Fidelity HF35T (Transistor version).

[Sideband]

Hmmm...data sheet seems to be non-existent for the ME0404. You'll have to work out where collector, base and emitter go from the circuit. I can tell you that the BC558 has the lead-outs as e, b, c with the flat side facing down, pins towards you. You need to look at the circuit and see what lead goes where and where those components are on the PCB. There are only three leads....!

Ah OK crossed with your last post. Yes it's easy to get the pin-outs wrong. Never assume anything!!

[HRichard]

Well that made no difference whatsoever.

Still missing the 23v from Q3 and still just a hum from the speaker......

[Station X]

Before refitting the transistor did you test it to make sure it hadn't been destroyed by reverse polarity?

[HRichard]

I replaced it with a new one Graham.
It seems like everything is working if do the wet finger test but there's zero volume. All the volume control does is increase the hum level, so assume that is working OK?
I'm just missing the voltage on Q3 but cannot for the life of mr see why?
(I have removed it and it tests OK too)

[HRichard]

Ignore the missing voltage comment (I'm re-learning).....
Back to square one!
Cartridge issue?
The red and green wires are connected to the cartridge. The black and white are just hanging lose.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, only 2 wires are used as our player is not Stereo.

[smiler411]

If you are saying it hums when you touch the cartridge wires, and the volume of this hum is controllable with the volume control, but when playing a record you hear no music, then yes almost certainly a cartridge problem. I think the Chinese cheap red cartridges would work well in these players and very cheap from ebay, aliexpress etc. If you want to try one, you may need to make some kind of holder though.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, these Chinese Reds do perform very well. However I am not sure of the gain/sensitivity on the amplifier of this version of the HF35.

[HRichard]

It certainly is all pointing towards the cartridge. I've checked all the caps and resistors, checked continuity from the red and green wires to the board and anything else I can think of so far. Looks like I need to hunt for a cartridge.....

[HRichard]

What do I search for when looking for one of those "cheap Chinese reds"?

[Techman]

I always find it really funny when people describe these as 'red' cartridges, as they're not red, they're black - it's only the stylus assembly that's red!

Just do an eBay search for ceramic cartridge and see what comes up. When you've found one, post a link to it here so that members can say if it's suitable - you're allowed to post a link as it's a component part, so long as there's no other discussion on it or the seller. These cartridges used to be as cheap as £3, but I've not checked lately.

However, make sure that the hum or buzz that you get from touching the cartridge connector is very loud with the volume control set at maximum, otherwise it indicates that you still have an amplifier problem as well.

[af024]

Perhaps it will need a high output cartridge? Do we know what it presently fitted? BSR X5H maybe?

[HRichard]

Originally Posted by af024

Perhaps it will need a high output cartridge? Do we know what it presently fitted? BSR X5H maybe?

Yes it is.

[HRichard]

I'm seeing a lot of these pop up.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187400333203?_skw=ceramic+mono+ca...xr7vDpgw%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBM8KbH8bJm

[music-centre]

They seem to be the same basic cartridge from lots of sellers but some have a plastic cantilever to the stylus and some metal, I have bought a few of them, if your player is supposed to have that high output cartridge they won’t have enough output though

[Techman]

Originally Posted by HRichard

I'm seeing a lot of these pop up.

Those are the ones, but as 'music-centre' says, they won't replace a high output crystal cartridge such as the BSR X5H, if that's really what the original cartridge is in your record player.

If that record player really does have a low gain amplifier that needs the high output crystal cartridge to drive it, then none of the current ceramic cartridges will be suitable and this could be the reason why you're not getting a very loud hum or buzz when touching the cartridge connectors.

The bad news is that high output, stereo compatible, mono cartridges are no longer available to buy from anywhere, and haven't been for decades. The better news is that it's unusual for the BSR X5H to fail completely and when they do they can sometimes be dissected and repaired if you have the skills to do so. Therefore, you need to make sure that the cartridge you have is definitely not working before going any further.

Those cheap Chinese cartridges are very good (I've used a few), so you could still get one to try, as it will still work, but be rather quiet and you'll need full volume to get any sort of listening volume - 45rpm singles may play at reasonable volume, but 33rpm LPs will be quite low volume. The only answer to this will be to build a pre-amplifier and you'll also have to get creative regarding the cartridge mounting, although if you pay a bit more you can get them with a mounting clip.

[HRichard]

I think I'll try one first as it will give me more info as to whether it's the amp or cartridge at fault.

[Techman]

It's a good idea to get one anyway, as they're cheap enough. I keep a couple in stock just in case. The quality of them for the price is really good and there's never been any evidence of the stylus tips damaging records.

Are you absolutely sure that your existing cartridge is an X5H and not an X5M? The 'H' stands for high output and the 'M' stands for medium output, which is what the ceramic ones are, although a medium output crystal cartridge will still have more output than a medium output ceramic cartridge - the 'X' in the model number indicates that it's a crystal cartridge.

[HRichard]

It's definitely an X5H that's fitted now but I have no history of the unit so don't know if it's original or one that someone has put in a some point in the past.

[Techman]

I have to say that all the small transistorised amplifiers that I've encountered in record players have always had enough gain to work with a medium output ceramic cartridge, but yours could be different.

When you get your replacement black and red cartridge you can temporarily stick it in place with Blu Tack just to try it out. However, the replacement cartridge, with or without the added Blu Tack will have a different weight to the original cartridge (even if it's not original), so you'll need a tracking weight gauge to check the tracking weight at the stylus tip when it's installed so as to prevent damage to both records and stylus. It may be too light or too heavy - there's often more to repairing simple record players than you think!