MCS 3539 Cassette Deck

[boomerb5]

(Originally posted to Solid State...moving to Tape)

Been lurking and learning for a while. Never was much in to audio gear as a kid/teen (mostly cuz we was poor). But it has become something of a hobby. It is amazing what you can get for free or close to it.

Started big with a 1970 Fisher solid state console. Luckily there was nothing really wrong with it. But I cleaned it up and did some diagnostic work. Mostly with the turntable. But it is 100% up to my satisfaction now.

Also have a Grundig tube console. It also came to me with very little in need of repair. Still need to get the turntable running. But it has the warmest, richest sound.

My first question (there will eventually be many as I've got half a dozen tabletop radios and turntables in the closet) is on an MCS 3539 Cassette deck. I picked it up at goodwill. It powers up and the play/FF/Rew all appear to work. But I'm getting no sound. I'm sure I will eventually want to put new belts in it. But until I get some audio out that is a secondary concern.

After opening it up, I found a stray wire. It is brown and based on how it is bundled, it appears to connect to the area next to the transformer. But I cannot tell visually exactly where.

I've searched for schematics or technical diagrams with no luck. I know MCS were generally rebranded Technics or Panasonics. Anyone know if there was a non-MCS sibling model I could reference?

Thanks.

 

[boomerb5]

Was able to get some pics. The first three show the area I believe the loose wire should be soldered. But I cannot tell by looking exactly where it should go. The last two pics show the other end of the brown line...which might help someone to determine what its purpose is. Any advice, suggestions, or information is appreciated.

 

[boomerb5]

Think I will just try contacting that brown lead with each of the posts in the area it looks to come from. What's the worst that can happen?

 

[rojoknox]

You could burn out a transformer made of unobtainium.

 

[boomerb5]

You could burn out a transformer made of unobtainium.

That's unpossible.

 

[rojoknox]

Are you sure about that? You don't yet have a schematic and you propose to touch an unknown wire to several terminals in hopes of finding the right one. You did ask what the WORST that could happen is. Blowing a transformer is the worst possibility, even if unlikely — but certainly not impossible. You might look to see where the other end of that brown wire goes. I've not heard of the MCS brand (or is that part of a model number?).

Years ago, I was working on a CD player and inadvertently dropped a pair of pliers onto the circuit board. "What's the worst that could happen?" You guessed it; it shorted and fried the power transformer. Scratch one now-dead CD player. Yes, it CAN happen.

Good luck,
—
J. E. Knox "The Victor Freak"

 

[dhnash]

There are some additional photos and info about the unit here:

http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=8743

Finding a service manual for the unit would be helpful but will probably not be an easy thing to do.

 

[boomerb5]

I've had this in storage long enough. It is time to take another stab at it. I've had no luck in tracking down a service manual or schematic.

The pics dhnash linked match my unit. Sadly the internal images do not appear to show what I need to learn.

What resources can anyone suggest to get more information? Even just a nudge in the right direction would be helpful at this point.

 

[N8Nagel]

MCS may also have been NEC.

I just looked up yours and it doesn't look like the same MCS tape deck that I have. However it kind of looks like a Panasonic that I recently got rid of, if that helps you at all.

 

[Hifirob2]

The 3539 was made in Taiwan. It wasn't made by Panasonic/Technics or NEC. It was probably made by Arvin or one of the other makers of the lower end Taiwan models. A schematic probably came with the original owner's manual, but would be tough to locate.

If it were me, I may find the same model on ebay. Either buy it (if it's not much $$$), or coax the seller into sending you pictures of the insides.

Also check to see if the output jacks have wires connected, and that the output level switch is properly connected. If that brown wire connects to either of those, you'd lose output - but maybe only in one channel. In one of the pictures on tapeheads, I see a brown wire that looks to go to the output level switch. I'd check that first.

 

[MCS3233]

I have one of these open on the bench if you still need photos or anything. This one has a beige not dark brown wire coming from the same area as your brown wire.