ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hello, I have just recently started a restoration of a BG 8000 starting with replacing the capacitors with a kit from Martin. The first time I turned on the power to the table the little red dot in the control panel was lit but nothing lit in the sensor arm bulb. Pushing The start button turned the platter but did not get the arm moving toward the record. This was last night after midnight. So I went to bed somewhat discouraged but convinced I would do what I could today. Anyway I turned it on a again today and of course did not suspect any change, and there wasn't, but I did notice the belt that drives the motor moved ever so slight when play was pressed. So I tore screw rod and rails under the arms down and cleaned a oiled them. Success, the arm now moves over to the record edge and drops. Even though the rails looked clean there was enough old accumulation of dust and dirt to stop it. Lesson to be learned here. However their is still the issue of the sensor lamp not being lit. How do I test it, does it have to be unsoldered, or just one of them? The small wires there are intimidating. Also is the lamp a different typpe than on a BG 4002 which I have a spare from Martin.
john
I had pulled the lamp out enough to examine it from the sensor arm and it looked a little black inside. Through a magnifier it looked like the filament was broken. i looked in my spare parts and found I had a old lamp from a BG 8000 from an broken parts table I had kept so decided to replace it. Shaky hands and all I did, but it was not a pretty soldering job. Anyway now to test if it actually plays music. Hooked it up, pushed play and the sensor light came on a it went to the edge of Steve Martin's "A Wild and Crazy Guy" concert and dropped into place. And I hear applause fading up and Steve begins to talk, but only from the left channel. Always my mind goes to the most complex problem I can imagine, broken wire in the tone arm or electronics in the board. I tried using headphones to make sure it wasn't the receiver, used a different phono plug, still the same result. Back to the work bench and take it down to the service mode position. I decide to start with the phono plug connector the easiest thing to do and the first thing I see is a broken wire. I have never been so happy to see a broken wire. I solder it back put the table back together and go back and hook it up and put on a record. Everything is working perfectly. Just shows you even if you don't know much but know how to halfway solder, with a little patience, and some careful cleaning, which I have heard from more than once from a certain member here that lives south of my country's border, you can maybe rescue a few of these tables. Outside of a slightly scratched up dustcover this one was in remarkable condition.
John
Another one saved, enjoy John, good job, next time, clean first, lubricate, and then the repairs Just cleaned and lubricated my CD50 disc motor, and where I was thinking of focus failures, caps and more, it was only cleaning. As you I get nervous after changing a bunch of caps and then connect for the first time, I always check and check again all i can think of, then take a deep breath and do it.
Now keep it alive and enjoy your vinyl.
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Thanks, Soren. I guess you figured out pretty easily who my reference was to the member was from south of my country's border. I read all your post regarding the BMW 4400 and learn a lot from what you do.
Thanks again,
Well done !Always nice to read about old B&Os saved and playing.
Martin
Thanks Dillen, the cap kit and instruction sheet are so helpful to the process. I think I should get another lamp for the BG 8000 if you have any available. Can you email me.
Email sent.