GF 9494 - bid “mooooo” sound when using tape

[Kidinthedark]

Hello all,
I recently decided to restore the GF 9494 I had bought several years ago for a few euros to a phone shop owner who had put it in its window
Radio was working, there was some cracks in the sound when touching the pots, and the tape player seemed to work though the motor seemed weak
As a newbie (its my first unit), I’ve spent a lot of time on forums and the tube to learn processes, opened it, cleaned everything (speakers included), I even found a way to fix the cassette opener, bombed dry contact on the rather good looking boards, changed all the belts with a kit.
Only thing I can’t control is the lights for the VU meters (switch selector broken).
The unit looks fine now, everything seems to work pretty well except I have a big mooooo sound when I press play on the cassette player, with the sound of the K7 very very low in the back.
I can’t seem to find anything about it, I suspect it is more an electronic problem than a mechanical one, but who knows, I’m not an expert, and this is why I’m leaving this message in a bottle here
Thanks in advance

 

[BoomboxLover48]

One important switch to clean is the long record switch on the PC board. Spray the switch from both ends and the middle area with Deoxit FaderLube 5 contact cleaner and move it back and forth nothing less than 25 to 30 times. I would repeat the process again. Take care the rubber components won't get any overspray.

Clean the radio/tape/line in function switch.

Clean the tape head with isopropyl alcohol using a soft cloth or cotton swabs. See if this makes any difference. Demagnetize the tape head if you have a tape demagnetizer.

Our experts here will have more suggestions.

 

[Kidinthedark]

Thank u @BoomboxLover48, will try that
The head has already been cleaned with alcohol several times
Thing : I’m not sure i really can identify the « long record switch » u’re talking about, i will post some photos
I will clean again the funcrion radio/tape switch
Back to opening the box

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Please see the picture attached.

You should be able to reach the ends of the long record switch from both sides under the tape deck. If you can't reach you might have to remove the deck section and clean the record bar.

I took the pic from the link above.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

The VU meters on GF-9494 makes it look so beautiful!

 

[Kidinthedark]

 

[Kidinthedark]

Here it is
Couldn’t open it yet, it was too dark here in Paris this afternoon, even with the lights on, and my eyes aren’t good enough
But thank you @BoomboxLover48, i think i get it now about the record switch
Love these videos, I’ve learned so much watching them
Does anybody have a tip about how to repair the light/meters switch, mine has the plastic bit which holds the button broken ? I’m thinking about piercing a small hole in the switch plastic base, glueing a tiny piece of plastic in it so it can hold the button, does this make sense ?

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Please post a pictures of the broken switch.

 

[Kidinthedark]

 

[Kidinthedark]

Here’s a pic of the broken switch
I’ll post some otbers when the gf’s opened again

 

[BoomboxLover48]

View attachment 59834

It looks beautiful!

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Here’s a pic of the broken switch
I’ll post some other's when the gf’s opened again

The toggle switch cap is broken right? Is the switch functional? Hope the shaft of the switch is not broken?

 

[Kidinthedark]

The shaft is definitely broken i’m afraid
The little dark round spot you see on the picture is an old glue stain - someone did try to glue it back i suspect
I haven’t been able to action the switch so i still don’t know if its functional
My guess is that it is, like every other function switches on the box

 

[Kidinthedark]

 

[dubout]

The shaft is definitely broken i’m afraid
The little dark round spot you see on the picture is an old glue stain - someone did try to glue it back i suspect
I haven’t been able to action the switch so i still don’t know if its functional
My guess is that it is, like every other function switches on the box

Maybe you can glue in a toothpick or a more sturdy wooden skewer. You can try to drill the hole wider so it fits – carefully of course. Then glue a switch cap on there.

 

[Kidinthedark]

Here is the switch again
I really can’t action it for there’s bo shaft at all

 

[Kidinthedark]

Here is the switch again
I really can’t action it for there’s bo shaft at all

 

[Kidinthedark]

Just checked the tape deck and, uh uh, found a couple of broken/cut wires (yellow and grey)
I might have to fix that before going any further

 

[dubout]

Still would carefully drill a hole into the plastic and glue a wooden skewer into that hole.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Leave that light/VU meter switch alone for now. It might need a replacement.

That cut wire could be the reason for the "moooo" sound.



The gray wires and blue wires are connected to the tape head from a connector. I can see the yellow wire is also cut besides the gray wire.
Unplug the white connector plug. Then you shouldn't hear the "moo" sound.

Remove the whole deck assembly and work on the audio wires leading to the tape head.

Those blue and gray wires each contain two wires leading to the tape head.
Those 2 wires inside the blue and gray wires are kept in a "shielding sleeve", which is the black wire. Tampering on these audio connections will cause loss of audio and hum. Pinching these audio wires in the shielding sleeve cause lots of problems in tape decks.
The technician was using a metal screwdriver tip to push these wires in place which could have easily damaged the wires.

In most cases they need full replacement.


Our experts here can offer additional help!



Watch the early part of Part 2.