Auto radio vibrator

The buffer should not cut down primary voltage to exactly half.  Plus, if it was shorted enough or leaky enough to pull down voltage, it would take out the fuse.  I wonder if the vibrator itself might be a part of the problem.

Did you replace the buffer capacitor?
How about the filter caps?
Either or both can suck the voltage down.

Remember synchronous vibrators concert to DC and no rectifier is required.

The only suggestion I might offer is this.  Are you measuring AC with a DC meter or vice versa?  Synchronous vibrators aren't the easiest components to troubleshoot, at least for me.  Do you have the schematic for the radio?  Do the voltages you measure match those given in the drawing?

In retoring my 6V Buick Super Sonomatic auto radio, I have evaluated several synchronous vibrators with little success; when I connect the vibrator(s) to a power source (whether car battery or bench power supply), my appox. 6.5 volts becomes about 3.5Vs!

In my reading, I haven't found anything regarding what must be the problem-high internal resistance. Why else would I lose half the voltage?

I understand that there is probably nothing I can do here; most likely, I will replace the mechanical vibrator with a solid state unit, available from Peko. I just want better understanding ;
surely, this can't be a normal state?

Any input is appreciated.
Thanks,
CD