RCA Victor 7HF5 problem

Hi Group -
All of a sudden my RCA Victor 7HF5 continuosly rejects as soon as the tonearm touches down on the record. Any suggestions as to how I can fix?

The workings of an RP205 are much too complex to even describe easily.
I'd have no idea as to exactly what is at fault unless it was up on my test jig with a good light under-chassis.
So I won't guess...

Of course endless thread postings of "what if's" dominate the internet, but the only sure way to remedy the problem is still the tried-and-true method of calling in an experienced person.

Remove the turntable platter and see if the trip mechanism is sticking. Clean it but do not lube it.

Is it possible that, due to the fact that the unit sat unused for a few years, there are bugs that just have to work themselves out? It is now working fine. In the past several weeks that I've owned it I've been using it frequently. Every once in a while it will misbehave (tonearm lowers for wrong size and other booboos) but only a couple of times and then it's fine. It kept rejecting for a couple of days and now plays perfectly. BTW for a phonograph it's age the sound is phenominal.

I am glad that it is working for you. That being said, you really need to think about having this gone over by a qualified tech. Though it is working now it will fail... possibly quite dramaticly. Old capacitors can blow and take expensive components with them or worse and I am sure that the changer problems are caused by old dried up grease. Think about it.

I had an RP-215 which has the same basic mechanism.

One day this started happening. I took the turntable off the base, and found that a little part beside the drive gear that resets the trip pars had gotten bent, so it did not reset the trip parts. Further investigation showed a wire near it was occasionally getting between the trip parts and the reset part.

Another possibility is that the trip slide is bent. This can happen if you try to keep the switch from shutting off after the last record.

The size problems are easy to figure out.

Sets to 10" when 12" record is played: The record was started while already on the turntable, not dropped from the spindle. A 12" record has to drop down the spindle to strike the 12" sensor.

Sets to 12" when smaller record is played: The 12" sensor has dirty or gummed lubrication, so it does not return to its normal position. Also look for a loose spring.

Sets to 7" when 10" record is played: The rubber bumper is missing from the 10" sensor near the turntable rim. Note that the sensor without the bumper can damage a 12" record by scraping the grooves on the bottom side with sharp metal.

Sets to 10" when 7" records are played: Gummed grease on the 10" sensor lever keeps it from rising to touch the record. Also look for a missing spring (rare).

Record-changer wrote:I had an RP-215 which has the same basic mechanism.

One day this started happening. I took the turntable off the base, and found that a little part beside the drive gear that resets the trip pars had gotten bent, so it did not reset the trip parts. Further investigation showed a wire near it was occasionally getting between the trip parts and the reset part.

Another possibility is that the trip slide is bent. This can happen if you try to keep the switch from shutting off after the last record.

This is exactly why I do not choose to get heavily involved in discussing "possible" solutions to record changer problems.
There's simply too many "if's" involved, and creates never-ending threads with confusion.

A part gets bent or damaged??.. how do I know if that's the case if the changer is half way around the world?
It's impossible to predict.
Even high-definition photos can't tell me if a critical clutch assembly is off by a millimeter, causing slippage problems.
It's impossible to define....online.
And I can't tell if solidified old grease is causing binding of a mechanism... impossible.

If you want a job done properly and without endless chattering, confusion, and frustration... take it to an experienced PRO.

And Ron, get someone to turn off the Snow Machine..... Christmas is over!

Sorry Matt,
I have no control over the snow machine--it NEVER snows here--you gotta talk to the man behind the blanket--- Ron Rich

Matt

The original purpose for this forum is for advice to hobbyists who do have mechanical and electrical abilities, not for total novices.

For the novice, I would advise taking it to a pro. My advice is for the people with these abilities, but not the experience of having seen the particular unit or the particular problem before.

The unit was restored by someone who does this on a regular basis. He's worked on other phonographs for me and does an excellent job. I honestly believe the problems arose due to the phonograph not being used for a couple of years. Everything works and sounds fantastic.