Problem Recording

[LLopez]

Hi fellas I have problem recording, When I press record is looks like is working fine but when I play it back it recorded on 1 side louder than the other but when I switch to mono is fine, is only when I switch to stereo, I really need help resolving this issue. Thank u so much .

 

[monchito]

what box is it lopez

 

[LLopez]

Is the Conion C-100F.

 

[Fatdog]

Maybe the record head is out of alignment?

 

[LLopez]

How can I aligned it, Do I have to open the boombox up or just open the cassette door and see if I can do it fromthere?
I'll try anything, Thanks fellas.

 

[Superduper]

How can I aligned it, Do I have to open the boombox up or just open the cassette door and see if I can do it fromthere?
I'll try anything, Thanks fellas.

The adjustment that bobby is talking about is the head azimuth. It's a small screw that hold the heads in place. One side is fixed and the other side pivots under spring tension. Tightening or loosening the screw causes the head to pivot and change angles.

I don't think this is it. These are all 2 head decks and the record head is the same as the playback head. 2 heads means playback/record and erase. To get seperate playback/record/erase heads, you'll need a 3 head deck. So far as I know, no portable has this feature and only reserved for the highest end models of cassette decks.

It really sounds like your record current or record bias levels are out of adjustment. Unfortunately, no service manual means no way to know what the factory prescribed specifications and where the factory ajustment points are. If you have one good side, you can try to adjust to match the other side. Typically, you'll want to either measure the current through the head or the voltage across the 1st resistor in the circuit path to the heads or at the collector of the first transistor in the tape amp. The adjustment is probably a trimpot located at or near the collector of the 1st transistor (from tape heads) and ground. Old device like this, it's possible that some components have changed values over time but the most likely culprit is probably the coupling capacitors since those have the greatest tendency to have widely varying values.

Another possibility is a weak transistor (tape amp) but you probably didn't want to hear that. Is this the Conion that you have listed for sale?

 

[LLopez]

I'm happy u told me this Superduper cause it is the Cnion on ebay however I will try one more time to see if I can correct this problem cause it was working fine when I got it so if I can't correct the problem I will mention it tomorrow on ebay and lower the price, Cause I really went all out to make sure this Conion would be 100% working and now this. Thank u so much Superduper.

 

[LLopez]

Is therwe is someone with a pic of an open Conion to poit this out to see if I can fix the problem? I just need to know where is it located and what to do. Thanks fellas. Other than that the Conion performs great, Everything else works great

 

[Superduper]

No problem. Didn't you just get it worked on? Maybe the tech can do the adjustment for you. If what I said sounded complicated, let's just say not even. When you try to reverse engineer the signal path with only the circuit board, it's very difficult. While what I said sounds simple enough, the truth is that the signal path could jump through several jumpers, through the record/playback switch (the long circuit board mounted switch), etc. Trying to trace it is very very difficult and tedious. It could drive you to begin pulling out your hair. Of course if you had a schematic, then things get a little easier. Having the entire manual is even better.

I'd buy it from you, but again, like I said, you'd probably have to wait until Thanksgiving to get paid. Heck, maybe even Christmas!

Good luck.

 

[LLopez]

Thanks for the tech support, But if I wait to thanksgiving I'll be backed up on the rent, And if I wait till Christmas my wife and kids would wind up in the streets, I can be in the streets but not my loving family, Besides U already won another great boomer that when u get it you will enjoy it for times to come.

 

[LLopez]

UPDATE: The recording got fixed and it was very simple, I scrub the heads with a cotton swab with alcohol and dimagnetizedit some more and whoala it records great, Now I know that everything is working and that is the way I want the new owner to receive it so he or she could enjoy it . I want to take this time to thank Monchito, Superduper, fatdog, And Redbenjoe for the tech support,. I tell ya like I said before there aint no place like Boomboxery. Thank ya fellas

 

[Superduper]

That's the easiest fix of all! I presumed that because it was new in box, that it was an unused deck. I guess it must have been used at one time?

Congratulations.

 

[Fatdog]

LOL, Miguel! The wonders of alcohol and Q-tips.

 

[monchito]

easy and simple thats great lopez now its selling time good luck bro

 

[eldorado]

nice fix.

now go hear some peech boys

 

[ahardb0dy]

I was going to suggest to try cleaning the heads but by the time I read all the technical posts and got down to your reply I saw you already tried that and it worked, good job!

 

[stynger007]

Great news, nothing like a fully working CF-100 !!!

Put this one in the bank for later:

When the record levels are different, it could be the actuator inside the box.. they are about 3 inches long , 1/4 inch wide and are silver , with a black nub on the end. When the record mechanism (usually a metal tab) presses against it when the record button is pressed, it actuates the record head. I have seen numerous times where it is corroded or dirty, resulting in exactly what you describe here.. can also have an effect on playback, a loud oscillating sound, sounding like an electronic loop.
Hope this can help someone in the future..