Silver ST-868

429CV23

New Member
Feb 12, 2020
17
4
3
Hey All
New member from Colorado Springs.

I just received a Silver ST-868 I picked up for $74.99. Very dirty (very) but mostly functional. After running the radio all night in REC mode, the VU LEDs seem to be working very well with ALC on and using manual level control. FM radio stations below 96 or so don't come in, but hope they will with continued use.

It has issues with getting into stereo mode. Even with full scale signal it doesn't grab a stereo signal, but if just off the station with 1 or 0 LEDs lit it will grab it but has static due to the low signal. Hopefully this will improve with continued use also.


I opened it last night and hit the switches and pots with Deoxit which really helped, may require a 2nd cleaning.

The real question is on the cassette operation. It will auto-stop after 3-4sec in any mode. I'm assuming this is due to a sensor linked to the counter, which needs a new belt. Is this a correct assumption? It seems to play at normal speed and sounds good for those few seconds, or longer if I hold the play button down.

I also picked up a JVC PC-R11W for $90 which works beautifully, and have a Magnavox D8443 which I purchased new.

I'm delving into the boombox arena as a final step in breaking my cassette addiction. :-D :-D :-D. I have 6 decks running on my analog music system ( Nak Dragon, 682zx, ZX-7, CR-7A, and 582, and an NAD 6300; plus Nak RX-202, BX-300, and 582z not connected currently). I have several walkmans as well; Sony WM-2, WM-R2, DD30, and DD33, plus several later models I've listed on ebay.

A friend and I have made about 100 mix tapes in the last couple years. :rock: :rock:

Getting it back into shape should be a relatively easy task as I have all the cal tapes and test equipment necessary to dial in the cassette deck.
 

429CV23

New Member
Feb 12, 2020
17
4
3
Thanks much for the link, that will be very helpful!

I let it run all night on an FM station that locked into stereo with all signal LEDs lit, letting it run all day as well, probably will leave it on for the next few days. Have it in REC mode too; right level LEDs work fantastic, left channel comes/goes; I need to hit that switch with Deoxit, apparently that is on another board or part of the transport mech as it is activated by the Rec button.
No scratchiness from Vol, Bal, Bass or Treble pots. Mono/Stereo/Wide switch needs some attention.

The lower FM frequencies are beginning to come in as well.
 

429CV23

New Member
Feb 12, 2020
17
4
3
Record bar cleaned several times; the left VU seems to work much better/consistently now.
I adjusted the multiplex since it was having trouble locking in a stereo signal, seems good now.

For any future searches: if the auto-stop engages after a couple seconds in every mode, the counter belt needs to be replaced. I had one pretty close in length and width in a large multi-belt pack; counter works now and no false auto-stops.

Still have the two lower standoffs to repair so the lower part of the rear case can be secured. Planning on using some Gorilla epoxy, adding inner and outer supports using some kind of thin plastic I'll dig up :lol: and epoxying them in place.