Fixing a Mystery Ebay Legend
- Thread starter stragulus
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frontside5
Member (SA)
Yes, it's a helix 4365 / conion / claritone! It's a bit banged up and missing a mixing knob and the spare tape drawer. One of the antennas is missing the knobs. And there's cosmetic damage all over. Also, it supposedly doesn't produce sound (yet to verify). But for this price, who's complaining!?
I totally suck at fixing the exterior blemishes, so I'll mostly focus on the insides and give it a good cleaning, and see where to go from there
Here's how it arrived:
I totally suck at fixing the exterior blemishes, so I'll mostly focus on the insides and give it a good cleaning, and see where to go from there
Here's how it arrived:
So yeah, blu_fuz guessed it right, he must have done some ebay detective work imp: Also, holy dimensions batman, this thing is HUGE. It doesn't fit on my workbench, that's going to be interesting!
So first impressions; it appears completely dead sound-wise. None of the inputs work, also fiddling with any of the knobs doesn't produce an audible response through the speakers or headphones. The only thing that will produce something is a pop when turned on, and toggling the wide/stereo/mono button. It does produce a constant static noise though. I suspect that the audio signal path is interrupted at a very early stage, so time to open this baby up and dig in.
imp: Also, holy dimensions batman, this thing is HUGE. It doesn't fit on my workbench, that's going to be interesting!So first impressions; it appears completely dead sound-wise. None of the inputs work, also fiddling with any of the knobs doesn't produce an audible response through the speakers or headphones. The only thing that will produce something is a pop when turned on, and toggling the wide/stereo/mono button. It does produce a constant static noise though. I suspect that the audio signal path is interrupted at a very early stage, so time to open this baby up and dig in.
Northerner
Boomus Fidelis
Wowsers! $80?!?! Awesome!
Probably just needs switch cleaner...I've had boxes that did nothing but buzz or hiss when I got them but after cleaning all the relevant contacts worked perfectly. I bet the exterior will clean up well too with a bit of work.
Congrats on an awesome bargain!!!
Probably just needs switch cleaner...I've had boxes that did nothing but buzz or hiss when I got them but after cleaning all the relevant contacts worked perfectly. I bet the exterior will clean up well too with a bit of work.
Congrats on an awesome bargain!!!
If I had to take a guess, I'd say both HA1392 output modules are toast, very common on this model due to bridged amps & low impedance (relatively speaking) drivers.
After remoddeling my apartment to fit this beast I finally had some time to pop it open and cleaned out 30+ years of dust *cough*. Nothing obvious that would indicate a fault at first glance.
I also cleaned it up a little on the outside. I'm going to check the output amps and try to see if I can trace the audio signal path. So many cables/prints, that will be fun
I also cleaned it up a little on the outside. I'm going to check the output amps and try to see if I can trace the audio signal path. So many cables/prints, that will be fun
Oh, and the cable connectors on this model have been known to sometimes have intermittent contact. Try wiggling the plugs and see if it suddenly comes back to life.
I just tested the output amps. If I give it an external signal on pin 2 of either IC, they output sound on the left or right channel. So looks like they work. There is simply no audio signal present at their inputs.
I'll reseat all the connectors I can find, let's see if that will do anything.
I'll reseat all the connectors I can find, let's see if that will do anything.
JT Techno
Member (SA)
For $80 this is a great score, even just for looks - it sounds like it is in the right hands to get it back working in some fashion, hopefully to full life again ... just waiting, even more eagerly, for the "it lives" Frankenstein moment on this thread
Best of luck getting it back working - this is one of my favourite looking boxes and I'd have bought it just like you as I love to tinker with stuff like this too - never had such an iconic box to play with though!
Best of luck getting it back working - this is one of my favourite looking boxes and I'd have bought it just like you as I love to tinker with stuff like this too - never had such an iconic box to play with though!
Lasonic TRC-920
Moderator
Great thread....
If you get this thing working on the cheap, this will be an AMAZING story. It already looks 20x better after your clean up.
Can't wait to see where this goes!
If you get this thing working on the cheap, this will be an AMAZING story. It already looks 20x better after your clean up.
Can't wait to see where this goes!
Thanks for all the inspiring words Patience is a virtue with these things, I learned that the hard way over the years. Take many pictures, in this case especially where all the connector leads are routed to, mechanism & pcb overviews so you can fix broken wires etc.
I Removed the tape drives as I have to work on them anyway at some point anyway. Gives me more space to work on. Actually had to desolder a couple of wires for tape 1, was a little surprised by that, but it's no big deal.
Cleaned the radio scale, there was dust *under* the plexiglas. Looks much better now.
Easier to work on now without all the bulk:
Now let's see how to power it so I can hopefully start to trace the audio signal!
Patience is a virtue with these things, I learned that the hard way over the years. Take many pictures, in this case especially where all the connector leads are routed to, mechanism & pcb overviews so you can fix broken wires etc. I Removed the tape drives as I have to work on them anyway at some point anyway. Gives me more space to work on. Actually had to desolder a couple of wires for tape 1, was a little surprised by that, but it's no big deal.
Cleaned the radio scale, there was dust *under* the plexiglas. Looks much better now.
Easier to work on now without all the bulk:
Now let's see how to power it so I can hopefully start to trace the audio signal!
Nice going so far sir. I think the time to do work on a box is when you first get it and the novelty hasn't worn off yet - those C100s are actually look to be pretty well built with the 'chassis' style construction. Much better than the BBBs.
Keep up the good work,
James....
Keep up the good work,
James....
BoomboxLover48
Boomus Fidelis
Doesn't look important, move on!
Sorry, can't help you with that one. Looks like it's been lying in filth for a while. Maybe part of the deck - looks like maybe a small spring attaches to the tab on the side.
Sorry, can't help you with that one. Looks like it's been lying in filth for a while. Maybe part of the deck - looks like maybe a small spring attaches to the tab on the side.
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