OK, after finally disassembling the radio (see my old post below) I figured out how to set those pesky buttons.

But first, a run-down of what happened last week:

I installed an early AM/FM Volvo radio in my dash hole as a 'space-filler' but decided to go ahead and hook it up as long as I was under the dash.

Naturally the 'probably non-functioning' radio worked perfectly, except that I couldn't figure out how to set the station pre-set buttons.

With other radios of the era, I would just set the station, pull out the appropriate button, then press it back in to set the station.

On this radio, I put enough 'pull' on the buttons to nearly rip the radio from the dash, but they wouldn't budge. No problem pushing them in; they just wouldn't come out.

Finally I got fed up, took the radio out and took the cover off, determined to find out how to set those *&#$% buttons.

So I had the radio in my lap, cover off, but still wired into the car. I looked and looked, but I couldn't figure any way to press, pull or turn anything to set the buttons.

I fiddled with the antenna tuner pot while it was out, then as I was checking station strengths, I accidentally pulled a button out (like I thought it should work!) and quickly discovered that all the buttons could be pulled out and the stations set.

Hmmmm. Could Bendix or Volvo REALLY have designed this radio so it must be removed from the dash and the cover removed to set the stations? Not likely!

I re-assembled the radio, and the buttons wouldn't move. AAARRRGHH!

Step by step, taking pictures of the operation, I took the radio apart again, testing the buttons at each stage to see when they became free.

As soon as the little chrome front trim plate came off, the buttons worked.

I took the piece out into the light and scrubbed off several decades of dust and crud, and found a small mark on one side that read 'top.'

I put the trim piece back on with the TOP mark up, and the buttons worked fine. Reversing the piece, it looked identical, but the buttons no longer worked.

A careful inspection shows that the trim piece is made slightly off center (up/down) and will assemble upside-down and appear to work fine until you want to set your buttons.

Maybe that's why the radio was so cheap!

Anyway, it's back in the dash, and I only have to make a new facia to cover up the hammer & chisel marks some P.O. made while fitting a non-Volvo radio.

I hope your week was as fun and profitable!

Steve
'64 PV544
Southern California High Desert
(Just southwest of Death Valley)
http://www.geocities.com/steve_sms/volvo