Lucky shed find - GF 9494

katie.maree

New Member
Hi all, I am new to the forum and very impressed by the boombox community here! I recently noticed that my Dad had a GF 9494 sitting in his open air shed surrounded by his power tools and what not. He apparently purchased it for $5 years ago to take on fishing trips or listen to the radio when working in the shed.

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He no longer uses it but the radio still works and the sound is good (but the tapes get chewed up - a common issue from what I've read here). The local wasps had enjoyed making mud nests in the screw holes at the back also...

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After reading a lot of the posts here I decided to rescue it and give it an overhaul. I've taken it apart and started cleaning everything. The speakers were full of sawdust and the unit in general was pretty dirty.
There are some marks on the speaker cones that I'm unsure how to remove without damaging them (using a dry lint free cloth or some spot cleaning with alcohol didn't seem to do the trick).
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I will need to replace the capstan tyre and probably the belts and pinch rollers but I'm happy with how things are shaping up so far. It's certainly looking a lot nicer!
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katie.maree

New Member
Welcome to forum and congrats for this nice unit.
It's good that you can find all problems and try to resolve some of them.
Thanks! I have a feeling one of the tweeters will need replacing as it was playing up. The volume was lower compared to the other tweeter. I'm hoping it was a connection issue but will test the sound again after cleaning everything up.
I'll admit that I was initially planning on fixing it and selling it for my folks, but I'm now obsessed with it and will buy it off them myself
 

blu_fuz

Well-Known Member
Staff member
What a great find! Give them some cash for it and enjoy having it around. Might be free after the labor you put into it ;-), wait until they see your bill.
 
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Reli

Boomus Fidelis
Thanks! I have a feeling one of the tweeters will need replacing as it was playing up. The volume was lower compared to the other tweeter. I'm hoping it was a connection issue but will test the sound again after cleaning everything up.
I'll admit that I was initially planning on fixing it and selling it for my folks, but I'm now obsessed with it and will buy it off them myself

Clean the function switch and the stereo mode switch with contact cleaner. Also clean the big recording circuit bar, because all audio signals go through that. If that doesn't work, try replacing the blue capacitor that's wired between the woofer and the tweeter.
 
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katie.maree

New Member
Clean the function switch and the stereo mode switch with contact cleaner. Also clean the big recording circuit bar, because all audio signals go through that. If that doesn't work, try replacing the blue capacitor that's wired between the woofer and the tweeter.
Thanks very much, that's super helpful! I have purchased some contact cleaner and the unit was pretty filthy inside so hopefully some TLC does the job
 

katie.maree

New Member
What a great find! Give them some cash for it and enjoy having it around. Might be free after the labor you put into it ;-), wait until they see your bill.
Given what they sell for online I'm guessing some cash will need to change hands
 

katie.maree

New Member
Clean the function switch and the stereo mode switch with contact cleaner. Also clean the big recording circuit bar, because all audio signals go through that. If that doesn't work, try replacing the blue capacitor that's wired between the woofer and the tweeter.
Hi Reli, so it isn't the tweeter but the speaker itself. The right speaker is weirdly soft compared to the left when in stereo mode. I need to increase the volume of the right speaker nearly fully to match the left. Whilst, in stereo wide mode, the sound emitted from both is pretty equal. Any ideas why this might be?
 

Reli

Boomus Fidelis
Sharps often have problems with that stereo switch. Other than cleaning it I'm not sure what the remedy is. Make sure to clean the recording circuit as well.
 
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katie.maree

New Member
How is it sounding with line in? Do you see the same problem?
Good question. Been thought and tested them again and if I have it playing the radio with both speakers at the same volume the following occurs:
- it primarily plays out the right speaker but then will sometimes move between the speakers.
- in mono, right speaker only
- in stereo wide seems to play equally between the two
With a line in the following happens:
- in stereo wide, left speaker normal volume, left faint
- in stereo, right speak very faint, left speaker has to be turned up considerably to hear it
- in mono, as above
Pretty confused. Thinking the switch may be the primary issue still?