Suggestions on a Zenith R723 Radio

[Keefla]

Hello all. Im new to posting but not to the site. I ran across it about a year ago and have been an avid reader of the Color & B&W Tube TV forums. I have to admit i dont know much about tube electronics, or electronics in general, but am fascinated by how they can do so much without semiconductors. My little electronics experiance comes from the Automotive end of things. Me and a friend run a small auto shop and i usually get stuck solving wiring and sensor problems so im quite proficiant with a VOM and a schematic. I know basic resistance and capacitance theories, transistor theory and random other bits and pieces. Basically enough to get me by when dealing with computer controlled engines. I know my way around most engine wiring harnesses, but this electronics stuff is quite intriguing to me...i gotta say i give you all my upmost respect for fixing these things and keeping the history alive. Thats why im trying it for myself.

Ok enough intorduction. Time for the radio. I happened across a Zenith R723 radio for 5 bux at a yard sale. Chassis # 7H04z2. I downloaded the Rider schematic PDF file for it and went through the radio looking for any discrepencies (along with many downloaded web sites covering vacuum tube pinouts and vacuum tube theory...fascinating stuff!). So far so good as far as changes to the wiring go. But thats as far as i got. What little i know i picked up from this site and reading about vintage TV restoration stories online. I know not to plug it in till i re-cap it (paper and plastic molded caps). I also ordered the electrolytics and the line bypass caps (well, line to ground on this radio). You guys think i should be OK with that lineup. I dont have a variac (im working on getting one) so thats why im replacing the bypass and electrolytics. By hooking the ohmmeter across power cable what should i look for (as far as resistance) to detect a possable problem before i power it up the first time?

Suggestions? Comments? Im sure i'll have a few questions as i go. But this is the first real resto project im getting into. It was cheap, the case is not in the best of condition, dail cord is broken and i know it doesnt work cause the guy i bought it from said the last time he went to use it (over 10 years ago) it didnt do anything. Im thinking maybe a burnt out tube, the tube heaters are in series so if it doesnt fire up (maybe fire is the wrong term) ill check the voltage drops across the heaters. I figure its a good first project. Ive re-capped an old RCA Victor RFD11V, but that already worked somewhat, the motivating factor was the filter caps were shot and it hummed badly (AGC was much better after the paper caps were replaced too).

Ok enough for now. I hope I can get this set running and put it to use somewhere in my house or shop. Thanks all for listening, and thanks for humoring me in my learning stages of electronic troubleshooting.

Keith

EDIT: Attatched is the Rider PDF file im using.