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One hour?!? Man, that is pretty good! Takes me about three hours at a leisurely pace to do a SSB radio; of course they have far more caps in them than an AM/only radio.

Back to the old question: why replace caps?

Recently I purchased a computer sound system w/subwoofer and built-n amp from Goodwill for only $4. Because it was left on all of the time by the previous owner, it had failed. Thing is, it isn't that old and this model/make is still in production and on the market. What failed? The caps. Had to change ALL of them (used good caps this time around BTW); and then it worked.

Now, they were using cheap caps in that amp. CB radios are built at a price point (read 'cheaply'). They are at risk based upon the fact that the original caps were not premium caps to begin with - and chances are - they are very old. That is two strikes against them; and those facts are irrefutable.

Sure, you can say that a low level tech would replace all caps rather than just replace them as they go out. But leaving old caps in the radio can also impair its performance. Sometimes without notice, or sometimes it is all too obvious.

If it is an old classic CB radio, then give it and yourself a break and replace them and then go on to enjoy that great old radio as it was designed to be operated . . .

<blockquote data-quote="Robb" data-source="post: 681593" data-attributes="member: 8446">One hour?!?&nbsp; Man, that is pretty good!&nbsp; Takes me about three hours at a leisurely pace to do a SSB radio; of course they have far more caps in them than an AM/only radio.Back to the old question: why replace caps?Recently I purchased a computer sound system w/subwoofer and built-n amp from Goodwill for only $4.&nbsp; Because it was left on all of the time by the previous owner, it had failed.&nbsp; Thing is, it isn&#039;t that old and this model/make is still in production and on the market.&nbsp; What failed?&nbsp; The caps.&nbsp; Had to change ALL of them (used good caps this time around BTW); and then it worked.Now, they were using cheap caps in that amp.&nbsp; CB radios are built at a price point (read &#039;cheaply&#039;).&nbsp; They are at risk based upon the fact that the original caps were not premium caps to begin with - and chances are - they are very old.&nbsp; That is two strikes against them; and those facts are irrefutable.Sure, you can say that a low level tech would replace all caps rather than just replace them as they go out.&nbsp; But leaving old caps in the radio can also impair its performance.&nbsp; Sometimes without notice, or sometimes it is all too obvious.If it is an old classic CB radio, then give it and yourself a break and replace them and then go on to enjoy that great old radio as it was designed to be operated . . .</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Robb, post: 681593, member: 8446"] One hour?!? Man, that is pretty good! Takes me about three hours at a leisurely pace to do a SSB radio; of course they have far more caps in them than an AM/only radio. Back to the old question: why replace caps? Recently I purchased a computer sound system w/subwoofer and built-n amp from Goodwill for only $4. Because it was left on all of the time by the previous owner, it had failed. Thing is, it isn't that old and this model/make is still in production and on the market. What failed? The caps. Had to change ALL of them (used good caps this time around BTW); and then it worked. Now, they were using cheap caps in that amp. CB radios are built at a price point (read 'cheaply'). They are at risk based upon the fact that the original caps were not premium caps to begin with - and chances are - they are very old. That is two strikes against them; and those facts are irrefutable. Sure, you can say that a low level tech would replace all caps rather than just replace them as they go out. But leaving old caps in the radio can also impair its performance. Sometimes without notice, or sometimes it is all too obvious. If it is an old classic CB radio, then give it and yourself a break and replace them and then go on to enjoy that great old radio as it was designed to be operated . . . [/QUOTE]

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