No Record. Beocord 2000 delux - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

eric8650 · 28th Oct 2011, 7:09 pm

Hi all can anybody tell me if there is anything else to check before I condem the record head.

Nice signal going into the machine.

0.3 volts ac recording bias on the head.

Plenty of audio reaching the head.

Erasing ok.

What else accept the head.

Seems strange to me that it will not put anything on the tape at all.

Thanks for any help in advance.

julie_m · 28th Oct 2011, 7:25 pm

Is this a 2- or 3-head deck?

If 2-head, and the record/play head is faulty, then there will be no playback.

If 3-head, you could try temporarily connecting the play amplifier to the record head and seeing if you can get a signal from a tape. (It may be weak or distorted, due to impedance mismatch; on most 3-head decks, the record and play heads are not identical. But you should hear something at least, if the head is OK.)

If you test the head for continuity, only use a digital meter - analogue ones use enough current to leave the head partially magnetised, and this will gradually ruin your tapes (they will get quieter with successive listens; guess how I discovered this).

eric8650 · 28th Oct 2011, 7:37 pm

Thanks AJS.

Its a 3 head stereo deck. The playback head reads 30 odd ohms on a digital meter. the record head just over 1 ohm. Nerver had a head pack up completly like this. Very unusual.

Regards Dave

DOFFERY · 28th Oct 2011, 8:29 pm

Is the playback switch in the correct position?

Colin.

eric8650 · 28th Oct 2011, 8:35 pm

Yes All the switches are OK.

Have just disconnected the record head completly. Found the cause - both windings o/c.

Thanks for all your help.

Dave

ricard · 29th Oct 2011, 6:16 am

Beocords use Bogen heads, and it's not uncommon for them to go o/c. I've seen it occur more frequently with high-impedence heads used in valve recorders. I was hoping it wouldn't happen with the low-impedence heads used in transistorized machines, but it seems I was wrong.

I'm wondering if some fault in the recording circuitry could cause excessive current to pass through the heads thereby burning out the windings?

Regarding magnetizing the heads by passing DC through them: a good demagnetization with a defluxer will cure that.

One thing I noticed with the 2000 DL is that playback head is actually floating at a couple of volts above (or possibly below) ground, so if you accidetally short-circuit one of the connections to the playback head to ground, you can end up with a magnetized head. It happened to me and was actually the first time I experienced the results of playing back a tape with a magnetized head - it leaves a very characteristic low-level rumbling noise on the tape due to the DC magnetization.

eric8650 · 29th Oct 2011, 1:35 pm

Thanks for your input ricard.

Yes I had the same thoughts as to what caused both windings on the head to go o/c. Having spent hours looking at the circuit I cannot find anything that would cause this. There is a good AC bias voltage on them and they are fed from 2 seperate record aamplifiers.

My only other thoughts are that there is a fare amount of rust on the external metalwork of this recorder so I wonder if its been stored in damp conditions.

Thanks for your help.

PS. Anybody know of a sauce for a new Bogen record head for this machine?

Dave

Welsh Anorak · 29th Oct 2011, 3:50 pm

Hi
This is sadly a very common fault on this machine - I have had it happen myself. I don't think any other head will do, I'm afraid. I think it's due to corrosion in the head itself, but I'm not sure.
Did I see someone with a machine for sale in the 'offered' section? I have a couple of machines that are in quite a bad way - if you're stuck I can investigate and see if I have a good head, but I wouldn't be too hopeful.
Glyn

eric8650 · 29th Oct 2011, 4:05 pm

Hi Glyn

Would be appreciated if you could have a look for me.

Don't hold out much hope of getting one from anyware else.

Regards Dave

smartalec · 29th Oct 2011, 4:56 pm

Hi Eric,

I have a Beocord 2000 Deluxe which I am selling for spares or repair. It comes with built in amplifier and speakers built into lids. Also has a perspex cover in excellent condition and two microphones.Am asking £25, if interested give me a shout.

eric8650 · 29th Oct 2011, 5:02 pm

Hi Smartalec

Yes would like to buy it off you.

Not to far away in Skegness.

Dave

Brian R Pateman · 29th Oct 2011, 5:21 pm

As Eric is now getting another machine we'll close this thread.

28th Oct 2011, 7:09 pm	#1
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Hi all can anybody tell me if there is anything else to check before I condem the record head. Nice signal going into the machine. 0.3 volts ac recording bias on the head. Plenty of audio reaching the head. Erasing ok. What else accept the head. Seems strange to me that it will not put anything on the tape at all. Thanks for any help in advance.

28th Oct 2011, 7:25 pm	#2
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Is this a 2- or 3-head deck? If 2-head, and the record/play head is faulty, then there will be no playback. If 3-head, you could try temporarily connecting the play amplifier to the record head and seeing if you can get a signal from a tape. (It may be weak or distorted, due to impedance mismatch; on most 3-head decks, the record and play heads are not identical. But you should hear something at least, if the head is OK.) If you test the head for continuity, only use a digital meter - analogue ones use enough current to leave the head partially magnetised, and this will gradually ruin your tapes (they will get quieter with successive listens; guess how I discovered this). __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

28th Oct 2011, 7:37 pm	#3
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Thanks AJS. Its a 3 head stereo deck. The playback head reads 30 odd ohms on a digital meter. the record head just over 1 ohm. Nerver had a head pack up completly like this. Very unusual. Regards Dave

28th Oct 2011, 8:29 pm	#4
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Is the playback switch in the correct position? Colin.

28th Oct 2011, 8:35 pm	#5
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Yes All the switches are OK. Have just disconnected the record head completly. Found the cause - both windings o/c. Thanks for all your help. Dave

29th Oct 2011, 6:16 am	#6
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Beocords use Bogen heads, and it's not uncommon for them to go o/c. I've seen it occur more frequently with high-impedence heads used in valve recorders. I was hoping it wouldn't happen with the low-impedence heads used in transistorized machines, but it seems I was wrong. I'm wondering if some fault in the recording circuitry could cause excessive current to pass through the heads thereby burning out the windings? Regarding magnetizing the heads by passing DC through them: a good demagnetization with a defluxer will cure that. One thing I noticed with the 2000 DL is that playback head is actually floating at a couple of volts above (or possibly below) ground, so if you accidetally short-circuit one of the connections to the playback head to ground, you can end up with a magnetized head. It happened to me and was actually the first time I experienced the results of playing back a tape with a magnetized head - it leaves a very characteristic low-level rumbling noise on the tape due to the DC magnetization.

29th Oct 2011, 1:35 pm	#7
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Thanks for your input ricard. Yes I had the same thoughts as to what caused both windings on the head to go o/c. Having spent hours looking at the circuit I cannot find anything that would cause this. There is a good AC bias voltage on them and they are fed from 2 seperate record aamplifiers. My only other thoughts are that there is a fare amount of rust on the external metalwork of this recorder so I wonder if its been stored in damp conditions. Thanks for your help. PS. Anybody know of a sauce for a new Bogen record head for this machine? Dave

29th Oct 2011, 3:50 pm	#8
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,916	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Hi This is sadly a very common fault on this machine - I have had it happen myself. I don't think any other head will do, I'm afraid. I think it's due to corrosion in the head itself, but I'm not sure. Did I see someone with a machine for sale in the 'offered' section? I have a couple of machines that are in quite a bad way - if you're stuck I can investigate and see if I have a good head, but I wouldn't be too hopeful. Glyn

29th Oct 2011, 4:05 pm	#9
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Hi Glyn Would be appreciated if you could have a look for me. Don't hold out much hope of getting one from anyware else. Regards Dave

29th Oct 2011, 4:56 pm	#10
smartalec Tetrode Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Leeds Yorkshire Posts: 73	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Hi Eric, I have a Beocord 2000 Deluxe which I am selling for spares or repair. It comes with built in amplifier and speakers built into lids. Also has a perspex cover in excellent condition and two microphones.Am asking £25, if interested give me a shout.

29th Oct 2011, 5:02 pm	#11
eric8650 Pentode Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux Hi Smartalec Yes would like to buy it off you. Not to far away in Skegness. Dave

29th Oct 2011, 5:21 pm	#12
Brian R Pateman Nonode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Western Lake District, Cumbria (CA20) - UK Posts: 2,136	Re: No Record. Beocord 2000 delux As Eric is now getting another machine we'll close this thread. __________________ Brian