Fidelity HF 31 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

flavia2001 · 7th Feb 2021, 2:42 am

Hi , I got this Fidelity HF 31 , is been in a damp storage for many years .
When I plug it smoke come out from underneath and put it away .
Was a bit scared .Yes I'm not an expert .
Was tempted to trow it away but I kept it .
Unfortunately I friend of mine developted a terminal health issue.
Few days before she told me she got her records but not a record player .
As she is fond of 50s 60s stuff I hoped to cheer her up by fixing this record player and give to her , better than buy some stuff from the high street.
Testing it again, it spin , after a push , might just need some wd40 , but the sound come only from the stylus , underneath , the electrical things who looks like a small cigar is burned and split .
Sorry I don't the name .
I will start replacing that.
Will try to attach a picture .
Appreciate if you can help me .
Thanks
Andrea
andreababini@hotmail.com

Nuvistor · 7th Feb 2021, 9:15 am

Get one from the high street for her then she can listen to her records now, doesn’t have to be an expensive one.
Repair and refurbish this at your leisure without pressure to get it sorted out quickly. You will enjoy getting it working.

Edward Huggins · 7th Feb 2021, 9:27 am

The surge resistor has broken in two and so it cannot work like this. I suspect from the OP's wording she may not be able to do this. There are Members in London that could replace this and check over the player. The trouble is Lockdown does not help. If the OP can take this on, she will need a c.100-150 ohm, 10 watt resistor, a soldering iron and a test meter.

Radio Wrangler · 7th Feb 2021, 12:26 pm

With a time-critical need, I think Nuvistor has the only solution which works. Fixing the Fidelity has to be a lower priority.

There will likely be a reason why that resistor broke, and it made smoke. It will take time for someone to talk Andrea through fixing it. There are high voltages and it needs to be done safely.

David

ms660 · 7th Feb 2021, 12:47 pm

130 Ohms so far as I can make out, UL84 looks to be the output valve type.

Defective rectifier/excessive rectifier load.

Lawrence.

Radio Wrangler · 7th Feb 2021, 1:28 pm

With just a UL84 and a rectifier valve, that suggests it uses a high output cartridge, so there are the issues of finding one which still works.

David

Station X · 24th Feb 2021, 4:14 pm

I suggest that the OP post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section:-

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...play.php?f=145

7th Feb 2021, 2:42 am	#1
flavia2001 Diode Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: London, UK. Posts: 2	Fidelity HF 31 Hi , I got this Fidelity HF 31 , is been in a damp storage for many years . When I plug it smoke come out from underneath and put it away . Was a bit scared .Yes I'm not an expert . Was tempted to trow it away but I kept it . Unfortunately I friend of mine developted a terminal health issue. Few days before she told me she got her records but not a record player . As she is fond of 50s 60s stuff I hoped to cheer her up by fixing this record player and give to her , better than buy some stuff from the high street. Testing it again, it spin , after a push , might just need some wd40 , but the sound come only from the stylus , underneath , the electrical things who looks like a small cigar is burned and split . Sorry I don't the name . I will start replacing that. Will try to attach a picture . Appreciate if you can help me . Thanks Andrea andreababini@hotmail.com Attached Thumbnails

7th Feb 2021, 9:15 am	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Fidelity HF 31 Get one from the high street for her then she can listen to her records now, doesn’t have to be an expensive one. Repair and refurbish this at your leisure without pressure to get it sorted out quickly. You will enjoy getting it working. __________________ Frank

7th Feb 2021, 9:27 am	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Fidelity HF 31 The surge resistor has broken in two and so it cannot work like this. I suspect from the OP's wording she may not be able to do this. There are Members in London that could replace this and check over the player. The trouble is Lockdown does not help. If the OP can take this on, she will need a c.100-150 ohm, 10 watt resistor, a soldering iron and a test meter. __________________ Edward.

7th Feb 2021, 12:26 pm	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,901	Re: Fidelity HF 31 With a time-critical need, I think Nuvistor has the only solution which works. Fixing the Fidelity has to be a lower priority. There will likely be a reason why that resistor broke, and it made smoke. It will take time for someone to talk Andrea through fixing it. There are high voltages and it needs to be done safely. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

7th Feb 2021, 12:47 pm	#5
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Fidelity HF 31 130 Ohms so far as I can make out, UL84 looks to be the output valve type. Defective rectifier/excessive rectifier load. Lawrence.

7th Feb 2021, 1:28 pm	#6
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,901	Re: Fidelity HF 31 With just a UL84 and a rectifier valve, that suggests it uses a high output cartridge, so there are the issues of finding one which still works. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

24th Feb 2021, 4:14 pm	#7
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Fidelity HF 31 I suggest that the OP post in the Repair and Restoration Services Wanted section:- https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...play.php?f=145 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.