From hudakjm@mcmaster.ca Mon Feb 06 19:25:03 2006
Subject:Re: vintage cx3

Well, if I can interject my humble opinion: I'm also a ham radio
operator with an interest in restoring old equipment. It might not be
broken, but it might be close to it. At the very minimum I would
consider replacing the large valued electrolytic capacitors. Check out
the other comment in this thread re: the disintigrating electrolytics.
Yours may not be falling apart but electrolytics have a finite
lifetime. Generally they are considered to be good for only 10 years
or so. Yes, I know there are thousands of folks out there with
equipment with electrolyitcs older than that and they have no problems.
And then there are those who have had a problem when a bad
electrolytic ruined their piece of equipment ie. it leaked, or
exploded, or started on fire (yes I have seen this). Bottom line is
that electrolytics do degrade. Do you want to wait until they leak and
bugger up something else inside your keyboard? It's a waiting game as
far as I'm concerned. Some old equipment used them as coupling
capacitors before the new poly dielectric types became available in
higher values. If so you might even notice an improvement in sound.
Without seeing the schematic it's hard to say for sure but for my 2
pennies worth I'd replace at least any power supply electrolytics.

John