Help!

I was listening to my Sharp GF-9494X just now, turned it off, pushed play on the tape. Nothing!

It wont turn back on now either. Just like that. Dead.

I tried different power cords, etc, nothing works.

Can anyone tell me what I should look for when I open it up?

I dont want to dig into it until one of the resident experts gives me a clue! Because I am 'clueless'.

Thanks!

i am no tech but try it with batt, and if open look for fuse.

jlf nice box i have the 9696 it looks like lost of power somewhere well the first thing is where it is plugged if you plug another radio it works right i now it seems a little dumb but i have seen those tpye of things happen, if all is well then i guess your only thing left is open it up to make sure there is power to the supply, but i am suspecting the little switch that lays inside where you plug the power cable even if you plug a cable in if the switch does not activate there will be no power spray a little contact cleaner and plug the cable a couple of times just to work the switch

thanks for the knowledge guys!

I'll try your suggestions!

Did you check to see if the voltage selector is correct?

Does it have a DC in socket (most of BBX have one to plug a CAR ligther adapter)
Like the AC socket, this input has a disabling switch (whatever power source you plug in the BBX MOST disable the batteries).
Trying it with batteries is the easy way. You can use a general purpouse transformer (those with several voltages) and plug it in the DC in socket. Be carefull both in the voltage and polarity settings !!!!!

Look like a very silly issue ....
Love this Sharp

quote:

Originally posted by ramon:
jlf nice box i have the 9696 it looks like lost of power somewhere well the first thing is where it is plugged if you plug another radio it works right i now it seems a little dumb but i have seen those tpye of things happen, if all is well then i guess your only thing left is open it up to make sure there is power to the supply, but i am suspecting the little switch that lays inside where you plug the power cable even if you plug a cable in if the switch does not activate there will be no power spray a little contact cleaner and plug the cable a couple of times just to work the switch

Thanks Success!

Yeah, it doesnt work with the batteries either?!

I'll try and find a DC line and try that next...

Not the easiest box to get apart either!

quote:

Originally posted by JLF:
Not the easiest box to get apart either!

You got that right! Even after all the screws are out, there's a trick to getting the case open.

Yeah I guess so! I finally gave up when I started to muscle it. I dont want to break it!

I wish I could find my old bbx repair guy!

because the front comes off and it has to slide on that top part ,,so if it did not work with batteries once you get it open then you will have to check the power supply board not sure if it had a fuse but check it anyway,

The back is sort of "tabbed" - meaning that it catches slightly on the front casing. As long as all the screws are out, you won't break it. Just don't be in a rush.

i would check the power switch as well ,if you have a 12 volt test light or multi meter to see if there is current at the switch ,if there is no power at the switch then its probably the power supply .

Ok, thanks all...

Ive called every last number known belonging to my repair guy.

I also called a new place. Its been in biz 31 years, but to me; are an unknown quantity. They werent scared away when I told them what it was... And are willing to have a look.

I am reluctant to hand it over to 'strangers'. I'll have a poke around, and if I come to naught, then I'll take it in on Monday I suppose... It feels like the wrong thing to do for some reason?!

You need to be sure that the repair shop understand the value of the radio before you let it.
I've nver bring any of my radios at a repair shop. but I remembered that with my RX5600 I was exausted (I couldn't find the issue).... So I decided to bring it to a repair shop.
Instead of bringin it to a Panasonic Oficial service (I have two near home) .. I decided to phone an old Sansui Technician with have lot of expericne.
I talked to him for about a half an hour, explaining hwo valuable were the radio por me.
The man end so frightened ... and said me that he would fix it, but I couldn't stay with him while he was doing the repair job


Finally I found the issue, so I never let him the radio .. only a frightening phone conversation ...

I know exactly how you feel Success!

I keep thinking of having a go at it myself... but Im afraid of causing more damage!

Ive never seen a fuse inside a bbx, so I cant imagine it being that simple.

I used to stand at the work bench of my repair guy and watch a master go through a box in no time at all.... quickly and carefully taking it apart and back again.

Its a long shot... but as soon as this snow storm lets up, Im going to drive through the small neighborhood where I last knew he had set up a makeshift shop, in the hopes of seeing a sign, or anything!

I totally understand your trepidation when it comes to working on these boxes, Jeff. When I first opened the GF-777, I took one look at it and closed it right back up. I eventually got back in there and took care of things.

It IS a big leap if you've never done anything like it. I would suggest that you at least open up the GF-9494 and take a look inside. At least that way, if the repair guy does anything screwy, it will be noticeable.

Excellent advice my friend! I'll do that... especially as we are snowed in today!

Cant wait to get those stickers from you!

They're on the way. You should have them by Tuesday.

well i think it would be a good idea for everybody to at least to learn at least the basics,, i have seen shops that will not work on boxes especialy the first thing in there mouth is it a decontinued item to old
parts no longer made ( that without trying) or real hard to get,, but i always say its good to learn to open your boxes look inside them and yes there will be some that hard as hell to work on them and there are some that just invite you in so we should not be intimitated and its a great way to learn there is alot of info on the internet buy a vom and start learning how to use it, it is very rewarding

Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!!!!

I always have digital camera by my side when I start a repair for these reasons:

1. What wires go where and at which route.
2. What screws go where and how many (some don't have all screws)
3. It might be apart for a day,week,month,etc.
4. My memory is poo poo.

If you take pics and be careful, I almost promise you can fix it yourself. Especially with some help from the experienced ones within this site!

Johnny

Ok, thats it! Im going to dig into it right now....

You can do it!

Johnny

Jeffrey! Jeffrey! He's our man! If he can't do it, nobody can!!

This tip is the MOST MOST important.

JLF,

Let me told how I search the repair guy ...

I usually visit a guy who sells HIFI separates, you know, Sansui, Marantaz, Nakamichi, Technics.
This kind of seller usually get systems that are burned (blown channels) or need a depth clean. This vintage separates hasn't spare parts so who works on them MOST be very tidy and carefulll.
I asked the vintage seller who serviced his equipment, and he contacted with the Sansui Technician I told you
Perhaps you know someone how work selling vintage equipement ... this sellers most have a reliable technician.

In the other hand, If you never have openned a BBX, don't start with the MOST difficult.
I suggest you to have a look in a National/Panasonic midline BBX. They are very friendly to open and work in. You can get all part without effort, and they have conectors for all boards.

Pedro

quote:

Originally posted by johnnygto:
Pictures, pictures, and more pictures!!!!

I always have digital camera by my side when I start a repair for these reasons:

1. What wires go where and at which route.
2. What screws go where and how many (some don't have all screws)
3. It might be apart for a day,week,month,etc.
4. My memory is poo poo.

If you take pics and be careful, I almost promise you can fix it yourself. Especially with some help from the experienced ones within this site!

Johnny

quote:

Originally posted by Fatdog:
Jeffrey! Jeffrey! He's our man! If he can't do it, nobody can!!

I can't hear you, so I don't know how good you can sing, but your avatar is awesome

Johnny

Very good advice Success!

Maybe I will just have a poke around... but leave the deep digging to the professionals!

It isnt the easiest box to open up thats for sure!

Like I said, once you figure out the trick, it's easier the next time.

True... except my style has always been a bit 'meat fist'....

If at first it doesnt come apart, apply more pressure! Then a hammer... Then drop from a great height...

Gorilla style!

Get it fixed your Jeff ????????

No... I tried to take it apart, and quickly felt out of my depth.

After this freak blizzard is over, and life returns to normal... Im gonna make a serious effort to find my old tech!

Heres something weird... I plugged in come Christmas lights into the same socket the 9494 was hooked up too when it stopped working... and they didnt work either?! So I tried them in a different location. Nothing! They were working just the day before too?!

Perhaps I have a temporal distortion in the space time continuum?

Hello JLF, I can give you a couple of tips to open the 9494 up at least to have a look inside and to see what happened with power.
-First, remove all screws from back panel, if I recall clear there is also one screw inside the battery compartment, so remove it too.
-Then remove (pull) all sliders and switches from upper control panel.
-Remove (pull) tunning and fine tunning knobs at the side of bbx.
-Stupid thing, but very important, press EJECT to open the tape door, otherwise the front shell will not come apart.
-Put the bbx on the table with speakers facing upwards and gently lift the front case apart from the back half, you will end up with the front section on your hands, it is heavy since it holds the speakers and the tape door.
Be careful with the speaker cables, because they are not long enough to let you put the front face aside easily, I do not remember if there´s is a connector to unplug to finally separate both shells, please take a look.
Hope this guide be useful to you, good luck!
Regards
Julian

Excellent Julian! Thank you!

I would have NEVER figured out the Eject button trick!

Nothing better as Im snowed in still!