General Stuff(tm)

[stephen_usher]

After a clean and a polish the machine almost looks new:

IMG_3205.jpeg

Very mid-80s styling though. (The model was released in 1984.)

[mrbombermillzy]

:dualthumbup:

I'm all for mid 80's styling.

[stephen_usher]

Last night the machine broke, or rather it stopped being able to load or unload the tape around the head. The motor and gearbox driving it just spun.

In the end I discovered manually moving a lever which actuates the end of travel switch for the tape wrapping ring would allow it to work.

I thought that it must be some sort of actuator not working properly but I didn't know how the thing works.

I found the service manual and the exploded diagram showed noting driving it other than a tension spring and the outside of the ring, with a dimple into which the little roller at the end of the lever rode, actuating the switch.

Anyway, this evening I started looking into it. I first lubricated the bearings and runners and it made no difference, it still seemed to jam in the notch.

I then tried to remove the gearbox which sits on top of the motor and which eventually drives the ring, but couldn't get it out as it was held in by a run of wires. So, I refit it. As I did so there was a slight twang and the gearbox dropped a couple of millimetres. Suddenly rotating the gears caused the ring to move. So I replaced everything and tried the system and it worked.

Obviously during shipping gears had rattled around and partly disengaged. The extended running of the machine last night whilst recording an old Horizon, "Uranus Encounter", had caused it to fully disengage.

[mrbombermillzy]

Hopefully you can get it working again.

I'm going to gently tiptoe around the name of that show you were recording! :hide: :lol:

[stephen_usher]

Oh, the machine's now working again. :-)

Yes, well, better not talk about crater rims in this regard either. Anyway... I can record "The Sky at Night" from November 1985, all about Halley's Comet, now.

[mrbombermillzy]

.... So I replaced everything and tried the system and it worked.

Somehow I managed to miss that line. :roll:

Great news then.

I can record "The Sky at Night" from November 1985, all about Halley's Comet, now.

Was that the show that Patric Moore used to present?

[stephen_usher]

I can record "The Sky at Night" from November 1985, all about Halley's Comet, now.

Was that the show that Patric Moore used to present?

Yes, until his death in 2011.

[mrbombermillzy]

Perhaps an interesting interlude, if I may?

I used to live in Selsey around 2009-2010 and remember being told this story by someone who had witnessed it happen:

So, it's an established fact that Brian May (from the band Queen) used to be good friends with Patrick Moore.

Anyway, on this particular day, he had come to Selsey to visit Patrick and either on his way to or back (can't recall) from his visit, saw someone carrying some unwanted items, including a guitar into one of the the charity shops on the high street.

Apparently, Bryan took the guitar, signed it and gave it back to the charity shop. :)

I never did find out what price that guitar ended up being sold for unfortunately. Would have been interesting to know.

[stephen_usher]

Yesterday I travelled up Leicester way to help the widow of Paul Vernon (https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/), along with another member of the Elite: Dangerous "fan club", to clear some of his collection.

In August there's an Elite Community Meet and one of the displays will be a tribute to Paul and as part of that they want one of his two Hybrid Music Systems set up, so I brought one home.

Now all I have to do if figure out how to put it together and get it working!

IMG_3213.JPG

[rubber_jonnie]

Yesterday I travelled up Leicester way to help the widow of Paul Vernon (https://www.retro-kit.co.uk/), along with another member of the Elite: Dangerous "fan club", to clear some of his collection.

In August there's an Elite Community Meet and one of the displays will be a tribute to Paul and as part of that they want one of his two Hybrid Music Systems set up, so I brought one home.

Now all I have to do if figure out how to put it together and get it working!


IMG_3213.JPG

That is really very cool, I suspect you will be able to figure it out no problem :)

I heard about Paul some time ago, possibly through Stardot, I don't recall, but his website was a great resource and incredibly helpful when I was repairing the A5000.

A sad loss indeed.

I personally have a BBC B donated to me in memory of a work colleague who died about a year ago, it's amazing the connections you make through these machines.