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Intermittent channel on a Pioneer SX-636

A

antscott

New Member
Boy, I'm glad I found this site!

I have recently fired up an ebay-sourced SX-636. One channel partially/mostly cuts out from time to time on both phono and tuner selections. What's funny is that if I play a CD through AUX this generally doesn't happen. And indeed, if I switch from phono to AUX while a CD is playing, then back to phono (or FM) then the channel comes back.

I've no experience working on electronics myself (though I've dealt with making busted turntables go, so I have the patience for careful set-up). I'll probably have to in this case as I live in Alaska (which lacks the scale to support a repair person anymore). I downloaded the manual/schematic. I could use some help trouble-shooting from someone who has the time and inclination. I'd be so grateful!

Very best,

Antony
 
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Hi Antony and welcome to AK. Anyway as far as your problem I think most will suggest that you get a can of Deoxit contact cleaner and go through your unplugged Pioneer and clean all potentiometers and switches. You will need to remove top, bottom and faceplate to get it were it's needed. There is a great sticky somewhere on this site that will take you correctly through the whole process.

edit: it's already there
 
bandg69 said:
Hi Antony and welcome to AK. Anyway as far as your problem I think most will suggest that you get a can of Deoxit contact cleaner and go through your unplugged Pioneer and clean all potentiometers and switches. You will need to remove top, bottom and faceplate to get it were it's needed. There is a great sticky somewhere on this site that will take you correctly through the whole process.

edit: it's already there
Click to expand...

Thanks. I just looked at the sticky - clearly I've some work to do. I had already played with Deoxit D5 on the 5 pots. No real difference, but I'll re-do more thoroughly. (I can't find the relay-thingies; from what I've read there isn't one on the SX-636, but maybe I've got that wrong.) One thing that I have just discovered is that playing with the mono switch affects the signal. That is, if I'm listening to FM (stereo) the right channel can be all but gone and when I push the mono switch in it blooms back. Weird.

Meanwhile the CD player sings fine. Argh. What I really want is to spin the black stuff... I have pictures of the innards I can post if I should. But maybe I should dioxit more thoroughly first?

Thanks again...
 
Do ALL, meaning EVERY POT, SWITCH, or combination. If it goes in/out, up/down, or round and round, it gets DeOxit. Your problem is most likey the selector Rotary switch combined with the MONO/STEREO switch. But do ALL OF THEM. Sometimes you may have to do them 2-3-4 times over a period of a couple weeks to get complete results.
 
larryderouin said:
Do ALL, meaning EVERY POT, SWITCH, or combination. If it goes in/out, up/down, or round and round, it gets DeOxit. Your problem is most likey the selector Rotary switch combined with the MONO/STEREO switch. But do ALL OF THEM. Sometimes you may have to do them 2-3-4 times over a period of a couple weeks to get complete results.
Click to expand...
I'll re emphasis, once you've applied the deoxit to the switch/pot toggle in/out, back and forth 50-100 times. I've got an SX-727 that was only playing mono in FM. I bet I played with the mono/stereo selector for 200 toggles or better before I finally got stereo. Also the tape monitor switches can often be the culprits to a lousy signal even if they are not selected. Give them a good work out as well.
Good luck!
 
All:

thanks much for the help. I just did my second FULL deoxit routine (on top of the first partial), complete with 100 toggles per switch, selector, volume, balance, tone control etc. I then applied the Gold formula.

Everything is much improved, if still imperfect. Connections are still not exactly rock solid. While before we were riding a tricycle and falling over a good bit now we're mostly cruising the racing bike with the occasional wobble around unexpected curves. This is frustrating -- I'm tired of inhaling that stuff -- and a bit concerning. Still, it's astonishing that it works as well as it does.

No doubt once my lungs are sufficiently cleared out I'll give it yet another go. It is getting better each time.
 
I find it helps tremendously to follow it with a blast of clean compressed air while you are exercising the switches. If you don't have an air compressor you can get canned air at Staples or the like.
 
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