Cobra 25LTD Classic

[Smokinone]

Working on a 25 LTD Classic for my nephews truck. It's an older Taiwan model that has been sitting in the garage for years, his, not mine. I didn't get a pic but the speaker side of the cover had all the wax and stuff on one side that had leaked from the board. No big deal, cleaned up nicely after a little heat gun action.
Preliminary check out, it did power up and receive, also keyed up and showed about 4 watts output. I then began the re-cap process. I took readings of the caps on the way out and made a poor looking chart of values, excuse the handwriting. I didn't record the voltages but they were from 6.3V on up...a lot of 10V caps.
New silpads for the final and driver installed as well.

As you can see, even if the radio appears to be OK on the preliminary test, a lot of the caps were not within spec...some by a long shot.
I have cleaned the board both sides, component side and solder side. 25 caps replaced. Glued the face plate back on and cleaned it. Knobs are in solution to clean them, cleaned the back of the radio somewhat, wanted to keep a little of the accumulation of dirt for patina.
Moving on the the alignment stage after a little break








After the re-cap

 

[doffo]

Niiiiiiiiice! The 1990s Cobras were ok. After that? No thank you.

I did recap a 25 GTL and an original 25 LTD. For whatever reason, the 25 GTL would do a "double click" of the relay on ol RM-Italy 203P every time you would key up... The 25 LTD worked fine and didn't do that. Something on the GTL AM only radios that would do that to the amp. I don't have it connected up now but maybe sometime get it connected and make a quick video on that and hope someone knows why that even happens.

 

[Smokinone]

This 25LTD Classic now showing 4.5 watts dead key, and swings to about 30watts according to my WM-1. Can that be right?
The Mectron I just re-capped swings to about 15 watts on the WM-1, it's probably a little earlier production than the Cobra.
I'm guessing the 25LTD Classic is maybe 1983 vintage as the first 2 numbers in the serial number are 83...just a guess, I can't really find anything on production dates.