Thunderbird Club

[JIO]

By the exposed wire, do you mean the central wire inside the plastic which the braid is over? You are talking about the wire coming from the pickup? Sorry I came into this late. If it's the wire that's coming from the pickup it sounds like it's shorted.

The external braided wire is 'negative'/ground. The center (clear coated) wire is 'hot' > positive. That's all one needs to know.

 

[Stealth57]

When you check at the end of the wire you're getting 9k ohms, correct? Can you check the pot while turning it? 1 to 2 and 2 to 3?

I tested 9 kOhms with the com on the braided sheath and the red on the central wire. How do I test the pot? Across the signal in and signal out legs? I’m I checking ohms or something else? Sorry, I’m a chemical engineer not an EE

 

[JIO]

It was completely dead before because the wire wasn’t attached to the pot at all. After reconnecting, I get a faint signal with the pot at 10.

View attachment 4943976

It's kind of a mess - see my prior post for clarification. Each wire combo has a positive (+) and negative (-) and they need to be segregated to their respective locations. (neg > to pot top, positive + to appropriate pot tang) If they touch - they will ground-out. (no sound)

 

[bobyoung53]

It was completely dead before because the wire wasn’t attached to the pot at all. After reconnecting, I get a faint signal with the pot at 10.

View attachment 4943976

Where is the third lug going? It's really difficult to see where the wires are going in your picture, the third lug should be connected to the third lug on the other volume I believe and then go to the jack. I can see where it's grounded and can see that the inner wire (hot) goes to the middle lug but can't see where the third lug is going or what's connected to it.

 

[Stealth57]

It's kind of a mess - see my prior post for clarification. Each wire combo has a positive (+) and negative (-) and they need to be segregated to their respective locations. (neg > to pot top, positive + to appropriate pot tang) If they touch - they will ground-out. (no sound)

I don’t see any cross connection as the sheath was pulled way back.

 

[bobyoung53]

The external braided wire is 'negative'/ground. The center (clear coated) wire is 'hot' > positive. That's all one needs to know.

I know that, I'm trying to help him. I'm trying to understand his terminology.

 

[bobyoung53]

I don’t see any cross connection as the sheath was pulled way back.

Look at the photo I put in right above.

 

[bobyoung53]

I tested 9 kOhms with the com on the braided sheath and the red on the central wire. How do I test the pot? Across the signal in and signal out legs? I’m I checking ohms or something else? Sorry, I’m a chemical engineer not an EE

We first need to make sure it's wired correctly, pots don't usually short out.

 

[Stealth57]

Where is the third lug going? It's really difficult to see where the wires are going in your picture, the third lug should be connected to the third lug on the other volume I believe and then go to the jack. I can see where it's grounded and can see that the inner wire (hot) goes to the middle lug but can't see where the third lug is going or what's connected to it.

The third post on both volume pots goes to the third post on the tone pot.

 

[JIO]

Sorry, requisite 64 Thunderbird content

View attachment 4943961 View attachment 4943962

Nice - but the '63 is still tops in my book -

 

[Gaolee]

I hope that ahem was clear. They're not all sexual.

Sometimes a cigar is just a smoke.

 

[bobyoung53]

The third post on both volume pots goes to the third post on the tone pot.

And then to the jack? The hot? Which would be where the tip of the cord plugs in.

 

[Stealth57]

And then to the jack? The hot? Which would be where the tip of the cord plugs in.

Yes

 

[Gaolee]

I still have an M1 endorsement. Haven’t ridden in years. Does that count?

Sure. I will make up for you. I commute on the bike nearly every day.

 

[JIO]

Each pu has a ground wire, and a hot wire. If it has 3 wires - the ground and 'other' (not the +) are soldered together. The 3rd wire is there for other options. (series/parallel, etc)

 

[bobyoung53]

Yes

Check this one out, it's pretty clear, 1979 Thunderbird, on this one the third lugs of both vols go to the middle lug of the tone, the green wires, and the black goes to the hot. The problem is with yours it's so tight in there I can't see all the wires. The yellow is ground. This one is not stock although I think it's wired right.

The 1st lug is grounded to the case on them all, the signal from the pickup (central wire) goes into the middle lug and comes out the third lug on all and out to the jack. The tone is backwards I think on this.

 

[Stealth57]

Each pu has a ground wire, and a hot wire. If it has 3 wires - the ground and 'other' (not the +) are soldered together. The 3rd wire is there for other options. (series/parallel, etc)

2 wire and as far as I can see, the pickups are wired identically. Just one has virtually no volume.

 

[Gaolee]

So this Thunderbird talk has me thinking of dipping my toe in the water.

Any opinion on these joints? ...

View attachment 4943577

Thanks

You need one. What was the question?

 

[JIO]

Sure. I will make up for you. I commute on the bike nearly every day.

Because of the carpal-tunnel issue in my left hand - I've not been on my (VFR) bike... for too long. Another few months and I'll throw a leg over and get back on it. (I miss piloting it) I'm already back on the (road) bicycle, but I need my left hand to be closer to 100% before I jump on the VFR. No messing around going 65mph's.

 

[Stealth57]

Check this one out, it's pretty clear, 1979 Thunderbird, on this one the third lugs of both vols go to the middle lug of the tone, the green wires, and the black goes to the hot. The problem is with yours it's so tight in there I can't see all the wires. The yellow is ground. This one is not stock although I think it's wired right.

The 1st lug is grounded to the case on them all, the signal from the pickup (central wire) goes into the middle lug and comes out the third lug on all and out to the jack.

I’ll try to diagram things out in the morning. I can see everything except what’s going on with the cap. It’s wedges between what I would call the first and second posts.

Maybe someone with a VP can compare when I post the diagram.