Repair of 1961 Magnavox 1ST616 stereo console

[William]

Welcome, Stacash, and I hope you enjoy the forum have items in your own collection you like to share. We also love photos and hope you share any photos you might have of your toys.

Bill

[electra225]

I don't remember how to set the tone arm pressure on an S-600 Collaro changer. My Magnavox literature is buried due to decorating for Christmas (don't ask, it's a sore subject! ) so I can't get too it. I thought sure one of the topics I posted on some of the other Magnavox projects would inform me, but I haven't found anything yet. Would any of you be good enough to refresh my memory on how to set tone arm pressure? It is currently at 7.3 grams, a tad too heavy for my taste.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I forget what an S600 looks like.
Drop a photo here, and I'll assist you.

[electra225]

I dug out the information for the changer in the CG and got what I needed. There are two screws at the base of the tone arm. The one on the right sets tone arm pressure. This one is almost all the way in, so the spring must be getting about done. I have it set at 5.5 grams. It sounds okay, but not fantastic. This may be one of the "least good" record players I have. I've done all I know to do to it. It sounds REALLY good using the tape inputs.

[electra225]

This stereo has developed an issue I've never seen before. I was playing the "Aloha Moods" record that I use for test. Half of the music was miss, although both speakers were working, one louder than the other. If I unplug black audio RCA jack and leave the green wire connected, nothing happened. If I disconnect the green wire, leaving the black wire connected it kills all the audio. Connecting to another amplifier gives similar response
Given this information, my guess would be that I either have a short in the audio wires in the changer or I have a bad cartridge..

[TC Chris]

Mis-wired cartridge connections? Sounds like in one configuration you're grounding out the "hot" signal terminal.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

All I did that involved the cartridge was to replace the needle. I agree with you, it acts like something is shorted...

[TC Chris]

Does the changer have a muting switch? Those are often open & exposed and could be messed up.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Changing the needle might have caused your problem. Considering the age of the cartridge the rubber suspension block may have been disturbed enough to affect the pickup/wire that sends the signal to the amp. Just my 2 cents for what it is worth.

Bill

[electra225]

I need to change the needle on the EV 26 in the CG as well. I'm kinda afraid to do that after how this one acts. I believe the cartridge has died. I don't see anything else wrong.