SHARP VZ2000
Though this is not exactly an arcade item, it is a
unique portable linear record player with a radio and tape player
thrown in as well, dating from
the 80's
This page documents the restoration of my VZ2000.
Background:
Once upon a time, working as a factory authorized technician, a SharpVZ2000 was presented for service. The customer had attempted to repair it himself and had managed to break (cracked in half) the turntable control board, most likely in an attempt to replace the turntable belt. He had "repaired" the board by using plumbing bar solder and a butane torch and had soldered the entire board together in one large pool of solder.
He begged to have it repaired, at the time replacement boards were not available, though this may have changed later, given how easy it was to break this board. So, after removing all of the bar solder and repairing the circuit board, along with the repair of damaged traces and components, I was able to restore it.
As you can imagine I never forgot that repair and it's one of those stories that tech's tell each other about the crazy things customers do to their products.
Note: I've been told there may be some NOS boards out there!
Fast forward, now 2011
I tripped over one of these on Ebay needing some serious help...
So, given my history with this model I thought I should be the one to bring it back to life
Here it is back together for the first time in maybe 20 years. (still missing the knobs though)
The reproduction knobs are here!
This is what they looked like before painting (thanks Brian G.)
Below is the Stylus & Belt info
Stylus used in VZ2000: STY-123 (STY141) Original part- PNDLD0051AFZZ - (sub AT-91)
Cartridge with stylus part- RCTRE50506AFSA
Turntable belt NBLTH0080AF00 PRB generic replacement FTBM25.0
Gear belt NBLTK0203AF00 PRB generic replacement SCQ4.0
I'm also waiting for a replacement original door switch to replace the customized micro switch I installed.
Here it is finished...knobs installed .I will still replace the door switch with the original if found
Click on the picture above or below for a 3gp video of it playing a 45 record (Juice Newton)
3gp videos are meant to be played on smart phones hence their small size (320x240)
This was done to save space on my server DO NOT TRY AND PLAY AT FULL SCREEN SIZE
The quality of the video will be poor if enlarged
This page documents the restoration of my VZ2000.
Background:
Once upon a time, working as a factory authorized technician, a SharpVZ2000 was presented for service. The customer had attempted to repair it himself and had managed to break (cracked in half) the turntable control board, most likely in an attempt to replace the turntable belt. He had "repaired" the board by using plumbing bar solder and a butane torch and had soldered the entire board together in one large pool of solder.
He begged to have it repaired, at the time replacement boards were not available, though this may have changed later, given how easy it was to break this board. So, after removing all of the bar solder and repairing the circuit board, along with the repair of damaged traces and components, I was able to restore it.
As you can imagine I never forgot that repair and it's one of those stories that tech's tell each other about the crazy things customers do to their products.
Note: I've been told there may be some NOS boards out there!
Fast forward, now 2011
I tripped over one of these on Ebay needing some serious help...
So, given my history with this model I thought I should be the one to bring it back to life
The seller shared that it was found in a closed
down TV shop collecting dust and some rust etc.
Here is a photo of the TV shop.
Here is a photo of the TV shop.
Problems found after evaluating it:
Missing Slider Knobs.
Fm Antenna Broken
Missing back cabinet mounting screws
Missing turntable mounting screws
Speaker Grills rusted (not bent though)
Turntable PC board BROKEN! (3 inch crack) Deja Vu
Turntable belt fused to turntable and motor pulley!
No sound from either channel ( all 4 speakers- technically 4 channels- 2 stereo amps)
Missing Turntable base mounting springs
Missing Spring cups from turntable bottom
Missing Cover for one side of turntable mechanism
Missing Battery door
Power switch broken
Cassette door missing one side mounting
Additional problems found once some repairs done.
Turntable microprocessor reset circuit inoperative (micro not starting) -caused turntable to appear dead
Turntable set down on one side not correct- not landing on record.
Turntable door switch inoperative
Turntable record size sensor emitter board inop (circuit turning on LEDs not working)
One wire on cassette deck broken
Both stereo amplifier chips (HA1392) were bad. 1 shorted , 1 open (woofer and tweeter amps)
The cosmetic parts have all been located to complete the repair as I write this , with the help of members on Boomboxery.com
Though original slider knobs seem to be elusive, I've found someone who is making reproductions... join the above site and ask, if looking for sliders.
I have pdf versions of the service manual and owners but am currently seeking originals...(original service manual found!) still looking for owners ml...so EMAIL me if you have one for sale!
Here is what the unit is suppose to look like...
Here is mine disassembled:
Here on my bench playing a 45! Probably the last time it played a record was 20 years ago.
Here the cabinet disassembled.
Here : You see the turntable belt fused to the turntable. Here you see the crack in this board, it's a bit difficult to see, it's between those blue lines.
Rust removed Here restored
Missing Slider Knobs.
Fm Antenna Broken
Missing back cabinet mounting screws
Missing turntable mounting screws
Speaker Grills rusted (not bent though)
Turntable PC board BROKEN! (3 inch crack) Deja Vu
Turntable belt fused to turntable and motor pulley!
No sound from either channel ( all 4 speakers- technically 4 channels- 2 stereo amps)
Missing Turntable base mounting springs
Missing Spring cups from turntable bottom
Missing Cover for one side of turntable mechanism
Missing Battery door
Power switch broken
Cassette door missing one side mounting
Additional problems found once some repairs done.
Turntable microprocessor reset circuit inoperative (micro not starting) -caused turntable to appear dead
Turntable set down on one side not correct- not landing on record.
Turntable door switch inoperative
Turntable record size sensor emitter board inop (circuit turning on LEDs not working)
One wire on cassette deck broken
Both stereo amplifier chips (HA1392) were bad. 1 shorted , 1 open (woofer and tweeter amps)
The cosmetic parts have all been located to complete the repair as I write this , with the help of members on Boomboxery.com
Though original slider knobs seem to be elusive, I've found someone who is making reproductions... join the above site and ask, if looking for sliders.
I have pdf versions of the service manual and owners but am currently seeking originals...(original service manual found!) still looking for owners ml...so EMAIL me if you have one for sale!
Here is what the unit is suppose to look like...
Here is mine disassembled:
Here on my bench playing a 45! Probably the last time it played a record was 20 years ago.
Here the cabinet disassembled.
Here : You see the turntable belt fused to the turntable. Here you see the crack in this board, it's a bit difficult to see, it's between those blue lines.
Rust removed Here restored
Here it is back together for the first time in maybe 20 years. (still missing the knobs though)
The reproduction knobs are here!
This is what they looked like before painting (thanks Brian G.)
Below is the Stylus & Belt info
Stylus used in VZ2000: STY-123 (STY141) Original part- PNDLD0051AFZZ - (sub AT-91)
Cartridge with stylus part- RCTRE50506AFSA
Turntable belt NBLTH0080AF00 PRB generic replacement FTBM25.0
Gear belt NBLTK0203AF00 PRB generic replacement SCQ4.0
I'm also waiting for a replacement original door switch to replace the customized micro switch I installed.
Here it is finished...knobs installed .I will still replace the door switch with the original if found
Click on the picture above or below for a 3gp video of it playing a 45 record (Juice Newton)
3gp videos are meant to be played on smart phones hence their small size (320x240)
This was done to save space on my server DO NOT TRY AND PLAY AT FULL SCREEN SIZE
The quality of the video will be poor if enlarged
Juice Newton was kind enough to sign this for me at a recent Epcot Concert , thought I'd share it here.
Some have asked about repair on these units, contact me at the email address below. Though these units are large and heavy to ship it is possible to separate the chassis from the cabinet for electronic circuit repairs.
I tripped over this photo recently on a ebay auction, it shows the damage that can occur to the turntable control board when disassembling the unit because of the very short cabling used. This is similar to the damage I described on the unit I serviced years ago, except, the one I serviced the board had been broken completely in half, then was soldered back together with bar solder. So.....excercise extreme caution when removing the turntable from the cabinet!
Some Tech Tips
When handling the turntable it must be
treated like it's glass.
Both in taking the unit apart and
putting it back together as well as
shipping the unit.
I just can't stress enough that handling the turntable with care is very important.
I have been asked to help a few people now restore to various degrees, the board damage that happens when disassembling and assembling this unit.
Sometimes, unlike the photo above the damage to the board can be almost unnoticeable.
It is easy to dislocate the turntable arm cable (dial cord like) when manually moving the arms.
Restringing the cord requires removing the turntable covers. Since the cord has a spring at one end as well the position of the spring is important when trying to reconnect it.
The main regulator transistor seems to be break free of the pcb as well in handling.
The turntable arm belt is critical. It MUST be the right size. Both the length and belt diameter are critical.
If the belt is too tight on the arm advancing motor the arm will skip because it will not advance. The turntable may not be able to set it's self up when the micro initializes as it looks for the "at rest position".
That arm motor has 2 speeds, High and Low. (High is use to move the arms quickly as in advance or record end)
The low speed is extremely slow. It's used to advance the arms and allow them to track the record.
The worm gear must be clean and lightly lubricated, and must be free and easily turned. (remove old grease and dirt)
When it's working correctly it just creeps along about 1/4 turn at a time.
I just can't stress enough that handling the turntable with care is very important.
I have been asked to help a few people now restore to various degrees, the board damage that happens when disassembling and assembling this unit.
Sometimes, unlike the photo above the damage to the board can be almost unnoticeable.
It is easy to dislocate the turntable arm cable (dial cord like) when manually moving the arms.
Restringing the cord requires removing the turntable covers. Since the cord has a spring at one end as well the position of the spring is important when trying to reconnect it.
The main regulator transistor seems to be break free of the pcb as well in handling.
The turntable arm belt is critical. It MUST be the right size. Both the length and belt diameter are critical.
If the belt is too tight on the arm advancing motor the arm will skip because it will not advance. The turntable may not be able to set it's self up when the micro initializes as it looks for the "at rest position".
That arm motor has 2 speeds, High and Low. (High is use to move the arms quickly as in advance or record end)
The low speed is extremely slow. It's used to advance the arms and allow them to track the record.
The worm gear must be clean and lightly lubricated, and must be free and easily turned. (remove old grease and dirt)
When it's working correctly it just creeps along about 1/4 turn at a time.
Send
Mail To Steve