Recently Acquired Beogram 4000, minor technical issues

Reply

ruskiantonov Posted: Wed, Jul 23 2014 2:21 AM

rated by 0 users

Hi Beoworld!

My girlfriend recently brought back a Beogram 4000 from Frankfurt. The seller packaged it VERY well, securing tone arm and tracker, lots of packaging etc. Everything seems to be working fine, except for a couple minor things: 

1. When there is no record on the platter, and I press play, the tone arm should move towards the center of the platter aiming to detect a 7'' or nothing at all. When it moves to the center, it does not detect that there is no record or that it has reached its maximum range. You can hear the motor slowing down because it keeps trying to push the tracker past its limit. Of course I shut it off, so the motor does not burn out, and the arm moves back to resting position. 

Basically what I am asking, is this a complicated fix? Could I as a novice do it?

2. The other problem is that the 'range guage', ie the horizontal spectrum directly above the controls, does not light up. It tracks the position of the tone arm fine, but I would like it to light up too so that my mind can rest. I'm assuming it's not a standard bulb in there but something specific. Again is this something that is relatively easy to fix/replace?

I took it to a B&O repair shop here in Los Angeles, and they quoted me at 375 to fix everything. Seemed like an absurd price, so bargained them down to 250. They said they'd not be able to go any lower than that. Still for a small light and potentially an out of tune sensor for the tracking, seems pretty steep. What do you guys think?

These are the guys: http://www.tekmg.com/BangAndOlufsen-Repair.aspx

I have a 'friend' that worked on my McIntosh MA230 (the one I'm running all my audio through now), he's an expert when it comes to amps and more basic turn tables, but when I suggested looking at my Beogram he was reluctant. He's willing but he says they're quiet complicated. Given his overall technical expertise, do you guys think we could fix it together, given that I might not be able to/shouldnt attempt to myself? 

One other thing, could somebody link me to the appropriate DIN to RCA adapter? I'm assuming Ill need a ground wire to? Will a DIN7 adapter work with the DIN5 on the 4000? 

Thanks in advance! 

Reply

Menahem Yachad replied on Wed, Jul 23 2014 8:20 AM

rated by 0 users

Hi Aleksey

You're not going to like what I tell you, but I'm not going to BS you.

I can tell you clearly that you are not going to fix the 4000 for $250, and not for $375, and not even for $1000, if you want to fix one problem and pay for it, then fix another problem, and pay for it, and so on..

This machine is probably the most complicated TT ever made, certainly what I've seen since the early 1970's.

You think you have only 2 problems - you have over 100 problems ;-(. And I'll bet that that technician has never even seen a BG4000, ever, if he gives you a quote like that.

You pay him $250, that is only the start of your problems. At some point, you're going to get so fed up, that you'll want to throw it away.

That is from the customer's viewpoint.

From my viewpoint, I love this TT. It is an engineering masterpiece. Properly restored, it will last for another 100+ years, easily.

I have only ONE approach to this machine - a complete dis-assembly, restoration and rebuild from the ground up. Every single component is checked, and most require replacement. It is a highly labor-intensive and time-consuming job. Single point repairs on this machine are a headache for both the customer and technician, and incredibly expensive in the long run.

There are a few members here who have tackled their own BG4000 (some successfully, and some not), and they will all testify that this machine is NOT a project for the novice (whether or not he owns a workshop, or charges for his time).

Menahem