another am radio question HELP!

[freezmcnally]

ok. been searching but i dont seem to have the wiring spades listed as others do...or im confused...or both.

If i hook up power to the 12v spade and ground the radio...it remains dead when grounded. knob on/off makes no change
if i hook up power to the unmarked middle spade, it lights up when grounded.
knob on/off makes no change

everyone says hook power up to the one that says 12v. but it only looks to work when i do it on the middle one...so im confused. haven't even got to the sound part yet

[FirstOwner69]

Here's a picture of a radio wiring harness. Maybe it'll help. Looks like the 12V/power wire is at the end. Other 2 are speaker.

[BLT gmc]

antennae must be hooked up or the radio will be quiet. I agree with FirstOwner69 on the wiring. Also if the radio is powered up with out the speaker hooked up(and the correct resistant speaker) you can quickly burn up the ceramic fuse in the output circuit. Bruce

[michael bustamante]

what ohm is the oe speaker?

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

what ohm is the oe speaker?

8 ohm. Below is a link to the place that reproduces the correct speaker. The magnet on these is round and they supply a wood block that replicates the original magnet. That is required for mounting when the original bracket is used. I have one of these and it works great. This link also contains pertinent information.

http://www.turnswitch.com/speakers.htm

[michael bustamante]

great thank you

[BLT gmc]

I will second that speaker. It is very good. Bruce

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by BLT gmc

I will second that speaker. It is very good. Bruce

x3 - US built and a good deal IMO, I used one in a K10. The owner has also refurbished OEM truck and van AM/FM radios for me.

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by michael bustamante

what ohm is the oe speaker?

it has two little speakers that were from the aftermarket 'replica' stereo. which i believe are 8ohm...i can't remember the company off hand now but its the common one that everyone buys as a modern replica. too lazy to go out to the garage right now to see.

i tried it with an 8ohm sony bookshelf speaker when trying all the connections. again, silence but lights up when grounded if i hook the 12v to the MIDDLE spade. if i hook it to the end one that says '12v' the radio does nothing. im thinking its dead, not sure how else to know. i thought maybe if it lights then there was a chance.

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Here's a picture of a radio wiring harness. Maybe it'll help. Looks like the 12V/power wire is at the end. Other 2 are speaker.

does it look like all the spades on that plug are evenly spaced. on the back of the stereo they are not. its a slightly wider gap to the one that says 12v. does it look like that on your plug too?

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by freezmcnally

i tried it with an 8ohm sony bookshelf speaker when trying all the connections. again, silence but lights up when grounded if i hook the 12v to the MIDDLE spade. if i hook it to the end one that says '12v' the radio does nothing. im thinking its dead, not sure how else to know. i thought maybe if it lights then there was a chance.

The light is not an indication if the radio is getting power unless the left radio knob is turned to the on position. If not turned on, the light is off even with the headlights on. That's the way they made them.

EDIT: Your picture in post 1 shows only 2 wires. There should be 2 wires to the speaker as in the picture I posted in post 2.

[FirstOwner69]

I zoomed in on the picture in post 2 in order to show the ends of the 2 wires that connect to the speaker. You can even see how these broke off the speaker.

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

The light is not an indication if the radio is getting power unless the left radio knob is turned to the on position. If not turned on, the light is off even with the headlights on. That's the way they made them.

EDIT: Your picture in post 1 shows only 2 wires. There should be 2 wires to the speaker as in the picture I posted in post 2.

hi. ya i took the picture so the spade markings could be seen...i didnt have all wires connected when i took it...sorry for the mislead.

this radios light comes on regardless of whether the knob is turned on or not....again....dunno what that really means. but the light doesnt go on or off with the knob. just constant on if 12v to middle spade. its probably screwed but it looks nice and original... i guess part of me just wanted to hear some old time crackly am coming out of it. even if i will never turn it on

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by freezmcnally

does it look like all the spades on that plug are evenly spaced. on the back of the stereo they are not. its a slightly wider gap to the one that says 12v. does it look like that on your plug too?

Here's a zoomed pic of the radio end. Looks like they are evenly spaced. I'd check, but I'm 2000 miles from the truck and my spare radios.

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Here's a zoomed pic of the radio end. Looks like they are evenly spaced. I'd check, but I'm 2000 miles from the truck and my spare radios.

oh ok thats pretty clear...thanks.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by freezmcnally

does it look like all the spades on that plug are evenly spaced. on the back of the stereo they are not. its a slightly wider gap to the one that says 12v. does it look like that on your plug too?

Just looked of a different picture I have on file from an old eBay listing. In that shot, it does appear the hot wire is spaced farther than the 2 speaker wires are spaced.

[FirstOwner69]

This thread has some diagrams for radio installation. It clearly shows the power wire to the spade closest to the side of the radio.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=518727

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Just looked of a different picture I have on file from an old eBay listing. In that shot, it does appear the hot wire is spaced farther than the 2 speaker wires are spaced.

ok cool. thought maybe my radio was weird. well. it must be a dud

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by freezmcnally

ok cool. thought maybe my radio was weird. well. it must be a dud

See post 17.

[freezmcnally]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

See post 17.

awsome...thx...i missed that when i was looking at these on my phone.
very helpful

[freezmcnally]

i see by this i am also missing the spacer and nuts that go on before the chrome spacer and knobs