I just started to refurbish a Zenith 7S342 chairside radio I am in th proses of rebuilding the chasis, all the caps and tubes need to be replaced, I have all the tubes removed but one which is the 6A8G it is stuck in the chasis any advice on how to remove it and why it is stuck would be greatly appreciated.

I would spray some contact cleaner in the socket and see if that helps. You might have to use a small screwdriver to pry the tube up a little in order to get the cleaner in there. Use caution if you use a screwdriver. You don't want to break the tube or the socket.

Be careful, I have seen 1 radio that must have had a loose tube socket, because someone soldered the pin into the socket. I guess they were too lazy to replace it. I hope that is not the problem with your radio.

Have you tried to push up on it from under the chassis while wiggling it from the topside?? (while holding it from the base of course!) Never seen one sieze up that bad before!

Wow thanks for the advice from everyboddy, when I look under the chassis and I wiggle the tube I can see the the pins moving like it wants to be removed and I can pull the tube up about 1/4 of a inch and thats as far as it will go I can't figure it out. I don't want to break the tube socket.

From below, I would put a couple of drops of WD-40 on each pin and leave the set upside down so it penetrates. Then wiggle and wiggle.

Reece

Can you maybe spread open the socket contact with a scribe maybe between the pin and the contact to allow some extra space?? Kinda grasping for straws now......
Or, Must be a solder burr or something like that on one of those pins, maybe you can round down the tube pins with a pair of pliars just a little and then attempt to pull it out again!
The fact that you can remove it some is a good sign....
The band selector switch is in your way too..isn't it?

this happen one time to me, when I left a few tubes in while I replaced a couple of caps. a drop of solder fell on one of the tube pins in turn soldering the tube in the socket, soon as i put the iron on the pin the tube slid right out.

this happen one time to me, when I left a few tubes in while I replaced a couple of caps. a drop of solder fell on one of the tube pins in turn soldering the tube in the socket, soon as i put the iron on the pin the tube slid right out.

I want to thank everybody for there great advice it was a great help and a learning experience, what the problem was that one of the pins of the tube were soldered, I never have ran into a problem like that before and yes the pin was hidden behind the cap I didn't think of that, this is what is great about this site that there is alot of wounderful people with alot of great advice:banana: I will keep you updated on the outcome of the restoration of this Zenith chairside model 7S342 thank's again.

And once again ---------------"Another Happy AK Ending"

Glad to hear you got it out.. What a cool radio. You have any pictures of it by chance? I've got two Zenith consoles. One of them is a 39 with the same face your's has.

yes I can put some pics of it, however it is apart right now but I can put pics of the chassis and the console and parts, and yes this is a really neat old radio and this is the first Zenith chairside I have owned. I am very excited to get her up and running but it's going to take alot of work, but that's the labor of our love.

As requested here are some pictures of the Zenith 7S342, I removed the chassis and the speaker from the console and that was not a easy task, does anybody know where I can get some parts for this such as, and I am sure what they are called but there was little plastic pieces that go next to the selector switches there is 12 all together but I do have one so I know what they look like, they apparently fall off very easy, and I am going to need the decales, I did find one site that does sell decales but not what I need.

Very Nice. Thanks for sharing. THe face and controls are the same as mine, but your chassis and radio are different.. interesting..

Those plastic pieces that you need as well as the push-buttons are available as reproductions but I just can't remember where I've seen them!
But, two places to check would be Rock-Sea Enterprises and Old Time Replications. Old Times website is www.antiqueradioknobs.com and just google Rock-Sea Enterprises.

Those plastic pieces that you need as well as the push-buttons are available as reproductions but I just can't remember where I've seen them!
But, two places to check would be Rock-Sea Enterprises and Old Time Replications. Old Times website is www.antiqueradioknobs.com and just google Rock-Sea Enterprises.

I happened to have the pointers bookmarked, I need a couple myself...

http://www.alanjesperson.com/gn_repro.htm#Other%20Zenith%20Reproduction%20Parts

I may be too late, but if all else fails, replace the socket and tube. Antique Electronic Supply will have a vintage looking socket for you.

Thanks form for the info, I did some research and the plastic pieces I need are called (call letter tabs), similost I wonder why your chassis and radio are different:scratch2: and do you have any call letter tabs left? do they come out easy? if they do I wonder if there is a way to make them more secure without glue.