The restoration of GF-9696 round 2. I spent many days just thinking about how to fix the unstopping motor issue. While I was working with another boombox project, I had a sudden insight. "Maybe I can add an additional switch to control the unstopping motor".
Once I restarted the restoration, one after another the new issue came up to block my way. For the cassette deck restoration, I needed to fix the following problems one by one.
1) Unstopping motor issue
2) Not spinning take-up reel issue
3) The motor spinning in opposite way issue
4) Way too fast and unstable motor speed issue
The unstopping motor issue was resolved by adding an additional leaf switch to control the power to the motor. Not spinning take-up reel issue was caused by the worn out drive tire. The tire size was IT-17 and there was no place to purchase it. So I needed to create a new way to fix it. What I did was using 2 tiny round drive belts on the pulley, then place the o-ring on top of them. Also thin tube bought from the auto-shop on the capstan rod. With these substitute parts combination, the take-up reel started spin again. The motor spinning in opposite way issue was caused from my previous work. I replaced inside broken blushes from another used motor. This replaced blushes weren't exact the same type. The current on the blushes was opposite way setting. So I needed to set the positive and negative wires exchange. When I tested the tape speed, I found that the motor speed was way too fast.I reduce the voltage to the motor by adding a step-down module, however it wasn't a perfect solution. In this way when the volume goes up, motor speed reduced accordingly. The main problem was the circuit board inside of the motor. The damaged capacitor on the motor circuit board could not hold the voltage to stabilize its speed. So I replaced damaged circuit board from another motor. At this point I did not need a step-down module, so I removed it.
Then my next challenge was adding the Bluetooth system on this machine. The GF-9696 does not have the AUX input, and very difficult to locate the radio signal input, or power line to the tuner. So I tested with PHONO input as well as MIC input for the Bluetooth jump in, however (and I knew it wouldn't work for this mod) it failed. The only way to put the Bluetooth signal was from the volume control. In this way, the LED meter lighting will not work. Even though I used volume control as the Bluetooth input, still it shows heavy distortion due to the strong amp on this machine. This SHARP boombox requires super sensitive tuning up in order to get the nice Bluetooth sound. I added an additional volume controller inside to reduce the Bluetooth signal. With a delicate output volume tuning up, this GF-9696 will play the great sound through the Bluetooth as you can see in this video. However, I do not install Bluetooth into the SHARP again. It is the best to keep it as original as possible.
Anyway, this time I won the fight. Thank you for the encouragement. It helped me a lot.
By the way, maybe someone wants to know how much does it cost for the restoration like this. Well, I spent more than 60 hours from the beginning (ep-01 Defeat in the restoration) to the end. And my research time, going out to find the substitute parts at various shops, waking up midnight from a haunted GF-9696 nightmare in my dream, all adding up to over 100 hours. So if I charge $10/per hour that will make my fees $1,000.00. But I did not charge such a gigantic fees. (LOL) But in case if I need to do the same type of crazy work with super filthy and completely broken boombox restoration again, I will charge $1,000.00 for sure.
Enjoy!!
Demonstration tape (Hitachi original)
1) Racing sound dynamics
2) Battle of Jerico
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Credit: The owner of this boombox is Pedro the greatest boombox collector!
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If you have a question regarding the boombox restoration work and fees, contact me at teddy.hashee@gmail.com
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