Grundig TK-820 rises from the dead! - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

reel-to-reel-man · 10th Dec 2005, 10:21 pm

Here is another one of my success stories, a Grundig TK820 reel to reel. This recorder was given to me, it was completely dead, a few capacitors and a fuse later and it powered up, the recorder still had problems though. It would not play or rewind, I found inside the reel hubs was a ring of perished material similar to cork, but sore what it was but it had gammed up the machine. After scooping out the gunk and replacing it with new cork I noticed the recorder did not have any beak mechanism, interestingly its servo breaks, notice the coils, I suspect the machine passes current through them to stop the spools and possibly offer back tension. The counter belt had fallen away and the two head cushions where covered in mould, many parts went under the hot water tap and cleaned with washing powder.
On first tests with all cleaned, oiled and serviced the machine fired up reluctantly, after 2 hours of test, another capacitor started to smoke, back apart came the machine and the bubbly capacitor was replaced. Now the machine has been tested for 4 hours with no hiccups, the recorder plays in both directions, the tape guides are out in the photo but have been set right for those with broadband there is a small video clip, not great quality but size is an issue
I consider this as a success story, I have replaced missing hinges, cleaned the maim recorder plate, serviced and repaired it yet many someone can help with the missing door which covers the front two holes on the recorder,

To be continued

Mike Phelan · 11th Dec 2005, 11:51 am

Nice job, R-to-R. I used to like the 820 - the TK830 was even more of a beast.

Presume you have replaced all the black and brown Wimas?

Used to be the bane of our lives!

reel-to-reel-man · 11th Dec 2005, 6:03 pm

Wimas? you lost me, is that the other name for volatile capacitors?

Mike Phelan · 11th Dec 2005, 6:46 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by reel-to-reel-man

Wimas? you lost me, is that the other name for volatile capacitors?

I repaired a lot of Grundigs in the 1960s - from 500L and 700L up to the TK series.
Most of the paper capacitors in them were made by WIMA - black or brown blobby things, and they often failed even under warranty. It was not long that we all decided to replace the lot when one ever came in for any reason!

reel-to-reel-man · 11th Dec 2005, 6:54 pm

I have an L400 (Or is it 4000, packed away in the loft so can't check), will get around to restoring it later. Cheers for the info, will probably open the recorder to replace the other capacitors just to be safe, funny that they would fail under warranty too, thought it was just something which went with age, liking to keep things original I always replaced them once they went POP

10th Dec 2005, 10:21 pm	#1
reel-to-reel-man Heptode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Paignton, Devon, UK. Posts: 805	Grundig TK-820 rises from the dead! Here is another one of my success stories, a Grundig TK820 reel to reel. This recorder was given to me, it was completely dead, a few capacitors and a fuse later and it powered up, the recorder still had problems though. It would not play or rewind, I found inside the reel hubs was a ring of perished material similar to cork, but sore what it was but it had gammed up the machine. After scooping out the gunk and replacing it with new cork I noticed the recorder did not have any beak mechanism, interestingly its servo breaks, notice the coils, I suspect the machine passes current through them to stop the spools and possibly offer back tension. The counter belt had fallen away and the two head cushions where covered in mould, many parts went under the hot water tap and cleaned with washing powder. On first tests with all cleaned, oiled and serviced the machine fired up reluctantly, after 2 hours of test, another capacitor started to smoke, back apart came the machine and the bubbly capacitor was replaced. Now the machine has been tested for 4 hours with no hiccups, the recorder plays in both directions, the tape guides are out in the photo but have been set right for those with broadband there is a small video clip, not great quality but size is an issue I consider this as a success story, I have replaced missing hinges, cleaned the maim recorder plate, serviced and repaired it yet many someone can help with the missing door which covers the front two holes on the recorder, To be continued only if I find that door http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/grundig/dead.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...New%20belt.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...%20cleaned.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...rvo%20stop.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/grundig/sn.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...t%20repair.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...%20cleaned.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...test%20run.jpg http://vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/gr...%20running.jpg vintagerecorders.co.uk/seb/grundig/mov08703.mpg __________________ Vintage recorder collector www.vintagerecorders.co.uk

11th Dec 2005, 11:51 am	#2
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: Grundig TK-820 rises from the dead! Nice job, R-to-R. I used to like the 820 - the TK830 was even more of a beast. Presume you have replaced all the black and brown Wimas? Used to be the bane of our lives! __________________ Mike.

11th Dec 2005, 6:03 pm	#3
reel-to-reel-man Heptode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Paignton, Devon, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Grundig TK-820 rises from the dead! Wimas? you lost me, is that the other name for volatile capacitors? __________________ Vintage recorder collector www.vintagerecorders.co.uk

11th Dec 2005, 6:54 pm	#5
reel-to-reel-man Heptode Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Paignton, Devon, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Grundig TK-820 rises from the dead! I have an L400 (Or is it 4000, packed away in the loft so can't check), will get around to restoring it later. Cheers for the info, will probably open the recorder to replace the other capacitors just to be safe, funny that they would fail under warranty too, thought it was just something which went with age, liking to keep things original I always replaced them once they went POP __________________ Vintage recorder collector www.vintagerecorders.co.uk