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Post by wrench78 on Jun 6, 2017 8:00:39 GMT -5
Down side to those mic barrel adapters is that stick out a good 2". More than once I've clocked them with something adding stress to that connection. Then they do tend to "wobble" a bit more after frequent use. Yep, I have done that a few times now. |
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Post by ytradio on Jun 6, 2017 23:34:15 GMT -5
I started to rewire one of the chassis connectors in one of the radios, but figured that I might forget what I had done at some point, and it would cause me some headaches. So, instead I made the pigtails. But if you are doing all your radios that way, you would not forget. I think your way is the best.
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,247
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Post by Sandbagger on Jun 7, 2017 7:24:18 GMT -5
I started to rewire one of the chassis connectors in one of the radios, but figured that I might forget what I had done at some point, and it would cause me some headaches. So, instead I made the pigtails. But if you are doing all your radios that way, you would not forget. I think your way is the best. Well, if you want to remember where the wires went originally, you can always write it down. That way, if you want to change it back, you can refer to the notes. Some radios can be a pain to rewire, because the jack in hard to get to, or there are other parts attached to the pins as well. But it's usually easy enough to do...... |
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Post by BBB on Jun 7, 2017 9:29:24 GMT -5
Do you have to get any specific brand/model or do they all have that ability. As a matter of fact, it would be handy if they made 4pin to 4pin. That way you could leave a mic as is but use it on another rig. The basic fleaBay all metal Cobra 4 pin mic to Midland 4 pin adapters are the ones you can easily modify with a soldering iron. They are common. I assume the metallic Cobra 4 pin mic to Radio Shack/Sears 5 pin DIN units would modify the same way. They would be useful on Lafayette radios after you move some wires around in it. Some others that are handy are the Cobra 4 pin mic to RCI 6 pin for the 2950-2995 series rigs and the Cobra 4 pin mic to 5 pin Cobra adapter for the older 2000 GTL & 148 GTL rigs. |
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Post by cbrown on Jun 7, 2017 13:03:39 GMT -5
Yep. To the real purist, that wants to keep things 100% original, this will probably give them pause for concern. But I'm ok with it. It makes life a lot simpler when you have a dozen or so radios and 6 different mics to run with them. As long as there is a note inside the case of the radio that mentions the re-wiring, I have no problem with anyone changing the wiring. I just want to know. Had a guy that re-wired the bottom of his TUG-8 when he bought different radios. That was fun to find out. |
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Post by deltaqueenriverrat2 on Jul 16, 2017 12:04:24 GMT -5
Well I got it. Got power to it. Powers up but all kinds of electrical gremlins to work out. Pretty cool. Clock is noisy. With radios that old, clock noise is typical. What usually helps is to drill a very tiny hole in the metal can of the clock motor, and spray a little dry graphite lubricant inside, and then cover up the hole with a piece of tape. That will quiet the clock noise for a little while anyway. Looks like you found a power cord. That's one step closer. |
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Post by deltaqueenriverrat2 on Jul 16, 2017 12:06:00 GMT -5
Cool lookin realistic i like it.
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