Sick Realistic 8 track players

[Davidtdk]

Hello,
I have 2 Realistic 8 track players that interestingly have the same problem. One channel goes out on both units and can be fixed by bumping the unit around or messing around with the rca cables (unplugging them and replugging them). I have purchased new cables so I don't think its the cables. Does this sound like a loose solder joint around the area of where the rca cables plug in? The only soldering experience I have is what I have been able to glean from the internet, but I would love to attempt to fix this myself. Any little bit of advice is always appreciated.
Thanks!
Dave

[Warped Bezel]

More like your channel switch. Remember that it's the most handled switch on the set and sometimes at least the light will fail to light intermittently for a channel...

Check and clean the switch first. The head moves but it's only a 2 channel head that moves into 4 positions.

If your outputs operate properly 3/4 of the time it is not your outputs it is most likely related to switching.

[Davidtdk]

Actually I might have got my terminology messed up! I wasn't referring to the track change mechanism. What I meant was that one speaker will lose sound suddenly and the other speaker will be fine. Playing with the rca cables on the back of the 8 track player or moving the unit around seems to fix the problem. The problem doesn't occur when I'm using the turntable or the radio. It is an intermittent problem. *headache* I cleaned the rca jacks with a pencil eraser and that didn't help either. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Dave

[Warped Bezel]

You're jostling the deck slightly when you mess with the wires.

If you say it's an intermittant problem it could be

anywhere from the head to the RCAs

Oh, by the way, if it's not soldered in swap your RCA cables to see if you broke a side. A cracked wire in a cable is going to act like that also. If you have cable wired in and can get line audio out by placing wires on the pins or if that wire causes intermittant signal than BINGO. I'm not sure that the jacks themselves could be bad but...they might stand cleaning.

If you have a head problem, a broken wire would seem to be the culprit. What you're going to need to do is take a plastic/non-conductive rod etc. to gently prod the head wiring and on down to where the wires connect to the board itself.

After that I would ask if you are using recorders or just playback decks? Anything from a dirty record/playback switch to too much dirt in general needs to get cleaned...remember that 8-track players were probably mostly gone in stereo stores by 1982 so you are talking 30-45 year old technology.

If both of your decks act the same way I'd almost dismiss something on the board being amiss, I'd look at wires and the track change switch.

Oh, and stop beating the 8-track decks! Someday the neighbors won't be silent *hypnot*

[Davidtdk]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll spray the parts you mentioned with deoxit and double check the rca cables. I'm better at fixing the tapes than the players!
Dave

[retrokeeper]

Hey Dave!! Which 8-tracks are these from Radio Shack?? It sounds like you have a combo unit (am-fm stereo/tape player/phono)....or are these stand-alone tape players? Was just curious what units they were? Rob

[Davidtdk]

The first one is a Realistic TR 882 that I got on Craigslist. It looked horrible until I cleaned all the Nicotine off it, then put a new belt on it. It worked flawlessly for a month until it started having the problem I mentioned where the sound would go out on one speaker until I fiddled with the RCA cables or moved the unit around. I sprayed deoxit around the area of the rca jacks with no results.

The second unit is TR 802 that I got about a month ago on Craigslist. It has a record function and Dolby. The guy only wanted $40 and it worked perfectly. The record function even works perfectly. These can go for a lot on ebay and I've wanted one like this for years. I got it home and was amazed how clean the inside was and the belt was perfect. It even had a sticker from when it was serviced in 1980! I've been listening to it continuously for about a week and then today it started having the same problem as the other machine. As we speak the machine is working fine, but as I said, the problem is intermittent. I still think Realistics are great machines, and if all else fails, I will have it serviced. I would prefer to save a few bucks and do it myself, so if you have any further ideas, please let me know!

[Davidtdk]

Oh, and by the way, both units are stand alone units that i have plugged into my stereo receiver. The only time that the speaker loses sound is then I am listening to the 8 track player.

[retrokeeper]

Dave,you should try this procedure and see if it will help,it certainly won't hurt...remove the case on each deck,and follow the record button mechanism to where it interacts with the large slide switch mounted on the circuit board.Spray Deoxit into this large slide switch,be sure to tilt the chassis to allow the spray/fluid to penetrate into the switch,also spraying into any openings into the top of the switch.Exercise the switch by using your finger or pushing the record button,whichever is easier/practical.This switch was frozen shut when I got my last 8-track deck by Radio Shack at a local thrift,now it works great.Plus,this is a common problem point with sound issues on tape decks that use this kind of record switch interlock with button. Rob

[Davidtdk]

Thanks!
I'll let ya know how it goes.
Dave