Philips D8444 restoration

[crazygamer]

Hello boomboxers, today my co-collector took this Akai off my hands and now i have something more awesome to work on- Philips D8444 !. It has some problems though, cassette door won´t open, i´d blame the lubricant that has hardened, belts need changing, DeoXit and some cleaning as it´s bit dirty inside. Speaker grille also is bit dirty, needs a clean.

Some pictures to start off with this new thread.






To be continued...

 

[baddboybill]

Door looks to be open 🤔


Bad Boy Bill

 

[crazygamer]

Door looks to be open


Bad Boy Bill

Yes, because i opened it manually, pressed Stop/Eject button and pried it open. Now i seem to be trouble with cassette deck, motor doesn´t spin up at all. Also cassette deck hydraulic eject doesn´t work, i don´t know how to place the spring so it would pop out, but doesn´t go as it should. What should i do with the deck, everything seems to be fine, i replaced the belts, but motor just doesn´t spin up, not at all. Radio works just like it should.

 

[baddboybill]

Only way to possibly repair is to open unit up


Bad Boy Bill

 

[crazygamer]

You don´t seem to get me i see. I already opened this unit up shortly after taking those pictures and i´ve struggled already few hours with that hydraulic eject, i don´t seem to get it work like it should, my brain still don´t get it how to place the spring so cassette door will pop out smoothly. And i´m still struggling with the cassette deck power issue, no power, try as much as you like, but still no luck whatsoever. Therefore i´m asking help, i hope that someone over here has D8444.

 

[baddboybill]

Well you have to remove and move large pc board out of way to get to deck. Then take pics and post


Bad Boy Bill

 

[deech]

This is a box that certainly has the looks but when you plug it in and listen to it
thats where the big disappointment comes !
I remember when i got my first D8444, I was so impressed by its size and its mean look
with the 3 woofers etc.Plugged it in and cranked the volume to maximum.. least i can say
it sounded like crap.
It sure doesnt sound as good as it looks.
Just look at those side woofers it has..for me its a joke !
If someone modifies it with new speakers then i guess sound will improve.
Never done it though..
That said congrats on owning one cg

 

[crazygamer]

Now, i´ve worked on it for 9 hours, no success whatsoever. I took the thing apart and made some pictures too.

This is how it looks with boards dismantled. Did it as i should, radio board was bit hard to remove, but i managed to do it.



Now here´s one big big trouble maker. When i opened it up, it had one big piece broken off, i glued it back together, but i still don´t get how this system works. I don´t get how to put the spring so it pushes cassette lid out.




This is the cassette apartment with replaced belt. I lubed it and put a new belt, cleaned audio head, pinch roller and capstan, it looked nice after this clean. Microswitch was alright also, cleaned this one too just in case.



I also cleaned all the pots, now they sound just fine.



This is the cassette deck from the front. Nice and clean.



That´s the whole thing overall.




I must say that this Philips sure is a looker , but it´s sound is a big downer

Hope you like them

 

[MyOhMy]

Good work! I like all the space inside to work around, makes life much easier than a box crammed full!

 

[crazygamer]

Good work! I like all the space inside to work around, makes life much easier than a box crammed full!

Absolutely, well, wires were all soldered and only few of wires were as sockets. Uncomfortable though, as you have to flip boards to access something. Tomorrow I will open it up again and see why cassette deck doesn´t work. Motor showed 0 volts so there must be something with the connections from motor to board.

 

[Northerner]

I have a couple of these. I like them despite their average sound. They look great especially if you stick a load of disco led lights in them

 

[crazygamer]

I have a couple of these. I like them despite their average sound. They look great especially if you stick a load of disco led lights in them

That´s nice to hear, it looks neat, i agree. Is there any possible way to take one of your D8444 apart and show me how this cassette door eject "hydraulic" spring works ? I would love to get it back to working order. Or someone else knows how this spring should be set so it would push the door out smoothly ?

 

[baddboybill]

Here is how spring goes. As for deck power you need to make sure micro switch that powers deck is working and clean.

Bad Boy Bill

 

[crazygamer]

That´s something, but i need a close-up for this spring to get it loaded.

 

[baddboybill]

Bad Boy Bill

 

[baddboybill]

You must take of white soft eject mech


Bad Boy Bill

 

[crazygamer]

I know, but that metal spring, how should i place it to the plastic frame ? There´s million different ways to place it and only works one way. "Hydraulic eject", heh, more like a big lie by Philips

 

[MyOhMy]

I know, but that metal spring, how should i place it to the plastic frame ? There´s million different ways to place it and only works one way. "Hydraulic eject", heh, more like a big lie by Philips

Try every one of the "million different ways" - you know it'll be the last one!

 

[crazygamer]

Try every one of the "million different ways" - you know it'll be the last one!

Tried it, it kinda worked one time but then one glued joint flew apart , but i start to see why it didn´t work, this spring is loaded bit different on my machine. Oh well, tomorrow i´ll get it working again, but one side photo from this hydraulic system would be very nice, thanks in advance badboybill ! And thanks for those photos so far !

 

[baddboybill]

I would use jb on the broken piece to hold together stronger than just glue. First glue it then jb weld it 😉


Bad Boy Bill