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November 2019:
November 2019:
If you have a Zenith table radio that has the rotating FM/AM tuning dial, there is a possibility that it is no longer circular or that it has become warped and is rubbing on the plastic dial cover or on the cabinet. The plastic material used shrinks and lose form over time forcing the aluminum dial plate to bend out of shape. The warped dial affects the tuning accuracy, even if your set is electronically aligned properly. Here is a repair that may solve this issue.
- After separating the dial assembly from the rest of the radio set, remove the spring clip that secures the dial to the cabinet.
- First you have to carefully remove the aluminum dial face from the plastic dial. Use a hair dryer or heat gun (beware- they are a lot hotter) and uniformly heat the metal part, then with a thin blade separate the two parts.
- Get a piece of 22 gauge sheet steel that is large enough to fit over the plastic dial. Don't trim the piece until after the metal and plastic pieces hace been securely bonded together.
Bond a 22 gauge sheet steel to plastic dial
4. With quick setting epoxy quickly spread the glue completely over the plastic dial where the aluminum part originally goes on, then clamp on the sheet steel to the plastic dial face. Try to clamp as many areas as possible. When set take clamps off and trim sheet steel to fit.
The sheet steel tension removes most of the warp edges of plastic dial.
5. After the sheet steel has been trimmed to fit the plastic dial, polish and clean the steel face.
Bond the aluminum plate to sheet steel face.
6. Using a high strength spray adhesive, completely cover the steel face and back of aluminum dial plate. I added a piece of cotton ball to the center of aluminum dial to fill and bind the elevated center part to the steel face.
Mount the dial face.
6. The spray adhesive sets fast. Carefully bond to two parts being careful that there is a proper fit. Then place medium pressue throughout to bind the two parts.
Put back onto radio.
7. Reassemble radio and all done. Should work equal or better than original. Because of the greater mass, there will be a slight increase in turning effort to tune in a station.
Ready for years of service!
Ready for years of service!
The sheet steel and epoxy bond will keep the plastic from losing shape. The only think that can happen over time is the plastic part will crack due to the stress. This work applied to Zenith N723 and N724 models, but Zenith's with similar dial designs should work as well.
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