Silvertone 1432

[mtlbasslad]

It can't be both, so the heater is glowing or not?

Heater glows in the tester, not in circuit. I couldn't believe it so I turned off the lights - no glow

[The Dude]

Check the heater voltage directly on the socket pins. Also check that the correct pins are wired for the heater. It's possible someone rewired the socket for a different tube.

[mtlbasslad]

Check the heater voltage directly on the socket pins. Also check that the correct pins are wired for the heater. It's possible someone rewired the socket for a different tube.

Pretty sure that's what I did, although it may have been happy hour by then. I'll check again when sober. And yes, someone has messed in there before me, so...

[mtlbasslad]

So with your meter across pins 3 & 4 you have 6.8VAC, but heater does not light? And tube lights up in another circuit? Sounds like a socket problem, have you cleaned the pins?

Turns out pins & everything in sight was pristine - but 50+ year old socket was tired. Tightened up the socket, tube glows, trem works!

Lesson learned - check the obvious first. So my amateur status is confirmed...

Thanks to all who helped - g1 & Enzo share the prize this time - you both nailed it as a socket problem

[mtlbasslad]

Also inspect the pins from the top to see if one of those has a mangled or spread socket pin.


If pin 5 is a plate, and the tube is not glowing, then no current will flow, so it is normal to see high B+ there.

Yup, spread socket pin it is (was)

[JCHaywire]

Picking up this thread with avid interest in 2019.

Yup, spread socket pin it is (was)

I am working on my own 185.10201 now. Beautiful amp that a friend is bartering a Hickock tube tester for my repair.
I thought this would be simple, but I discovered his schematic was a 185.10301, and the chassis is wired with a bunch of components not on the schem.
Anyway, I am following this thread and troubleshooting.