Just stumbled on this on the front page while I happened to be thinking about doing the same kind of refresh to an old Panasonic tuner I also inherited from my father (in law >.>).

Was it hard? Had you done this before? I've never opened something so old/solid state and I worry!

Looks great though, how's the sound?

Like almost any McIntosh, the sound is amazing... you can't beat the tube sound.

Tubes and capacitors are easy if you have done them before... just be careful what you're doing, and try to find the service manuals online. Usually they are available for this kind of stuff if you look hard enough :)

Just remember, make sure the capacitors are FULLY discharged before messing with them or else they will discharge into you. Capacitors, especially for audio equipment, hold a LOT of energy.

Thanks, I will! is it enough to let it sit overnight before getting in there? I think mine may only need a few things, but who knows what I'm going to find when I get in there.

(also, typed Panasonic, meant Pioneer, brain malfunctioned)

No problem :) I wait on the philosophy of longer the better... this McIntosh had been unplugged for years. So if you what I would do, is unplug it, let it sit for a day, turn it on (which should try to activate the capacitors), and wait. The capacitors should, technically fully discharge within the first 15 seconds of no wall power, but as much caution should be observed as possible.