VZ-2000 Speaker extension cables

[Dago]

The VZ-2000 is nearly there!.
Power restored after re-soldering all the joints and changing every capacitor.
Cassette now working after changing the belts. Still a problem with slow FF & RW but I'll get back to that.
Record Player working after cleaning the main belt that had turned to a gooey mess, changing the tonearm belt and installing a new door sensor leaf switch.
Bought new needles that the guy selling them stated would work in the VZ-2000. Knew as soon as I saw them they wouldn't, practically no volume when playing the record. Put the old ones back that probably haven't played a record since the late 80s/early 90s. The old needles still sound brilliant after all those years (out of the right speakers at least, which are the only ones working at the moment).

Great sound from right side speakers, just need to get left side working and everything will be running!
I've ordered a different type of contact cleaner with better deoxidising properties, and a lubricant specifically for audio switches, which will hopefully get the speakers going if I can work that in to the switches , but at least I'm now getting somewhere. Also removed the balance slider and checked the brushes but didn't help with the speaker problem.

Well chuffed having never picked up a soldering iron in my life or been any where near a circuit board!


Just hoping I can fix the left speaker issue now with the new contact cleaner and a bit of playing with them. If that doesn't work I will teach myself how to work on the other components and check the wiring. I AM DETERMINED TO GET IT FULLY WORKING!!! Thanks for the help everyone's given to date, and to everyone who has provided really helpful info and tips in all the other threads.

 

[docs]

Good, glad the hint of the leaf switch solved that.

 

[Dago]

Cleaned all the switches today with Servisol but still no sound in the left speaker. Strangely though, I was testing the headphones and they too only had audio in the right, but when I was removing the headphone jack, when it was about half way out, audio appeared in the left headphone and was coming out of the right speaker? This was happening even if I moved Balance slider completely to the right. I'd cleaned the headphone socket with Servisol. Does anyone have any clue why this might be happening?

 

[stynger007]

Cleaned all the switches today with Servisol but still no sound in the left speaker. Strangely though, I was testing the headphones and they too only had audio in the right, but when I was removing the headphone jack, when it was about half way out, audio appeared in the left headphone and was coming out of the right speaker? This was happening even if I moved Balance slider completely to the right. I'd cleaned the headphone socket with Servisol. Does anyone have any clue why this might be happening?

Hi, the plug partially out and producing sound says that you have isolated the issue. Cleaning with Servisol will not remove all corrosion or built up oxidation to make proper contact. If you are able , disassemble and manually clean the headphone connector . When the headphone jack goes in, the metal tabs expand making contact with the headphone plug to allow sound through the headphones and cut sound to the speakers. Before disassembly try spraying again and insert and remove the headphone plug several times. Post back with your findings.

 

[docs]

Yes but this is also normal, having the plug half way in is actually engaging one channel into the other. So while you could be right, it could be a red herring too.

 

[Dago]

Thanks for the replies. I have ordered a replacement headphone jack. Took a while to find the same type of socket but found one eventually, just need to wait a couple of weeks for delivery. That will hopefully fix the problem but if it doesn't, at least I'll know for certain that it isn't the jack and can move on to the next thing. While I'm waiting for delivery I'm going to re-melt all the solder joints on the PCBs and test the components with a DMM. Everything seems to be working now except the left speaker. I've got the cassette working at last. The tyres on the play wheel and idlers were worn so FF & RW weren't working well & tape was chewing. It's not easy to find tyres so I removed them, wound some PTFE tape inside the wheel (plumber's tape if it's not called PTFE tape outside the UK) to help increase the tyre diameters and put the tyres back on, roughed the tyre surface a little with some coarse sandpaper, and everything working now as it should. It might help someone looking for a solution to the same problem if you can't find replacement tyres. Just hoping the new jack socket will now fix the speaker.

 

[Dago]

Hi all, reporting back as requested. I've now installed a new headphone jack but still no sound in left side speakers or left headphone. I did some tests on the Mic, Balance, Treble & Bass sliders with a DMM. Things seem to be OK with the tests when moving sliders fully to the left or right, but I'm no electronics expert and so I had to watch countless online videos to try and understand what to do. Power is always off before I try testing anything. I think I may be getting to the point of things being beyond my capabilities. I'm willing to try anything but it's knowing where to begin. Cleaning and playing with the function switches and INT/EXT speaker switch hasn't improved anything. I am trying to read and watch as much as I can to try and get to grips with the block diagram and schematics but sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing! I could probably name every component in the service manual by it's unique reference number I've read it so many times, it's just a shame I can't fully understand how they all work together

Is there anything that somebody could suggest as a next step. I don't mind if it takes a while to do, I just need a push in the right direction! I realise there are a lot of components in this system but help would be appreciated. I did an Ohms check on the woofers a while back and they both seem OK. I could swap the speakers around though to see double check if it's the speaker or the channel? At the moment though I haven't got the speakers connected and there's only sound in the right headphone so I doubt if it's the speaker. I don't know what else I can do without a plan but thanks everyone for trying. Unfortunately electronics repair specialists are a dying breed in my area or I'd be there in a shot.

 

[Dago]

There's been a big improvement today!

Decided to try and work backwards from the left channel speaker and test the components/wiring by trying to follow the block diagram and schematics in the service manual.

Headphones now working, left and right, and the tweeter has now returned on the left, after checking most of the wiring related to the speakers and related PCBs for continuity, I then desoldered the INT/EXT speaker switch, dissembled it and cleaned off all the oxide with a small file and remounted it. Did a check with the headphones and both channels had returned! Was hoping the left speakers would also be good but only the tweeter has returned. Plugged the right channel cable into the left speaker and both woofer and tweeter worked fine so that proved the left woofer is OK. Plugged left channel cable into the right speaker and only the tweeter working.

Really pleased I seem to be almost there after thinking I might have to give up yesterday, but still need to work out why the woofer not working out of left channel.
I think I'm going to look at/clean the Volume, Bass & Treble areas next and see how I go with that.

If anyone though, much wiser than me, can see anything that's obvious based on the above, I would really, really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks again