revox b77

[Tinman]

@Paul Hurst
ALL A77's need a complete re-cap and the brittle pots replaced. Consider how old these machines are.
And if you are LUCKY, the VU meters may not have fallen apart. Another typical problem. The glue disintegrates.
It's all fixable, but inevitable. If you can solder, grab a rebuild kit and just get it over with.

(Edited for spelling.)

 

[Paul Hurst]

Thanks for the quick reply. 2 follow ups - Where are rebuild kits available? What is a brittle post?

Good news - I certainly can solder and I have the manual and I have the time.

Thanks again.

 

[radiokom]

Brittle pots (trimmer potentiometers) You should replace all electrolytic capacitors, tantalums too (I found modern Chinese tantalums are good quality, I prefer them instead of common electrolytics, so I replace tantalums with tantalums), motor capacitors, RIFA Miniprint, reel motor bearings, guide bearings (install bearing in front instead of fixed one), use SKF, lubricate capstan with PDP 65. Kits are available in ebay from several sellers, have no idea about quality. One option is to buy from https://www.revox-online-shop.com/. Or you can buy parts from Mouser, Farnell etc, they all are available including Piher trimmers.

 

[Tinman]

Revox online has the best quality so far. I buy from them as well, but not kits... I don't need kits. But their wares are top notch.

The kits are great if you don't want to do the work of figuring everything out yourself. Otherwise, yes... Mouser or Digi-Key.
Stay away from ebay.

 

[radiokom]

Mouser or Digi-Key

In Europe one of the best is Farnell.com, UK company. They have this company in US https://www.newark.com/?cmp=os-flag-newark.com
Have no idea how good it is if compared with Mouser, but may worth a try.

 

[Celadon]

In Europe one of the best is Farnell.com, UK company. They have this company in US https://www.newark.com/?cmp=os-flag-newark.com
Have no idea how good it is if compared with Mouser, but may worth a try.

Im in the US, and I like Newark -- they have some good pricing. But of course Digikey and Mouser are top notch as well.
I remember buying a couple wierd components, and they ended up coming from Farnell via Newark....
Newark also had the best pricing for Peak products ie: Peak Atlas ESR testers etc.

I always wanted a Revox -- and still kick myself today when I ran across one in a thrift store maybe 20 plus years ago -- it was pretty beat, but still it was like $5.
I passsed-- stupid me!

I don't care for the kits offered on ebay... to wary of counterfeit components -- and with ALL the work involved... ahem. I will pay the price from a known supplier as mentioned above. Lots of work, figuring out the buy list, but I know my reputation and satisfaction, are assured.

Best of luck with your project --no matter the direction you choose.

Celadon

 

[radiokom]

I don't care for the kits offered on ebay... to wary of counterfeit components

Me too, but there is one exception. Chinese tantalums. I found they are good quality, I have measured them before replacing and they are in specs, there was really no out of spec capacitors even in large quantities. I prefer to replace original tantalums with the same capacitance and larger voltage tantalums, not aluminum electrolytics. But price is very different if you buy from China or from Farnell, Mouser etc.

 

[Paul Hurst]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have plenty of info, just need to get started. I don't plan to record any more, so initially I'll just fix control and playback boards and see how it goes.

 

[radiokom]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have plenty of info, just need to get started. I don't plan to record any more, so initially I'll just fix control and playback boards and see how it goes.

Take into account - you should do a full recap including Frako, tantalums, Rifa and motor capacitors. So it is better to recap record amplifiers and oscillator too, otherwise you will have semiserviced machine. Look posts #21&23. There are simply no exceptions, so take it or leave it.