"Extra selections- TORMAT phono's

[Ron Rich]

Hi All,

Iffin you are getting RANDOM, extra, selections on a Tormat type phono, or it is playing one selection after the other in a row, the MOST common cause of the problem is a poor / missing ground !

Then , it's most likely this is happening is at the Tormat plug. First thing to do is CLEAN the plug's socket -- use crocus cloth on the outside of the RCA socket, and tighten the "outer shell" of the plug(s---Some MicroLog models use more then one RCA plug, in a chain--gettum ALL !)--   If that does not do it,  check the ground(s) on the Mechanism itself, and the mech plug !

"Album play" models (LPC's and APFEA1), have two "Tormat wires", going to the control center.

If a tube type unit, see the sticky "161 tripping". If a PFEA1U, or  SS-160 model, update the SCC-3, to at least a Code B. If an APFEA-1, model, update the SCC-4 to a Code C If a USC-2,  (or any MicroLog model), check the DCC, If a "-2", CODE A,--It MUST be updated, to a code B- ( and the USC-2 mech may need updating also-- see errors known thread, in FAQ's, here).

Also--check the "soldering" on RCA Plugs--ONE colored wire, AND the shield, MUST be, soldered to the outside shell of that plug !

One other thing on the "finger type" ( later) sensors-- I have seen a very few of them with either loose contacts (attached, not too well !) on the contact itself, and on the early type of these, where there is a solder lug--having a high resistance between the finger and the lug (loose rivet) !  

CHECK OUT, the "sticky" "161 tripping", one down, below this post. Ron Rich

[phillg]

Just to add to that, sometimes it's hard to tell whether selections are random. A KD200 I worked on was skipping some selections and picking up other "random" selections. What I failed to notice was that the "random" selections were actually the skipped selections but because those selections were being (randomly) picked up on different subsequent scans, they appeared to be entirely random.

The actual problem? A dirty Tormat. A quick clean and it was back to picking up selections perfectly.

Cheers,
Phill

[Ron Rich]

Phill,

Attsa why, I put the word "RANDOM" in Bold, RED, Caps !! LOL

Ron Rich

[phillg]

I know, that very subtle hint wasn't lost on me!

My point was that something can *seem* random but actually isn't-- it's just hard to notice the pattern. Just hoping to save someone else the hours I (and others) spent "troubleshooting".

Cheers,
Phill

[Ron Rich]

Phill,
Perhaps you are correct--My brain sometimes getz constifistimy, and does not think things through-- Hint-- When checking for "RANDOM" selections, one --in all cases---MUST, first reverse the battery trick, so you're sure no "remaining" previous (human made),selections, are "remaining" in the TMU. Ron Rich

[armandh]

again check the wire on the read out contacts may be broken occasionally making contact inside the insulation

very likely if the random saved selections are all A or B side

[Ron Rich]

Hi Armand,
You also "jogged" my brain here.
Also check some "dingbat" did not solder heavy gauge wire onto the contact pins--and that the pins ARE flat (slightly domed is better), on top, with silver still left on them ! Ron Rich

[armandh]

and moving up and down freely.....

yep anything that skips a read out will look [some day] as an erratic write in

assuming no [mass erase] reverse battery pulse on the sense loop