How dare you not post vids for so long sir! 😡 J/K, it's really great to see another great tutorial on radios. I'm far from a radio hoarder but I'd have a hard time letting that gem go being in such great shape and working order. As far as the knobs are concerned I usually soak them in warm water with a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid. I do that while working on cleaning a radio. By the time I'm done the gunk and grime comes of the knobs nearly effortlessly. 💯
I usually follow a similar procedure to you when cleaning radios but for my cleaner use dish soap diluted in warm water. I usually mix up maybe 8 or 10 oz of water in a small container with a generous squirt of soap in it. I take off my knobs and let them soak in the container while I use a microfiber cloth dunked in the soapy water and then squeezed out to damp to clean the rest of the radio. I'll sometimes use Q-tips dunked in the soapy water and squeezed out to damp in order to get in tight areas like you did but a lot of times I can scrunch up my cloth to get in tight areas. I use my damp soft cloth to clean the knobs and then a new, dry cloth to dry everything off before reassembly. I find the dish soap works as an excellent degreaser and really loosens up all that weird sticky stuff that seems to accumulate over time. Its safe on plastics and does not seem to attack any of the silk screen lettering like some other cleaners do. It also doesn't leave any streaks or residue behind like other cleaners sometimes do. Thanks for sharing your technique!
I like to use foaming glass cleaner on all the exterior stuff, if it's real bad a little rubbing alcohol mixed in. I recently acquired 2 of these radios and the channel segments aren't all working all the time. I suspect dirty selector switch. I was hoping to see you cover cleaning that as well. It seems to be pretty common issue with these old radios. I also soak my knobs in warm dish soap and water then hit them with a tooth brush. Since they are plastic it don't hurt them any.
Another cause of intermittent channel-display segments is the insidious :cold-solder joint." Such a joint can go for years before failing either as a complete loss of continuity or a high resistance. Ofttimes a drop of soldering flux and a reheating of the joint will cure the problem. 😉
I use a mild soapy water in a spray bottle a tooth brush on the face and knobs and always use my air compressor when needed, just have to control the air. ive been spraying the tube radios with soapy water with a engine brush ive even sprayed tube radios down with the hose because it was so dirty. just douche it down with contact cleaner then blow it out with air then let it sit for several days.. before pluging it in and running it never had a radio short in 50+ years. whats really fun is when you get one and the roaches come running out when you take off the covers, thats why i never take a used radio into the house before cleaning it in my garage/shop first. just have to control how much air and where you spray the water..
Very nice video. Just so it helps I have discovered a black spray paint that works really good at bringing the black case on the 148's back to looking like new. Let me know if any interest! Have a nice day!
Great to see you back on the Tubes! 73 from 497 in the Carolinas.
How dare you not post vids for so long sir! 😡 J/K, it's really great to see another great tutorial on radios. I'm far from a radio hoarder but I'd have a hard time letting that gem go being in such great shape and working order. As far as the knobs are concerned I usually soak them in warm water with a drop of Dawn dishwashing liquid. I do that while working on cleaning a radio. By the time I'm done the gunk and grime comes of the knobs nearly effortlessly. 💯
'WD40 specialist contact cleaner' for sensitive electronics works great for me. I use it on my RC car stuff, even safe on my receivers!
I usually follow a similar procedure to you when cleaning radios but for my cleaner use dish soap diluted in warm water. I usually mix up maybe 8 or 10 oz of water in a small container with a generous squirt of soap in it. I take off my knobs and let them soak in the container while I use a microfiber cloth dunked in the soapy water and then squeezed out to damp to clean the rest of the radio. I'll sometimes use Q-tips dunked in the soapy water and squeezed out to damp in order to get in tight areas like you did but a lot of times I can scrunch up my cloth to get in tight areas. I use my damp soft cloth to clean the knobs and then a new, dry cloth to dry everything off before reassembly. I find the dish soap works as an excellent degreaser and really loosens up all that weird sticky stuff that seems to accumulate over time. Its safe on plastics and does not seem to attack any of the silk screen lettering like some other cleaners do. It also doesn't leave any streaks or residue behind like other cleaners sometimes do. Thanks for sharing your technique!
Another great video ! Where have you been. ?
Nice and informative video…thank you
I was saving that dirt 😂😂
I like to use foaming glass cleaner on all the exterior stuff, if it's real bad a little rubbing alcohol mixed in.
I recently acquired 2 of these radios and the channel segments aren't all working all the time. I suspect dirty selector switch.
I was hoping to see you cover cleaning that as well.
It seems to be pretty common issue with these old radios.
I also soak my knobs in warm dish soap and water then hit them with a tooth brush.
Since they are plastic it don't hurt them any.
Another cause of intermittent channel-display segments is the insidious :cold-solder joint." Such a joint can go for years before failing either as a complete loss of continuity or a high resistance. Ofttimes a drop of soldering flux and a reheating of the joint will cure the problem. 😉
@michaelbolton2741 right on, I planned on going thru the solder joints after a good cleaning.
Thank you for the tip.
I love cracking noises 😂😂
Very comprehensive video. Great job. 😉👍🏼
Five dollars and a food stamp card 😂😂
Just leave it crispy 😂😂
Very good video. Similar to how i clean old gaming systems. I like to use toothpicks with the wipesfor those tonys nooks and crannies
I haven't worked on a CB since 92 when I sold my Comms store / shop.
Awesome vid love this dude 73
Radio Canada 639 🇨🇦
I did that on my 138 xlr it was very dirty 😅😅
Where’s the glue 😂😂
I use a mild soapy water in a spray bottle a tooth brush on the face and knobs and always use my air compressor when needed, just have to control the air. ive been spraying the tube radios with soapy water with a engine brush ive even sprayed tube radios down with the hose because it was so dirty. just douche it down with contact cleaner then blow it out with air then let it sit for several days.. before pluging it in and running it never had a radio short in 50+ years. whats really fun is when you get one and the roaches come running out when you take off the covers, thats why i never take a used radio into the house before cleaning it in my garage/shop first. just have to control how much air and where you spray the water..
Very nice video. Just so it helps I have discovered a black spray paint that works really good at bringing the black case on the 148's back to looking like new. Let me know if any interest! Have a nice day!
Put it back in 😂😂
i so wish whe had this radio,s in the netherlands :( those radio,s are hard to get here
Smoke the pot 😂😂
Soke your knobs 😂😂
Is a black oxide tnc to bnc adapter a thing? President Randy 2 fcc
You are getting to technical 😂😂
could you tell me your thoughts on RM Noise the new free ai noise reducer thats out for ssb and cw?
trying to clean a cobra 2000 and it has a clear coat or something that wants to wipe off too. ever see that?
Have you done any mods?
Does that have 585 pll😅😅
I think you mean NEC UPD858 PLL?
Anyway, no, these use the Mitsubishi MB8719 PLL chip.
585 pll😂😂😂
No, not the 858 PLL chip..These use MB8719 PLL chip.
Why Cobra brand isn't a player in current SSB radios is mind boggling. I guess they don't feel that they could compete ...