OK so as if my M70 wasn't giving me enough aggravation (see M70 Good and Bad) I received in the post today a very cheap non-functioning Sharp GF9000 that had been in the boot of someones car when they had a minor bump from behind by some dopy pillock on their mobile phone.

After getting over the shock of how massive this thing is I opened it up and had a look.

I think most people would have bought it as a parts box but the front is cosmetically really good, the case damage is just to the top and I reckon can be patched and resprayed without too much problem...I've also wanted a beater to work on as I've watched a lot of refurb posts and I really fancy having a go as it looks great fun!  The seller also told me afterwards that it was his kid brothers pride and joy but he'd sadly died and thats why they'd kept hold of it for so long even though it didn't work.

I've had a good look inside and all looks perfect, no damage anywhere (though obviously there could be damage I can't see!).  He tells me it had all been serviced and working well not that long before the accident but of course that could be BS.

The big issue I can see is that the power supply had been damaged and some time ago the seller had sent it to be repaired but it was then dumped when it was found to be toast.

So do I repair it or scrap it?...and if I repair does anyone have a replacement power supply (need the whole thing including the fitting where the figure of 8 lead fits into as its all gone awol!)...Docs or Del do you have anything in your spares box?!

This is the front before I started cleaning (I have the missing button from the top row all its missing is the little one at the bottom left that switches between internal and external speakers so thats no biggie)

The case damage on the top (the missing part is long gone)

The pretty bit!

The insides (the back will need respraying as well as its so yellow its almost orange!

The front after stripping and bathing! (I have since removed the tweeter grills as well)

So what do you reckons guys?

No. Don`t scrap it bro. Still remember, what a pain it is, getting it back together. The cable, on the plug, that connects the back to the front, is just long enough to reach. Still prefer the gf535 though. I had a minter, from peppin.

...sounds familiar! Was this a recent win off ebay by any chance??

Cheers, I really don't want to scrap it, just don't how difficult its going to be to get a replacement power supply...don't even mind if its not from a 9000 if its compatible electrically, happy to adapt brackets etc to get it to fit, theres plenty of room in there!

Yep. A massive £31.50 so not bad considering, though completely failed to notice the missing power supply on the listing pics!...d'oh!

I believe that power supply from GF-575 will fit, 

it's the same 45w power consumption.

Good to know!...gives me more options for a new one

Curious... How you gonna repair the housing? Will you be using modeling putty to make-up the missing bits, fill in cracks etc? Or did it come complete with shattered sections and it's a matter of gluing them them together? 

as you may see they are a bit different, but components are the same, and I think it's possible to modify and install GF-575' supply, in case you won't find original one.

Thanks Metad, it certainly looks possible with a bit of tweaking and I reckon theres enough room in there.

Stupid question for you (remember I know very little )...whats stopping me just running the box from the battery compartment or are there any required functions in the circuit board attached to the power supply? So if I can't get a power supply at least I'd have a battery only boomer!

you have pm

there is a switch inside of the AC socket, which is AC/DC selector, and theoretically it's possible to run the box from the battery, but you got loose wires from the supply, right?
In this case you have to know for sure which wires to connect and which one to isolate.

It's up to you, but my humble advice - in case you have no experience, wait till you find power supply... or learn how to do it correct  

Well Chris (Deliverance) is my new hero!   He's offered a power supply and is happy to post it to me...he's just made my day! LEGEND!!!!!

Just hope I don't get washed away in this rain before I get it!...flood warnings, roads closed, people washed away in rivers, half the staff didn't make it in, and I'm the only one left in the office (though clearly I'm not doing any work! )

oi simon get on with some work lad!....i wish i had time to chat on here in work time....opps it is work time! don't tell me guv

I don't have to do any work cos I am the boss hee hee!

That's great!! I just don't work

OK so I've been working on this after work most of this week and then Saturday and have made some progress with the casing.  Its my first attempt as such a refurb and I'm really pleased with how its going so far. :thumbsup:

So I patched the hole with some spare perspex I had, looks a bit weird as it was clear stuff (I'd got it to fabricate a new cassette door for my M70).  It was a bit awkward as it was to the side of the handle and included a corner. 

So here it is patched (sorry about the wonky photos but S2G seems to ignore it when I flip and puts them back!).

Applied two layers of car bodywork filler.
Did Did a bit of sanding.

Masked up and painted with 2 coats of primer, 3 of silver, and 3 of lacquer.

And this is what the corner with the hole looks like now! :-D

And the other corner that had a massive crack in it.

Heres the front casing repaired and with resprayed grills  :-D   Next step is to repair the screw posts as 8 out of 10 were bust, 2 I was able to reglue but 6 will need re-making.  Hope you guys like it so far, it ain't perfect but I'm pretty pleased with it!!!!! :-D

a masterpiece in the making. that's amazing, Northerner!

considering your no expert Si looks like you've done a damn good job there mate, congrats

Now all you need is a power supply... or did i miss that? 

nice work mate 

 ones on its way to him.

Sweet, hope that's all that's missing/faulty. 

Great work Si that restoration, now we know who to fix cracks for us

you read my mind docs

we patiently await the pics

Happy to do repairs for others... I'll post the final pics once it's all complete!

i take your word and yes please post your pics when the time comes

great job man, how does it look from the inside?

top job simon

cracked cases are the biggest downer with boxes imo

Looks like a pro job to me, excellent work Northener.

You`ve made a right job of that lad. There`s some hours work gone into that.

Obviously not quite as neat on the inside  its patched inside with either 3mm perspex or where not so damaged or space a little tight with a cut up defunct credit card style gift card.  Once I sort the many many broken screw posts I'll post a pic of the inside

Also found I already had a replacement aerial as the one on it was completely knackered...found that a Sharp QT250 I picked up for a quid that I listen to in my shed has exactly the same aerial!...result!

WOW what a top job mate....i couldn't do that in a million years....well done... lets hope the box works perfect once you have the power supply. we have our fingers crossed for you lad

its great peeps like del,bison,etc that do the biz and help the brothers out si-and the pics are showing that you really have done the buisness on the casing-that will be the envy of all at the next showtop banana brother!!!!

damm i thought the tosh 8900 was the best sounding one you have Lee

Si, my advice would be to keep it stock and original. If you need the sound improvement over the nostalgia of an 80's boombox then ofcourse it makes sense. For me, orignality is paramount but it's how you feel about it I guess.

your right si there was allot of bull in the sellers listing .

 thats eBay for you!...lots of BS floating around!...he wasn't a collector and said he'd had it serviced and speakers replaced a long while back so I suppose whoever did it could've done it properly and got salvaged proper ones.  In the smashed up state it was in it didn't really make any difference whether they were old or replacement speakers so I don't think he would be gaining anything by making it up.  I'm the original Mr Cynical but having chatted with him I actually think he was honest but don't actually mind either way!...I got an awesome looking box for very little money and have really enjoyed working on it so I win whatever!...(assuming something happens when I plug in the power supply!!)

it was already done si, but as i said it sounds the nuts.....my standard one sounded crap and i found the speakers was lightweight with small magnets,not up to the job for such a big box in my opinion!

here's a pic of mine with the new drivers

gotta agree my old 9000 sounded crap with the original woofers, congrats once again Si and that 9000 of your's Lee looks awesome with them woofers in

got to agree with lav there those speakers look top lee,

i think if a speaker mod improves the performance and looks the part its all good

I agree with stereomad....the origional speakers are rubbish...so i suggest you change them while you can...

cummon get your act together si....we want to see her working