Radio repair?

Hi,

The Blaupunkt Frankfurt in my '66 has developed a rather annoying fault lately, so needs repair (or replacement). The radio works OK, but the volume control is not working as it should. On turning it, the music becomes very crackled with quite loud bursts through the speaker. FM is completely crackled and you can hardly hear the sound. Also if you find a decent audible station, then the volume randomly gets loud all of a sudden. Quite annoying.

Any idea what is wrong with the radio, or where I can get it fixed?

Thanks.

a. It's fooked.

b. Autoradio Wagner Hardenbergstrasse 69 D-51373 Leverkusen Germany

+49 214-6141 snipped-for-privacy@t-online.de

probably just needs a new variable resistor

In news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com, Ian Dalziel decided to enlighten our sheltered souls with a rant as follows

c. the volume control has a bit of crap in it. Try some switch cleaner before spending big wedge.

Like enough. You don't want to go messing around with a soldering iron in something as valuable as a Frankfurt, though - and proper spares aren't easy to come by. I trailed mine round specialists in this country before being referred to Joerg Wagner. Forgot to quote his website, btw.

Switch cleaner might well be worth a go, though.

Howard, Would suggest trying some contact cleaner ( Maplins) first. Hopefully you can get to the volume pot without damaging anything.

James

You could also try an electrical contact cleaning spray. I can't remember what it's called, been too long, but it cleans the contact surface of switches, VRs, that sort of thing. For a few quid, it might be worth flushing the switch through with this stuff whilst turning the knob back and forth. Make sure the radio is fully dry before re testing. It does dry quickly though. I am assuming there are some holes in the VR casing.

Gaz

Thanks for the tips!

I'll have a look at the switch cleaner and see if that works. I've also emailed Autoradio Wagner asking for an estimate.

How much did it cost to get yours sorted?

For European Repair Help Maple Audio

4/5 Hayes Place, Bear Flat, Bath, BA2 4QW Tel 01225 442180 Fax 01225 469790 email snipped-for-privacy@mapleaudio.freeserve.co.uk

Better to use a cleaner/lubricator like Electrolube. Pot tracks have a conductive grease over them. A cleaner spray will remove this - and although may work for a short while isn't ideal.

111 Euros including postage back here - plus whatever it cost to send it to Germany.

No breakdown of the cost - don't know whether that was a standard service or included parts.

Helpful... although I suspect the Blaupunkt Frankfurt Howard is on about is one of these

So I suspect it's not an issue that CD player type repair people do very often.

Sony do that, they wanted 114 quid to fix my camera, no matter what was wrong with it.

Gaz

Thanks, at least that gives me some idea of the cost! Thought about buying another one, but feel that might give the same problem. May as well fix this one so at least I know it will be OK!

It's been suggested to me that it might simply be a faulty volume control, so I've bought some switch cleaner to try first.

Thanks for the help everyone!

Howard After 35 years in the Radio/TV repair trade my experience is that the carbon track of the volume control is rarely the cause of a noisy control. The usual culprit is the metal centre wiping contact getting oxidised. Switch cleaner applied right into the control and sharp rotation for a few minutes will usually resolve the problem but it will often reoccur. Frequent use will help as leaving the control in one position agravates the problem. If the equipment is not used for a while (laid up for the winter) it will probably occur on first use.

Squirt of switch cleaner (aerosol with pipe) then turn the control up and down several times. Works 90% of the time. If not, consult whoever it is who advertises in Classic & Sportscar - something like the Vintage Wireless Company? Or go to Maplins and just replace the volumre control - they will probably have something which will fit for under a fiver.

Geoff MacK

Switch cleaner - about £1.50. Plus ten minutes twiddling the knob. Worth a try before spending Euros.

Geoff MacK

Trouble is most tend to be a combined volume/tone/balance/on/off control etc, so often a specialist part.