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Yahmaha CR-2020 + ADS Loudspeakers

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carobin802

New Member
Looking for someone to work on my CR 2020 or any advice... we purchased new in the late 70s or early 90s. I live in Northern Vermont and cant imagine anyone locally to do it, suggestions? It occasionally works and sounds great then the audio cuts out but intermittently comes back. typical scratchy dials... All original and connected to a pair of amazing ADS Loudspeakers L810s. MY Dad had done some marketing work for ADS back then and they were sentimental to him and I would love to get it working again.
 

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Welcome aboard carobin
carobin802 said:
? It occasionally works and sounds great then the audio cuts out but intermittently comes back.
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Exercise the coupler/de-coupler switch on the rear panel. They are notorious for being very dirty. Causing channel drop outs.
 
carobin802 said:
Looking for someone to work on my CR 2020 or any advice... we purchased new in the late 70s or early 90s. I live in Northern Vermont and cant imagine anyone locally to do it, suggestions? It occasionally works and sounds great then the audio cuts out but intermittently comes back. typical scratchy dials... All original and connected to a pair of amazing ADS Loudspeakers L810s. MY Dad had done some marketing work for ADS back then and they were sentimental to him and I would love to get it working again.
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If you find that you do need service there's a place in Hanover, NH called Michael's Audio Video (603) 643-4646. I've never been in, so I frankly don't know if they do actual service work, but can't hurt to call and find out.
 
Perus the thumbtacked thread:

The Idiot's Guide to Using DeOxit (revisited)

Moderator’s note: we have an updated and condensed version of the following here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/tldr-deoxit-guide.850968/ I was asked to re-post this semi-ancient post that has been long buried in the archives and I was reluctant to re-post anything already in...
audiokarma.org
I don't think there's much risk in trying to clean and lube the switches and pots yourself. I've done it myself. If you follow recommendations.
Might improve scratchy or cutting out problem.
 
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Old Guy8 said:
Perus the thumbtacked thread:

The Idiot's Guide to Using DeOxit (revisited)

Moderator’s note: we have an updated and condensed version of the following here: https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/tldr-deoxit-guide.850968/ I was asked to re-post this semi-ancient post that has been long buried in the archives and I was reluctant to re-post anything already in...
audiokarma.org
I don't think there's much risk in trying to clean and lube the switches and pots yourself. I've done it myself. If you follow recommendations.
Might improve scratchy or cutting out problem.
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as a newby here and to any of this is there a current thread providing step by stop cleaning guides?
 
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I'm not a tech. These are the cleaners I've used. I don't know if you will use them all. But what they look like. Deoxit is PRICEY and check store availability. Check thread before buying all these. May not need all. . Not sure if Lowes etc carry it. Or electrical supply companies. Check Thier websites. I got mine through mail order.
The black Deoxit spray caps leak as much as they spray. Don't know if they have fixed that issue. I've put small pan under spray can to catch and use leakage.

I hope you can DIY solve your issues without paying a tech to clean and lube. And do ask questions. There are better authorities than myself.

BTY, I have ADS speakers: L880 series 1 & 2 and L470 series 2.
 
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I know this might be common knowledge to most-- it wasn't for me when I first started -- and it's buried in that thread a little, but:

don't use DeOxit (or even CRC) on your tuning capacitor or relays.
 
OK - I removed the case (this one is a wood box surround - very cool design the receiver slides out from the box/sleeve easily. i carefully de-dusted everything by blowing most of it out with a shop vac. and the clipping out obviously still happens. it appears to be creating a little lightshow at the moment as is evident in this image which is a screen shot of a video I took the moment it clipped out - its like a little spark happenning in that module that is covered in clear plastic - Whats going on in there isnt good...IMG_7784.jpeg -
 

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avionic said:
Protect relay contact failure is most often due to contact pitting and carbon'd up. If they are , you have two options. 1. replace with a new relay 2. see option 1. :biggrin:
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But, but one can spend an hour wrestling the now broken cover off the relay, apply some cleaning techniques and get a couple hours of use from it before having to go back in and replace it as should have been done in the first place.
 
carobin802 said:
its like a little spark happenning in that module that is covered in clear plastic - Whats going on in there isnt good...
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It is time to replace the relay.. Plasma arc from pitted contacts..
 
carobin802 said:
the clipping out obviously still happens. it appears to be creating a little lightshow at the moment as is evident in this image which is a screen shot of a video
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If you are saying the relay is opening which cuts the sound and then closing, sound comes back, this usually indicates the output had Direct Current in the alternating current music signal and means adjustments are out at the minimum or there are some devices in the unit that aren't performing the way they should. Many here will make the adjustments inside a unit that is stickered, "no user serviceable parts inside" following the instructions in the service manual. First timers will find out quickly they need minigrabbers on their multimeters when a probe slips and the unit sparks and really needs to go for service because of broken electronic parts.

There is enough help here to get you through all this is you have some desire to do this and will follow the directions provided.

Good luck.

Should be a nice combo, those are the brands the store down the street sold back when I was slinging gear.
 
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carobin802 said:
and the clipping out obviously still happens.
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What exactly do you mean by " clipping out " .. My idea of clipping means over driving the amplifiers.. Are you cranking the volume when clipping occurs ? This would explain the arc flashing within the relay. Continued clipping will eventually cause amplifier(s) to fail.. Can't be very healthy for your speakers either. Just say'n.. Not a wise idea..
 
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davidhun said:
I like this post just for the fact that it looks like these cans of contact cleaner are about to drop their new debut album.
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lmao.......got a possible name for the band ? Maybe a takeoff of "Slayer"....."Sprayer".......(can I have the snare drum sound effect for that one ?)
 
carobin802 said:
OK - I removed the case (this one is a wood box surround - very cool design the receiver slides out from the box/sleeve easily. i carefully de-dusted everything by blowing most of it out with a shop vac. and the clipping out obviously still happens. it appears to be creating a little lightshow at the moment as is evident in this image which is a screen shot of a video I took the moment it clipped out - its like a little spark happenning in that module that is covered in clear plastic - Whats going on in there isnt good...View attachment 3106571 -
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I had a Yamaha CR-2020 that I recently sold. Great receiver but a behemoth to move around. Also very complicated to work on even for an experienced tech. I wouldn't fool around with it at all if it were me. There are some techs around you should be able to find. But it will be expensive to work on that big boy. Gorgeous piece however, looks like it could be on display in a museum.

I recently dove into some modern equipment for the first time. Purchased a Yamaha A-S801 integrated amp. Characteristic Yamaha clean and crisp sound but does it all better than my CR-2020 did from top to bottom. Even still has the variable loudness control ! Right now I have it paired with ADS L730 speakers, which I find to be practically indistinguishable from the L810's when I did a side by side listening comparison with both.

I definitely understand wanting to get that piece back to 100% for nostalgia purposes (plus they are still worth a lot....I got the new Yamaha A-S801 for less money than I sold my CR-2020 for)......but it will cost some dinero to get it back to 100%.
 
To be even more clear, a full restoration on a CR-2020 can easily run over $1,000 plus the cost of shipping that monster to one of the few qualified techs that can still do the work. The result will be a beautiful, powerful receiver with one of the best FM tuners I have ever seen. Shame FM radio is terrible these days, so think of it as a great integrated amp with 2 phono inputs (the first one switchable between MM and MC... so almost a "three input" phono section) and I'm pretty sure all those tape inputs can be used for all sorts of things. I was using mine to power a pair of NS-690iii speakers (since gave them away to a friend) and they rocked.
 
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