PC-55 cassette deck with faint/distant left channel with hiss at louder volume. This is on on cassete fucntion only. Before I dig into this machine, are there any suggestions outside of the cleaning and alignment process. I know this one can be tricky with the flip reverse heads. I also tested the RCA outputs of the deck, same thing.

On another note, the lcd display has gone dark, display functions but no lights. Now what? Thanks for any help.

Don't open it yet, REALLY clean the 4 function switches Radio, Phono, line tape. I sprayed deoxit in the front of each button, then hit them each for about 10 times...I have had this same problem with 3 of my PC-55's in the past. I hope this helps, much easier than going in. OOPs! The bulb for your LCD has blown and you can get it out, but it takes a bit of trundling around inside...

Thanks James, I'll give it a shot. I keep DeOxit and alcohol handy. I'm just scratching my head a bit since the amp section is fantastic through all inputs and the tuner section. I know these units are a PAIN to work since they basically are a three motor three head home unit. BTW, I'm spending the major portion day cleaning up the RX-C100 you sent me and adjusting the tuner to pick up the end of the 108mhz band. (THOSE READING THIS POST, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BOX , IT IS A JAPANESE NATIONAL BRANDED VERSION ) Can't listen to the old school hip hop Saturday on 107.7 that comes on from 7am to 11am. Nothing like having a old an who works on this stuff to consult. But I was listening to it last night it is FANTASTIC!!!!! Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You!!! Makes mince meat out of my other boxes! Can't wait to get my CK-5F speakers back in order to compare!

I have a PC-55 and its cassette deck bulbs have burned out too. I've been able to get to them & remove them but can't find replacements. They're shaped like fuses and slip into a tinted plastic sleeve to emit colored light. I'm afraid any incandescent bulb could melt the sleeve (if it would even fit) and without the sleeve it wouldn't be secured or colored. Any suggestions??

I actually sent mine to the shop since I did not have time for it. The wires had actually seperated from the head which is notorious for flip reverse head type decks. You can either go to an electronics supply store (Radio Shack may have them) to get the bulbs. I have heard of a hack to change them to led's but I can't remember the page.

quote:

Originally posted by Risky928:
I have a PC-55 and its cassette deck bulbs have burned out too. I've been able to get to them & remove them but can't find replacements. They're shaped like fuses and slip into a tinted plastic sleeve to emit colored light. I'm afraid any incandescent bulb could melt the sleeve (if it would even fit) and without the sleeve it wouldn't be secured or colored. Any suggestions??

maybe you could find a led to work

After reading some other threads a little further, I found advice about using dome lights for cars (#3012) and tried that last night. Although I couldn't find that exact model, I found one the same size @ 5W, mA unknown. The spec is for 200mA. Though it they fit and lit up, they generated way too much heat so I removed them. I did notice LED substitutes for many auto lamp applications though...you may be on to something! I'll keep looking.

While doing this, I noticed my LCD display is erratic. Specifically, segments display that shouldn't and others that should don't. A little tracing revealed that the ribbon cable that's to be attached to a PC board has come loose. In some cases when one segment should come on, two or more also do at the same time. Futzing with this cable slightly improved the display, but still wasn't perfect. Securing it to the board will require removing that board. Has anyone figured out how to do this? It's mounted vertically to the right of the LCD bulb housing and has several connectors for ribbon cables from the switches, the amp, the motors & so on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Best advice is be very careful and work very slow and dilligently.

here is mine in bits
[URL= ]lcd display[/URL]

and another one with the tape i will be repairing it with
[URL= ][

you can get the bulbs for theese they use them in doorbels there called lamps havnt got a part number as my eyes are too bad, i have done both of mine with sucess

quote:

Originally posted by hanksey72:
here is mine in bits
[URL= ]lcd display[/URL]

and another one with the tape i will be repairing it with
[URL= ][

Is it conductive tape?

no just standard sellotape or scotch tape,although i have used
silver conducting paint to repair some damage in the middle of the ribbon,i am going to try and connect some very thin wires tonight,as two of the connections just need sticking back on
my main problem is the main long ribbon strip which does the level meter and tape counter.

Hi-I just joined & have a JVC PC-55 JW with the lights burned out also.
I posted earlier but I didn't read all of this.
Now I'm on the right thread.
Gosh I wish I could find what kind of or where you get these doorbell lights to see if they would work.
I was considering using a small Christams light but am afraid of heat or too high or low voltage.
My light reads 8 volt .3 amp.This was a replacement that I bought in 1990' and it wasn't exactly the same.It was a little dimmer but worked fine and it was the Exact size also but burnt out after about 9-10 years.
Once again-let me know if you know the bulb.
I'm going to try to contact Acme electronics in Minneapolis if they'e still in buis.
Thanks-Ghettoboom777.

The fuse-type lamps needed for the PC-55 are spec'd at 12 volts and 200mA, you can also use 150mA ones (these will generate less heat and almost no difference in brightness). Many on-line electronic stores carry them, e.g. www.Partsexpress.com and www.mcm.com

On a related subject, I'm looking for a tweeter for a PC-55 speaker its part no. HSA0599-01Y (I think that these were also used in the PC-550)