Large filter box issues...

Thanks Rod. I will try the freeze option and see how it works. Thanks for the insight. Have a couple of chassis a head of it.

I did that recently with an All American potted audio impedance coupling unit (Auto Transformer). It can get pretty messy with the tar compound that was used. The tar is somewhat easier to work with when it is in a plastic state (warm to hot). The alternative is to freeze the can and then the whole "block" of components will then slide out. The fun comes in separating them. Depending on how the can was constructed you might have to unsolder the lid or one end of the can to get access to the insides.

The leads on the filter choke may be rather thin and delicate and you need to take care that they don't get pulled out of the coil or broken. This is also true with any potted audio transformers. 

In the case of the All American audio coupler, I managed to loose one of the terminal screws in getting it out of the can. I opened it up because the paper coupling capacitor in it had gone bad.  It looks like they used one of their standard audio transformers connected as an auto-transformer with a coupling capacitor and grid-leak resistor added for the following audio stage's grid circuit.

73, Rod  WB6FBF

Hello All,

Back into radio collecting after an absence of many years. Retired so now I have time. I have a Majestic chassis 30 that has a very large filter box as many of the early AC radios had. I want to replace the caps which I can do externally but there is also a choke embedded in the box too. Should I heat the box and hope it all slides out? What would you guys do?