Used 3100 Americana Questions

[bxtr]

Hello all,

I have just picked up a 3100 Americana. I was told everything was functioning two months ago. Now you can get a record to play but no sound. I am also getting quite the hum when the unit is powered up. I have ordered a service manual to help, I have the original wiring schematics. I don’t know if this would be a fuse or I need to replace capacitors. I am very new to this so any suggestions would be helpful. 

thanks in advance
bxtr

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bxtr,
Do NOT power this phono up till after the amplifier is properly repaired -- as you can cause further damage. If you don't know how/have the skills needed, I suggest you look at our FAQ's section, and find a qualified repair person. A "cap kit" may, or may not be what is needed ! Ron Rich

[bxtr]

Hello Ron, I appreciate the quick response. I will look into the qualified resources available. 

[bxtr]

Update.

I ordered the cap kit from Victory Glass, along with a few smaller needs.

The loud hum I got originally was caused by the black speaker wire, the white and red are fine where is. Any suggestions?

We replaced the caps we could match up the corresponding numbers.
We couldn’t figure out the black capacitors counterparts so I need to dig into that. We also replaced the power cord to the unit. Now we can get sound out of the speakers, not great sounding and have to have the volume all the way up. I plan on continuing to replace the rest of the capacitors next. I wasn’t sure is replacing the volume pot would help with the speaker issue.

Here are the mechanical issues I haven’t started on. 
when you make a selection, it will spin to the correct record. You need to hold the cancel button down on the back of the unit for it to fetch the record to dropping the needle. After the record is finished the turntable will keep spinning and the needle will stay on the ends of the record unless I hold the cancel button down. Any suggestions?

While looking further into the machine I noticed someone replaced either the mute/play or selection switch with an updated part.  It seems to function properly but I didn’t know if I need to wire the old switch back in. 

I’m trying to just take care of the amp first but it’s fun to keep troubleshooting things as well to see where the next problem will be.

Take care, Bxtr

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bxtr,
Where are you connecting the red,blue and black wires--
All caps in the kit are labeled--see the schematic in your service manual, and match them by label number !
If you have a plastic enclosed mute-play switch-- old open style is not needed ? Once again--see the service manual !
Ron Rich

[bxtr]

Alright, another update:

Replaced all the capacitors in the amp, now it plays quite loud. So this is progress, it doesn’t sound great but I’m going to test it with other speakers to narrow the issue down to either bad speakers, cartridge or volume pot. I also got some cleaner so that may be the case with the pot.
Then it’s onto the next thing. 

[bxtr]

Hello again, I have gotten some deoxit sprayed it on the all the switches. Let it all dry before firing back up, I am still running into the same issues with the mechanics not transitioning without pressing the reset button. So you can make a selection, sometimes the carousel will go or reset button, when the carousel stops, reset button until the needle drops. Then reset button when the song is done playing. So I know everything works just not from start to finish. Any ideas?

Thanks
Aaron

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bxtr,
Dija READ the Service Manual ?
( the new plastic enclosed,transfer switch was a factory up-date part-- You MAY be able to find the docs. for this at John Robertson's site {www.flippers.com})
Didja purchase a new needle from Victory Glass( or one of the suppliers listed in our FAQ's section) ?
Are the cabinet speakers wired correctly-- no other wires, going to any other speaker terminal ?
WHAT didja "spray" with Deoxit ? Ron Rich