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 all,
So my beogram 5500 won't turn on, for a little while it would turn on but the arm wouldn't move, now hitting the power button does nothing. The beomaster still turns on and works fine.
I spoke to a local B&O store and they said they could have it repaired with a $90 estimate fee, the actual repair would most likely be in the mid hundreds depending on the issue according to the man I spoke to. Any ideas of what the issue could be? I was told that since I can't get it to turn on at all it is most likely an issue with the main board.
Should I try to fix it myself or find a repair man outside of B&O? I'm in NYC by the way.
Many thanks for the help.
You could try Atlantic Systems in Hanover, MA (Paul is the Mgr) - they're cheaper than the NYC repair shops even when cost of shipping is taken into account. But I think this might be one of those cases where it's more cost efficient to buy a working one off of eBay or Craigslist and selling yours as a parts/repair unit. Unless of course someone replies to your post with an easy do-it-yourself fix.
You have the classic symptom of a failed piston.
Read this for further details - copy and paste the URL in your browser
http://www.condoraudio.com/wp-content/uploads/Projects/BeoGram-4500-Turntable-Restoration-Repair.pdf
Hi Menahem
Just saw your response re. tangential-tracking arm issue on Beogram 5500.
In my case, the Play function works, the arm goes up and down and plays the record properly. However, the cartridge does not slide anymore, ultimately leading the reading to stop.
I am kind of scared to carry out your Solenoid Piston Rebuild as it is looks quite daunting for a non-engineer, non-native English speaker.
So, three questions:
- could my problem be resolved with lubrication
- if yes, would you have photos showing exactly what needs lubrication and where
- if I need to carry out the Solenoid Piston Rebuild, do you have additional photos to guide me through the process?
Many thanks in advance for your help,
Patrick
(Dublin, Ireland)
If arm goes at begining of record, plays but does not move foward, it is probably LDR or bulb problem on base of arm assembly. Checking this needs a little disasembling. Not big problem and fixable.
There is threads about this on forum (though, I did not find one now )
blah-blah and photographs as needed
Hi Patrick,
If the Play function works, the "problem" is not in the piston (PHEW!).
I don''t understand if it "plays the record properly" , then where's the problem?
What do you mean "the cartridge does not slide anymore"?
If you could be more specific about what is happening EXACTLY, I can probably help you, but right now, I really don't understand what's going on!
Menahem
Hi Menachem
Many thanks for replying and apologies for the delay in getting back to you as for my fuzzy explanation and improper use of the term cartridge. I'll try and clarify:
- when I press play, the platter starts normally, but neither tone nor detector arms move (with or without a record on the platter)
- the play function continues regardless and the tone arm lowers straight on to the actual deck
- if I manually slide both arms over the record and lower the tone arm, it lands on the record plays the track normally - for a few seconds: as the arms don't move, the tone arm is gradually pulled away from the detector arm until it eventually lifts back up and the play stops.
Hope this makes more sense - and hopefully still does not involve the piston :-)
Looking froward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
OK, now it is quite clear!
Open up the machine, as per the Service Manual, and look at the back under the tonearm.
Is the white cable secure and tension-ed?
Is the rubber belt on the servo motor OK? That's the small rubber belt, not the large belt which rotates the platter.
Those are the 2 most likely causes of the problem.
It sounds like the carriage is not moving at all so it must be the drive string has become un-attached, probably due to a broken attachment point on the carriage.
Regards Graham
Agree with Graham - seems to happen more often due to aging plastic I presume.
Peter
Hello Menahem
Many, many thanks for your reply and again apologies for my late response - we have now started our annual family trip to visit the relatives et al, so am away from the dear Beogram 5500 until early August. But I will definitely check this out when I'm back and let you know the results.
All the best.
Hello Joey
Hello Peter