I was wondering how you usually go about it. Seeing as how one lead will have to be taken out of circuit, Do you clip it then bridge solder it along a lead somewhere? Or do you try to remove the lead from it's solder lug, tube socket, etc. then resolder it back on? I haven't checked any other than those obviously bad which were replaced.

Mike K7MH

Hi Mike, the best way is to remove the solder at the joint, and lift the part out. If it is bad, you have a clean area to work from. I have seen some sets with huge globs of solder from repairs like that, an they had become intermittent.A good solder sucker, and solder wick will easy the pain Good luck.

Hi Mike
Normally there is NO reason to remove one lead to check a resistor in a radio. Just check it In Circuit. If the resistor checks High in value which is the normal failure mode for them then it junk replace it. If it checks LOW then YES you probably have some coil or other part that is giving you a false reading so remove one lead ... check resistor .. and either replace it or put it back.

John k9uwa

Mike,

I'm with John. Usually, there is no need to disconnect anything. The less unnecessary disturbance among the parts and wiring, the better. The common carbon resistors apparently almost always drift high.

Carbon film resistors sometimes partially short, but usually there is plenty of visual evidence that such resistors have been fried.

If you can read a schematic and trace wiring, you can figure out which resistors are across something that will mess up the resistance reading. If in doubt, the ARF is standing-by to help with this. Just post a link to the schematic, and ask.

There are lots of AA5s where there are no parallel resistors at all.

Now, your accuracy will suffer if the radio is still full of leaky capacitors and SMD-plagued IF transformers. The use of some judgement is required.

Ted

Third time today. for a nickel, just replace it.

I always replace all of the resistors in my radios. They are a lot cheaper than caps, and in the time it takes to test one out, it can simply be replaced.

Chris

Thanks for all the info. I'll just replace most all of them. The time involved is more in digging through several trays of resistors that have never been sorted out!
The receiver is a Hallicrafters S120. More something to learn with than anything else.
I already replaced all the caps.
A few of the resistors I checked in circuit were WAY high.
The 500 ohm 5 watt wire wound resistor-fuse across the panel lamps is open.

I picked up on some info I didn't know about from your responses so thanks!

Mike K7MH.

depends on where the resistor is in the circuit you may get a false reading. it is always best to lift on end if in doubt. like if you would be getting some crazy reading. usually they have something to do with voltages so a voltage check would tell weather the resistor is within tolerance