#record-player — Public Fediverse posts

Fine... buffing some of the scratches out of the cover tk see how it works. There was some headlight cleaner (ie basically a fine polishing paste) here. Works great, except for the deep scratches and what looks like a couple of melted(?) spots. #recordplayer #repair

Fine... buffing some of the scratches out of the cover tk see how it works. There was some headlight cleaner (ie basically a fine polishing paste) here. Works great, except for the deep scratches and what looks like a couple of melted(?) spots. #recordplayer #repair

Seems like the record player needs more work. Chipmunks mode! #recordplayer #repair

Seems like the record player needs more work. Chipmunks mode! #recordplayer #repair

Okay, the kids had another old powered speaker, while I figure out a better speaker situation lol. #recordplayer

Okay, the kids had another old powered speaker, while I figure out a better speaker situation lol. #recordplayer

Had to tape the top down when flipping this over. Audio now working on both channels... but some kind of funky ground issue with my speaker. The ground side of these signal cables are NOT attached to ground inside the record player. What the heck... #repair #recordplayer #electronics

Had to tape the top down when flipping this over. Audio now working on both channels... but some kind of funky ground issue with my speaker. The ground side of these signal cables are NOT attached to ground inside the record player. What the heck... #repair #recordplayer #electronics

Pickups fine. The red phono plug wire has a break, both on ground and signal. Confirmed after removal. I suspect something was pulled too hard and separated a lead. Replaced with a salvaged audio cable. (Those show up on curbs often) #recordplayer #repair

Pickups fine. The red phono plug wire has a break, both on ground and signal. Confirmed after removal. I suspect something was pulled too hard and separated a lead. Replaced with a salvaged audio cable. (Those show up on curbs often) #recordplayer #repair

So, probably the next step is to desolder or disconnect the pickup wires and make sure both coils are working. It may be the magnetic pickup on one side not working (how that is possible... I do not know). Looking at the two lines from the stylus would confirm that. (at the moment, this being a cheap record player, this is me learning about what might or might not break on something like this). #repair #recordplayer #electronics

So, probably the next step is to desolder or disconnect the pickup wires and make sure both coils are working. It may be the magnetic pickup on one side not working (how that is possible... I do not know). Looking at the two lines from the stylus would confirm that. (at the moment, this being a cheap record player, this is me learning about what might or might not break on something like this). #repair #recordplayer #electronics

Pulled out and oscilloscope. One channel still has no output. #repair #recordplayer #electronics

Pulled out and oscilloscope. One channel still has no output. #repair #recordplayer #electronics

Capacitors replaced. A few leaky, but may not have fixed it. #recordplayer #electronics #repair

Capacitors replaced. A few leaky, but may not have fixed it. #recordplayer #electronics #repair

And it works... sorta. The stylus works *but* the circuitry is definitely in need of new caps. The signal lines are somehow connected to ground. And only one channel works. This ONLY plays if the signal but NOT the ground connected. Here you have the fine country music of Mr. Al Perry, before he went into a life of crime #recordplayer #electronics #repair

And it works... sorta. The stylus works *but* the circuitry is definitely in need of new caps. The signal lines are somehow connected to ground. And only one channel works. This ONLY plays if the signal but NOT the ground connected. Here you have the fine country music of Mr. Al Perry, before he went into a life of crime #recordplayer #electronics #repair

El cheapo stylus received and installed. Nice there is a protective cover for it while you install the tiny screws!!!#recordplayer #repair

El cheapo stylus received and installed. Nice there is a protective cover for it while you install the tiny screws!!!#recordplayer #repair

So... A *decent* replacement for one of this would be around $35 to $45. Because this is a not-very-good Realistic with questionable quality and not sure if this is the only problem, decided to buy a throwaway $9 stylus (compatible, hopefully). (unfortunately, to get it that cheap and no shipping, from Uncle Bezos Expo). Will see if it actually fits or not, etc., but not willing to invest $$ on this repair experiment. #repair #recordplayer

So... A *decent* replacement for one of this would be around $35 to $45. Because this is a not-very-good Realistic with questionable quality and not sure if this is the only problem, decided to buy a throwaway $9 stylus (compatible, hopefully). (unfortunately, to get it that cheap and no shipping, from Uncle Bezos Expo). Will see if it actually fits or not, etc., but not willing to invest $$ on this repair experiment. #repair #recordplayer

Left/right pickup wires swapped, and still getting audio. The arm is not balanced though... how to do so on this thing is a mystery, however. (cheap record player!). #repair #electronics #recordplayer

Left/right pickup wires swapped, and still getting audio. The arm is not balanced though... how to do so on this thing is a mystery, however. (cheap record player!). #repair #electronics #recordplayer

Part:

1. Power transformer, converts 120V AC to 12V AC
2. Rectifier board, convert 12VAC to 12V DC
3. Motor which drives belt
4. Switch between 33 and 45 rpm. There's two potentiometers to set the voltage to for 33rpm and 45rpm on the front side (adjustable via screw hole)
5. Switch between preamp and no preamp, stereo (single throw double pole)
6. Header for power cord connector
7. Preamp board (not sure if it does RIAA or not, there are a lot of resistors and capacitors on this thing, which makes me think it does have a filter network). There are two sets of diodes, resistors, and capacitors on this board. Unsure what the big black strip in the middle is... maybe a transistor array? Will have to look at the part # next time I crack this thing open.

Current plan of action:
1. Replace all the capacitors on board#7 in case of aging/moisture damage (common on old electronics). ALMOST all aging in electronics is switches/potentiometers and capacitor aging.
2. If that doesn't fix things, figure out what that IC/transistor thing is, and either replace it with a similar part or individual transistors. (this is probably the preamp part).

#electronics #repair #recordplayer

Part:

1. Power transformer, converts 120V AC to 12V AC
2. Rectifier board, convert 12VAC to 12V DC
3. Motor which drives belt
4. Switch between 33 and 45 rpm. There's two potentiometers to set the voltage to for 33rpm and 45rpm on the front side (adjustable via screw hole)
5. Switch between preamp and no preamp, stereo (single throw double pole)
6. Header for power cord connector
7. Preamp board (not sure if it does RIAA or not, there are a lot of resistors and capacitors on this thing, which makes me think it does have a filter network). There are two sets of diodes, resistors, and capacitors on this board. Unsure what the big black strip in the middle is... maybe a transistor array? Will have to look at the part # next time I crack this thing open.

Current plan of action:
1. Replace all the capacitors on board#7 in case of aging/moisture damage (common on old electronics). ALMOST all aging in electronics is switches/potentiometers and capacitor aging.
2. If that doesn't fix things, figure out what that IC/transistor thing is, and either replace it with a similar part or individual transistors. (this is probably the preamp part).

#electronics #repair #recordplayer

Here's where the cartridge wires go to. #repair #recordplayer

Here's where the cartridge wires go to. #repair #recordplayer

Single channel audio... the audio is distorted, and the record is skipping (no scratches in the record), which indicates there is a lubrication or adjustment issue in the arm (ie. force needed to move the arm along at the right speed). #recordplayer #repair #electronics

Single channel audio... the audio is distorted, and the record is skipping (no scratches in the record), which indicates there is a lubrication or adjustment issue in the arm (ie. force needed to move the arm along at the right speed). #recordplayer #repair #electronics

Just picked up this gorgeous sixties Philips radiogram for ten bucks, which is ridiculous. Look how beautiful it is!

#MidCentury #radio #recordplayer #radiogram

Just picked up this gorgeous sixties Philips radiogram for ten bucks, which is ridiculous. Look how beautiful it is!

#MidCentury #radio #recordplayer #radiogram

My old MH record deck stopped working, and the quotes to get it repaired were silly. I decided to upgrade so today is new record deck day. This Rega Planar 8 is bloody amazing ! #rega #recordPlayer #vinyl

My old MH record deck stopped working, and the quotes to get it repaired were silly. I decided to upgrade so today is new record deck day. This Rega Planar 8 is bloody amazing ! #rega #recordPlayer #vinyl

Nieuwe #platenspeler Thorens TD 403 DD
Je kunt geen platen draaien met de stofkap gesloten, merkte ik net.
#recordplayer

Nieuwe #platenspeler Thorens TD 403 DD
Je kunt geen platen draaien met de stofkap gesloten, merkte ik net.
#recordplayer

An old (disk) #recordplayer takes steel needles, which have to be regularly replaced, and which are kind of rough on records.
In this little video notice that the needle is bendy. We tried a cactus thorn, and it works! They're readily available, and much softer than steel.

An old (disk) #recordplayer takes steel needles, which have to be regularly replaced, and which are kind of rough on records.
In this little video notice that the needle is bendy. We tried a cactus thorn, and it works! They're readily available, and much softer than steel.

The #recordplayer mechanism has been returned to its owner (my "projector repair sensei") and reinstalled, and it's playing music :)

The #recordplayer mechanism has been returned to its owner (my "projector repair sensei") and reinstalled, and it's playing music :)

With the springs all fixed up it's time to put everything back together and wrap up this #recordplayer #restoration. But everything was covered with goopy 100-year-old oil (it looked like motor oil. Eew). So first a teardown, cleanup, and reassembly with just a few drops of light oil where needed.
Would have been a *really* quick job if (a) I had slowed down and taken more pictures of how it goes together, and (b) manage not to drop any tiny screws.

With the springs all fixed up it's time to put everything back together and wrap up this #recordplayer #restoration. But everything was covered with goopy 100-year-old oil (it looked like motor oil. Eew). So first a teardown, cleanup, and reassembly with just a few drops of light oil where needed.
Would have been a *really* quick job if (a) I had slowed down and taken more pictures of how it goes together, and (b) manage not to drop any tiny screws.

One other things I did for this #recordplayer #restoration that's just for aesthetics is getting all the rust and funk off of this crank handle arm. Started with steel wool and elbow grease, eventually a #Dremel and a wire brush attachment.

One other things I did for this #recordplayer #restoration that's just for aesthetics is getting all the rust and funk off of this crank handle arm. Started with steel wool and elbow grease, eventually a #Dremel and a wire brush attachment.

Back together and working :)
Not really together for good yet, because I didn't grease up the latest spring yet, or screw the cover onto it's barrel.
Also I want to take everything else apart and clean it all up too.
But this is nice to see.
Notice how one spring is unwinding rapidly, and the others more slowly.
When everything is all *really* back together, it'll be interesting to wind it up completely and see what the process of unwinding is like. And just how long this super-duper triple-spring mechanism can run.
#recordplayer #restoration

Back together and working :)
Not really together for good yet, because I didn't grease up the latest spring yet, or screw the cover onto it's barrel.
Also I want to take everything else apart and clean it all up too.
But this is nice to see.
Notice how one spring is unwinding rapidly, and the others more slowly.
When everything is all *really* back together, it'll be interesting to wind it up completely and see what the process of unwinding is like. And just how long this super-duper triple-spring mechanism can run.
#recordplayer #restoration

After all that work to fix the broken spring this #RecordPlayer I'm working on the #restoration of still didn't work. It has 3 springs and it turns out one of the other ones just wasn't grabbing onto it's shaft. There are very small hooky thing that have to grab onto the holes in the ends of the springs and things have to be lined up just right. So I had to take this spring out too, and it just needed a little bending on the end to wrap more tightly off the shaft. But first, let's get that 100-year old grease off of it. Hot (like boiling!) soapy water makes this easier.

After all that work to fix the broken spring this #RecordPlayer I'm working on the #restoration of still didn't work. It has 3 springs and it turns out one of the other ones just wasn't grabbing onto it's shaft. There are very small hooky thing that have to grab onto the holes in the ends of the springs and things have to be lined up just right. So I had to take this spring out too, and it just needed a little bending on the end to wrap more tightly off the shaft. But first, let's get that 100-year old grease off of it. Hot (like boiling!) soapy water makes this easier.

Continuing with fixing this spring as part of a #recordplayer #restoration.
Since the inner end of the spring broke off, what remained didn't coil tight enough to wrap around the shaft.
I used a torch to soften the metal and some pliers to twist it to a tighter coil, and now it snaps on.

Continuing with fixing this spring as part of a #recordplayer #restoration.
Since the inner end of the spring broke off, what remained didn't coil tight enough to wrap around the shaft.
I used a torch to soften the metal and some pliers to twist it to a tighter coil, and now it snaps on.