[Amps] ML!-2500 Filter Cap Replacement

[Kim Elmore]

I have my Dad's MLA-2500 in my shack for what I suspect is a filter 
capacitor replacement job. It hadn't been operated in a long time and 
Dad wanted me to check everything out (he's had health problems). I 
was tuning it up and all seemed well until I heard a soft pfft, 
smelled a Bad Smell, and heard the PS hum loudly, clearly drawing 
lots of current.

Removing the drive didn't help and neither did putting it in 
standby.  This was all discovered rather quickly, I might add, and 
the fuse didn't blow. After letting everything sit a minute, I 
clearly still had a problem when I turned the power back on.

I've never smelled a blown electrolytic, but I suspected that was the 
problem. A careful inspection shows that one of them has a small hole 
(less than 1 mm) in the seal at the bottom and smells faintly of what 
I remember. I have new capacitors. These are the original filter 
capacitors and they're pop-riveted in. Before I drill out the rivets, 
does it sound like I've reasonably diagnosed the problem?

Kim Elmore, N5OP