Tan tacky fluid leaking from power transformer

[SwizzyMan]

Hello everyone!,
So I had my newly acquired ctc-7 chassis out on the bench today and when I flipped it over to assess the circuitry there was this weird tan tacky fluid leaking from the power transformer.... Is this normal?! Is my power transformed dying? The set was obviously off when this happened and nothing was leaking before.

[stusnyder]

Originally Posted by SwizzyMan

Hello everyone!,
So I had my newly acquired ctc-7 chassis out on the bench today and when I flipped it over to assess the circuitry there was this weird tan tacky fluid leaking from the power transformer.... Is this normal?! Is my power transformed dying? The set was obviously off when this happened and nothing was leaking before.

Wax or varnish. How hot does the transformer get?

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by stusnyder

Wax or varnish. How hot does the transformer get?

Haven't had the set on for more than 5 minutes since I have got it. Don't really know how hot it gets

[stusnyder]

Originally Posted by SwizzyMan

Haven't had the set on for more than 5 minutes since I have got it. Don't really know how hot it gets

Next time you power it up, keep a eye on the transformer temp.
I had picked up a black face zenith radio at kutztown, and when I pulled the chassis and seen a pile of melted wax on the bottom of the radio right below where the power tranny was sitting I knew it was trouble.
I was right, sucker got hot real fast. Luckily they make new replacements.

[old_coot88]

Take some shavings of the stuff and rub it between your fingers, sniff and see if there's any scorched odor. If not, there's probably nothing amiss. It's not uncommon to see various oozings under xfmrs.

[rca2000]

If your set has a pair of 5U4 tubes on top of the tranny PULL them out..then run it for maybe 20 minutes. If the tranny does NOT get more than warm...after say five minutes...it is likely OK.

If yours is a LATER 7 with silicon diodes on top of the chassis and NO 5U4 tubes on top of the tranny...you will need to cut ONE lead of each diode loose--to remove the B+ load fro the ckt--to do the tranny test. Just clip one lead on each diode ...leaving enough to re-solder. then do the test above.

If... in ether case..after ten or more minutes the tranny is not toto hot to touch...it is likely just FINE..

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

Take some shavings of the stuff and rub it between your fingers, sniff and see if there's any scorched odor. If not, there's probably nothing amiss. It's not uncommon to see various oozings under xfmrs.

Doesn't smell scorched more of it had leaked out when I checked on it this morning...

[Username1]

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There's OIL in FLORIDA ! ! !

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.

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by Username1

YOU'VE Struck OIL ! ! !

There's OIL in FLORIDA ! ! !

OIL ! OIL ! ! !

You're RICH ! ! !

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

.

So uh....is that good?

[DaveWM]

its no big deal.

[old_coot88]

Tantacky Fluid sounds like a new British rock band.

[SwizzyMan]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

Tantacky Fluid sounds like a new British rock band.

If I ever start a band I am naming it that

[Zenith26kc20]

My CTC9C transformer will drool if the chassis is laid flat. It's been working good for a while now. Just messy when laid flat. Mine had leaky electrolytics that made the transformer run hot. Once changed it cooled way down.

[Eric H]

My 7 does the same thing, I think it's just the wax or whatever they used succumbing to gravity after nearly 60 years. It's not a complete solid so it sags and drips over time. Or maybe the stuff is slowly liquefying over time.

Mine was dripping 13 or 14 years ago when I first got it, transformer works fine, maybe in another 100 years when it's all leaked out it won't.

[zeno]

It may be OK but I would change the electrolytics. Dripping
is common but I wouldnt gamble the transformer !

Related story.
We got in a Marantz 8B tube amp & McIntosh MX110 plus
a pair of speakers the size of a refrigerator. Blown fuse in amp.
The transformer had a huge chunk of wax under it so the
guy bought an Zenith Allegro wedge of all things. He told
us to junk the old system !!!!! The boss couldnt believe the
transformer was bad so put another fuse in. This fuse didnt
blow & has been running since about 1980. The boss did
promise I would get it when he died. His wife said good idea
& she knew what its worth. He is about 80 now. Any day now
I will have my dream stereo.

73 Zeno