Fidelity HF42 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

BodgerBash · 5th Jul 2019, 3:16 pm

Hi All, my first post....
I have an old Fidelity HF42 record player, producing no sound. Upon investigation I found a 330uF capacitor was duff, so replaced it (I only had a 220uF one) and now the speaker responds to me touching the cartridge input, i.e. I now hear mains hum. I figured that I had fixed it, but touching the stylus results in nothing, I expect a brushing sound. So, is the stylus duff or the amplifier not producing enough gain?
I don't know anything about ceramic cartridges, but would you expect to see a voltage spike being produced if you touch the stylus?
Any ideas please?
Thanks BB.

paulsherwin · 5th Jul 2019, 3:26 pm

It sounds as if the cartridge is duff. It should produce some noise from the speaker if you stroke the stylus with a finger, even if the stylus is in bad condition. If you are getting crackles and buzzes when you touch the connections with a screwdriver, then that is pretty conclusive.

BodgerBash · 5th Jul 2019, 4:28 pm

Many Thanks paulsherwin, I'll look into getting a replacement cartridge, not knowing about these things, the stylus plugs into the cartridge, it being screwed into the top shell on the arm?

Edward Huggins · 6th Jul 2019, 11:06 am

When you remove the cartridge you should see the type number on the top of the cartridge. It is likely to be a BSR medium output stereo-compatible type.

leslie5555 · 6th Jul 2019, 1:46 pm

Most likely a BSR X5M these are hard to find now and usually cost around 35 to 40 quid if you can find one.
However they can usually be brought back to life by very carefully opening them up and cleaning the contacts inside but as I say great care is needed to do this otherwise they can be damaged beyond repair.

ekjdm14 · 6th Jul 2019, 3:33 pm

Indeed they can, with a careful touch, be made to work again and I've done this myself. I will emphasise a VERY careful touch is needed though as the plastics are now of an age where they're going chalky and brittle, one I did recently has died again due to the plastic being too brittle and chunks lodging inside. (I may try and resurrect it again, but as it was for someone else's player I've replaced it with new old stock).

BodgerBash · 9th Jul 2019, 6:07 pm

Thanks all, it's taken me a while to work out how to find my OP, a bit slow I am

. I'll have a go at opening it up (the player), it is a relic from my wife's Mum's home, amongst other things such as a Bush VCR of no use now. I hate to see things being thrown away, I've just fixed an old Wharfdale flat screen, caps in the PSU, and have lined up a couple of Ghetto Blasters (is that allowed?) Bush & Panasonic, and more advanced an RA17 radio and a Studer-Revox G36 tape player.

Cheers and thanks again.

5th Jul 2019, 3:16 pm	#1
BodgerBash Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 3	Fidelity HF42 Hi All, my first post.... I have an old Fidelity HF42 record player, producing no sound. Upon investigation I found a 330uF capacitor was duff, so replaced it (I only had a 220uF one) and now the speaker responds to me touching the cartridge input, i.e. I now hear mains hum. I figured that I had fixed it, but touching the stylus results in nothing, I expect a brushing sound. So, is the stylus duff or the amplifier not producing enough gain? I don't know anything about ceramic cartridges, but would you expect to see a voltage spike being produced if you touch the stylus? Any ideas please? Thanks BB.

5th Jul 2019, 3:26 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,966	Re: Fidelity HF42 It sounds as if the cartridge is duff. It should produce some noise from the speaker if you stroke the stylus with a finger, even if the stylus is in bad condition. If you are getting crackles and buzzes when you touch the connections with a screwdriver, then that is pretty conclusive.

5th Jul 2019, 4:28 pm	#3
BodgerBash Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Fidelity HF42 Many Thanks paulsherwin, I'll look into getting a replacement cartridge, not knowing about these things, the stylus plugs into the cartridge, it being screwed into the top shell on the arm?

6th Jul 2019, 11:06 am	#4
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,338	Re: Fidelity HF42 When you remove the cartridge you should see the type number on the top of the cartridge. It is likely to be a BSR medium output stereo-compatible type. __________________ Edward.

6th Jul 2019, 1:46 pm	#5
leslie5555 Heptode Join Date: May 2015 Location: Reading, Berkshire, UK. Posts: 692	Re: Fidelity HF42 Most likely a BSR X5M these are hard to find now and usually cost around 35 to 40 quid if you can find one. However they can usually be brought back to life by very carefully opening them up and cleaning the contacts inside but as I say great care is needed to do this otherwise they can be damaged beyond repair.

6th Jul 2019, 3:33 pm	#6
ekjdm14 Banned Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Congleton, Cheshire, UK. Posts: 609	Re: Fidelity HF42 Indeed they can, with a careful touch, be made to work again and I've done this myself. I will emphasise a VERY careful touch is needed though as the plastics are now of an age where they're going chalky and brittle, one I did recently has died again due to the plastic being too brittle and chunks lodging inside. (I may try and resurrect it again, but as it was for someone else's player I've replaced it with new old stock).

9th Jul 2019, 6:07 pm	#7
BodgerBash Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Gloucester, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Fidelity HF42 Thanks all, it's taken me a while to work out how to find my OP, a bit slow I am . I'll have a go at opening it up (the player), it is a relic from my wife's Mum's home, amongst other things such as a Bush VCR of no use now. I hate to see things being thrown away, I've just fixed an old Wharfdale flat screen, caps in the PSU, and have lined up a couple of Ghetto Blasters (is that allowed?) Bush & Panasonic, and more advanced an RA17 radio and a Studer-Revox G36 tape player. Cheers and thanks again.