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JC PENNEY model #6237


Go to CB Tricks and look up the chassis in a Lafayette either SSB140 base or the SSB120 mobile, all have the same chassis and they are great talkers, I had one of those 6247's and am not happy that I ever sold it, guys on the radio would tell me how good it sounded, I had no idea it had such a good chassis in it
 
trucker, i think you are thinking of a different radio. the one you mentioned had the PLL02A chip in it.

his has the upd861 chip.

donemad,

the AMC is D7. if you clip it and the audio is distorted, try adding a 3.3K resistor in series with the anode (unbanded end) of D7.

the coils to tune for max modulated output are T13, T14, and T15.

its an ok radio, i wouldnt expect much out of it.
LC
 
trucker, i think you are thinking of a different radio. the one you mentioned had the PLL02A chip in it.

his has the upd861 chip.

donemad,

the AMC is D7. if you clip it and the audio is distorted, try adding a 3.3K resistor in series with the anode (unbanded end) of D7.

the coils to tune for max modulated output are T13, T14, and T15.

its an ok radio, i wouldnt expect much out of it.
LC
Thanks LC, I also have another one, Its the model #pinto 23 channel base, I dont see a model #
 
Hi Loosecanon, I don't know about what ship was in the PLL but I do know I used my Sams for the SSB140 to align and tune it, the pic of the board in the Sams has the pots in the exact place and the 6247 was a great talker just like the SSB120 and 140 that I had at the time. I still use the Lafayette SSB140 for a base in my garage after I sell all the toys that I was playing with out there LOL. Actually on Ebay right now there is a 6247 for sale brand new in a box, I'm going to bid a little and see where it goes. Happy Hurrican weekend if your on the east coast:whistle:
 
its an ok radio, i wouldnt expect much out of it.
LC




I agree. I don't know what the fascination is with these old Cybernet hunkers from the 70's. You can't get any good swing out of most of them and too many of the modern radios, especially with mosfet finals, are far superior.

Some folks just like talking on antiques....it's fine if that's what you like.
 
Hi Loosecanon, I don't know about what ship was in the PLL but I do know I used my Sams for the SSB140 to align and tune it, the pic of the board in the Sams has the pots in the exact place and the 6247 was a great talker just like the SSB120 and 140 that I had at the time. I still use the Lafayette SSB140 for a base in my garage after I sell all the toys that I was playing with out there LOL. Actually on Ebay right now there is a 6247 for sale brand new in a box, I'm going to bid a little and see where it goes. Happy Hurrican weekend if your on the east coast:whistle:


i believe you, but you are talking about the 6247, and he has a 6237.
very different radios.
LC
 
I agree. I don't know what the fascination is with these old Cybernet hunkers from the 70's. You can't get any good swing out of most of them and too many of the modern radios, especially with mosfet finals, are far superior.

Some folks just like talking on antiques....it's fine if that's what you like.

As an aficionado of antique equipment I'd like to offer an explanation as to the attraction of these dinosaurs, but first let's talk about modern radios.

They are wonderful, no doubt. Out of the box they do things that are not only beyond the realm of possibility for the older stuff, they do things that we couldn't even dream of modifying those oldies to do. I mean seriously, if you had told me back in '77 that a CB radio would have full band coverage and all mode operation with little more than a very simple mod I would have said you were insane. FM? CW? Built -in frequency displays? Echo and talkback? Variable RF power? What sorcery is this?

Back to the oldies: I like them because it's a blast trying to make them do things they were never designed to do. We old-timers remember the external crystal boxes and VFOs that were needed to operate out-of-band. Back in the day if you had a 15 kc slider you were the sh!t. Does anyone even know what an 'A' channel is any longer?

Another reason many of us like the old gear has less to do with performance and modifications and more to do with aesthetics. Quite simply the old radios had style. Every modern base or mobile seems to look the same regardless of manufacturer, or more correctly brand name on the box. IMO they are too sterile. If a radio can have a soul then I just don't see it in the new stuff.

Additionally the old stuff was built like the proverbial tank. By the late 70s Japan was at the peak of their game when it came to building anything electronic and it was reflected in the product. Pick up an old 23 channel anything and it will have some serious heft to it. I've had a lot of old radios and never recall seeing a board crack or a cold solder joint unless the thing was dropped or suffered some other type of trauma.

There are quite a few of us out here running old gear. I just got my old 135 Cobra and VFO back from the shop and it's running better than ever after it's first tune -up since it was new back in '76

Sure it would be nice to have all the new bells and whistles, and there is room in my shack for a Galaxy or Connex, but my everyday rigs are always going to be the older stuff. It's what I'm familiar with and comfortable operating. Plus, unless it's something exotic like a Stoner, CPI or ARF they can be had really, really cheap. Just try not to get one that's been all hacked up. Then, as now there were a lot of wrong ways to modify a radio but only a few right ways.

I Know of a tech that is very good with vintage gear if anyone is interested.

BTW, while the 135 was out I put my JC Penny 23 channel Pinto mobile on the air. With a decent mic they talk pretty well, or so people were telling me.
 
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Thanks Atlasta I just thought it was me, for some reason my old Lafayette seem to just work well, on SSB no drift on AM everybody hears me not that the new stuff doesn't do that but the old stuff just seems to work as good for a very long time without any fiddling, I've got a Johnson 4740 SSB mobile that I use for a base, always get great audio reports, some guys say it is the best sounding radio I own and there sure are a ton of them here no doubt. Maybe the oldies don't talk as well when freebanding but really whats the difference, if someones on 555 that I want to talk to I just flip a switch and turn on an Omega Force and I'm good to go
 
Can anyone tell me where the power & mod. pots are on this thing........thanks for any help
They are the 2 pots right next to each other at the back to the left while your facing the radio. Make sure you have the correct tuning tool. Very easy to crack. Just bought a new pot.
 
P.S. the 6237 is probably one of the worse radios I've worked on. I have three but down to 2 since I used parts from one. Can't get the dead key over 3 watts with a 4.5 swing. TOPS. tried everything and SWR's are through the roof coming from the radio. Moving on to the next one and these 2 6237 are ready for sale for 35.00 a piece OBO.
 
I have a JC Penny 6240 pinto AM SSB mobile base that works great except for non working channels 21 22 and 23 that do not receive nor transmit.
I cleaned and lubed the channel dial contacts that did improve the performance of the radio on all other channels but 21 22 and 23 stillnot working.
Any tips on how to repair this or any info about a common problem ???
 
Bad quartz crystal. The crystals are arranged with one set of six. Each one of this set covers four channels, except the highest one. Covers only 21,22 and 23.

Don't have a way to look up the exact frequency of the crystal you need. I'll try to remember next time I'm at work.

73
 

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