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Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2013 6:02 am
by Doylehinkle
Hi, I recently just bought a 1980's Magnavox stereo/cassette/phono player and when I press phono/tv the digital display reads "ADD". I've tried searching the web for any help but no luck.. What could be the problem??

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:54 am
by Billguwapo
Maybe a bad wire or connection between the turntable and the main board. Sounds like it doesn't know there's a turntable hooked up.

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 2:30 am
by MattTech
Billguwapo wrote:Maybe a bad wire or connection between the turntable and the main board. Sounds like it doesn't know there's a turntable hooked up.


Guessing again?
Maybe this, maybe that?
Maybe carb cleaner on the switches will work.
LOL!

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:54 pm
by DoghouseRiley
I don't want to appear disparaging of the OP, as at least he had the initiative to find this board and ask for help. I hope the advice he gets solves his problem.

But it reminded me of a conversation I had with the friend who has serviced our different domestic appliances, washing machines, tumble dryers and dish-washers etc, for three decades, always charging us reasonable prices.
A few years ago when money was becoming tight he got a phone call from a customer who he had done work for on previous occasions, with a problem with his washing machine. The conversation he said went like this.

"My washing machine is making a funny noise."

"OK, I'll come over and look at it for you."

"No, I think I want to fix it myself, if you can just tell me what's the problem."

Showing great patience my friend said, "Well, what's wrong with it?"

I don't know, it's making a funny noise, look, I'll turn it on and hold the phone up to it so you'll be able to know what's wrong."

Doh!

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 5:46 pm
by MattTech
As Doghouse mentioned, vague postings are essentially worthless wastes of typing and time.
Apparently, people think the internet a magical answer machine, but in actuality, it's not.
The internet is just like a slot machine at a gambling casino - sometimes, rarely, you get lucky.
Mostly, you lose.

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:40 am
by Billguwapo
Ship it to me. I'll fix it with carb cleaner!

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 12:55 am
by Billguwapo
I don't mind getting razzed for my screw ups. I admit carb cleaner was a bad idea for the plastic gear. However, it was very good on all the other metal surfaces that were caked with petrified bearing grease. I am usually excellent at "guessing" what is wrong with something when I have very little information to go from. Of course it's a guess. It had to be. Nobody else offered this guy any ideas. What's wrong with someone making an attempt to try a simple fix when the value of the piece that is being worked on is probably less than the price of one hour labor that is being charged by a professional to fix it? So his initial question was vague. Why can't we have a conversation with him and try to help him out by asking him to clarify his problem. You "professionals" are not going to get much business by running off everyone who has a question. I'll bet most will either take it to someone else or just send it to a scrap yard rather than let someone who blows off your questions like your some kind of idiot and tells you, oh by the way I can fix it for a price. What the hell ever happened to common kindness and decency in America? When someone calls me with a question about a motorcycle or ATV I listen and try to help them if I can and most of the time I end up saving them from having to bring it in for the little stuff and in return, guess who they bring it to when there is an actual technical or big job that needs done. That's right. The guy who offered to help them over the phone as best he could!
Thank you. Just had to vent a little.

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:17 am
by Record-changer
Don't use carb cleaner. Use a cleaner (such as De-Ox-It) made for electronic switches and pots.

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 6:02 pm
by Ron Rich
I don't think "Deoxit" should be used as "cleaner", except for sliding type, electrical contacts. One--it's way too expensive ! Two, other, more appropriate "cleaners" are available, at a much lower cost. Ron Rich

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:06 pm
by Record-changer
They discontinued the cleaner I used to use, and I can't remember the name of the replacement. I listed De-Ox-It because its what I had handy. And if you can't get anything else, it does do the job. And the trouble was mentioned as possibly a sliding type contact. I didn't mean to clean the whole works with it.

Carb cleaner often contains chemicals that destroy plastic. Don't use it.

Never use ANY cleaner not made for the purpose. It may have worked once, but the "new and improved formula" might be a disaster.

Re: Magnavox HELP!

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:05 pm
by Ron Rich
And--- while it's on top of my peanut brain--READ the label on anything before using it---even if you have been using "it for years"--They MAY have changed the formula, and it is no longer appropriate for your use (Don't axk !!! :oops: )!
Ron Rich !