Pointer bulb burnt Accuphase T-101

[davstev]

I have a dial pointer on the T-101 that is burnt out. This may be the same as the T-100, i am not sure. The bulb needs to be replaced. Has anyone done this? I can't figure out how to get the bulb out; it's nestled inside the pointer assembly itself, which is like a long narrow box, and there are two wires that come out of the assembly. The service manual doesn't help at all. See attached pics, the bulb is inside the narrow black box called the "pointer assembly", which is somehow attached at ninety degrees to the gold-coloured horizontal triangle slider bit.

 

[davstev]

Here are better pics of the assembly.

 

[PE9ZZ]

You will have to disassemble the whole pointer assembly. It's likely to be a light guide which is illuminated by a small bulb. In these cases I usually replace the unobtainium bulb with a small 0603 SMD LED (as I did in my avatar LOL). You could even introduce new functionality by using two LEDs to indicate proper tuning, but as the plastic seems red this may not work. You will need extra circuitry in any case here.

 

[davstev]

You will have to disassemble the whole pointer assembly. It's likely to be a light guide which is illuminated by a small bulb. In these cases I usually replace the unobtainium bulb with a small 0603 SMD LED (as I did in my avatar LOL). You could even introduce new functionality by using two LEDs to indicate proper tuning, but as the plastic seems red this may not work. You will need extra circuitry in any case here.

Thanks for the tips. I contacted dwojo69@msn.com, David Wojnarowski, who sells bulb replacements. He had a 100ma 8v and a 200ma 8v. They are the same size as mine. I opted to buy both.

As for opening the assembly. I tugged fairly hard, getting the top to pop off, and while I felt like I was going to break it by doing so, it went ok, no damage, and I got the little bulb out.

The assembly is basically a five sided box that is mounted to a piece of vertical metal.

By pulling towards me with some force, it popped off. I think it should be fairly easy to reassemble after I replace the bulb but we'll see.

Thanks again for the LED tip, it would've been a good option too.

 

[davstev]

You will have to disassemble the whole pointer assembly. It's likely to be a light guide which is illuminated by a small bulb. In these cases I usually replace the unobtainium bulb with a small 0603 SMD LED (as I did in my avatar LOL). You could even introduce new functionality by using two LEDs to indicate proper tuning, but as the plastic seems red this may not work. You will need extra circuitry in any case here.

So, I got the bulb replacement, but it's way too big! Attached here is a pic of the original burnt out bulb. It's exactly 3mm wide. Any more and it won't fly. So, your suggestion for the 0603 LED might be a good one. I just don't know the first thing about how to calculate the new circuitry, or what would be required to compensate for the specs of the new LED. Any advice?

 

[Stabone454]

Hello,
I found this helpful but has a couple questions, what size resistor would you use with the 0603 SMD? We’re you successful in your repair?

 

[KiM3Ce]

I encourage you to look through (and join!) this forum:

https://groups.io/g/FMtuners/topics

 

[pjrengineer]

Any updates I have a pointer bulb out on mine