Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

DeLaGoal · 22nd Mar 2018, 10:29 pm

Hello everyone. I'm new here and I'm looking for some advice.

18 months ago I bought a Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B from eBay. I was assured it had been fully serviced. At the time I had just moved house and was in the middle of decorating, so I carefully stored the unit until I had the time to set it up. I have now done so. Unfortunately it appears to have two faults. I feel very foolish for not taking the time to fully check it upon arrival and I am now well beyond the year's warranty the seller offered.

The tape cassette deck does not move. Play, rewind and fast forward are dead. The power button to the tape deck does work.

The lights which illuminate the radio display have an intermittent fault. Whist they work initially, after a few minutes they begin to flicker and then go out. A gentle tap on the top of the unit will bring one or sometimes both back on, but sometimes cause the other to go out. After a while, they will both go out again.

I would like to attempt to bring the unit back to full working order but I do not have much experience. If anyone could point me in right direction I'd be very grateful.

Nuvistor · 22nd Mar 2018, 10:59 pm

If the bulbs are the screw in or bayonet type it may just be dirty connections on the bulb holders, if the are the soldered in type it is probably the bulbs are faulty and need replacing.

If the power switch on the cassette deck is not working, that requires investigation before looking at the play and rewind. It could be the switch but there are many other possible causes, some easier than others

Post some photos of the unit it may jog memories and get more informative information.

paulsherwin · 22nd Mar 2018, 11:10 pm

The chances are the cassette deck just has a bad capstan belt which needs changing. It could have deteriorated while it's been in storage.

Edward Huggins · 22nd Mar 2018, 11:48 pm

This is one of the better Dynatron music centres and you are very fortunate in that both channels of the amplifier are still working!
The cassette deck is a fairly basic 1975 Philips unit and belts can still be sourced.
I'll search through my Library (I'm ex Philips) and try to locate the model number.

ben · 23rd Mar 2018, 10:31 am

It's a Philips N2506. Probably as basic as it gets. Belts will have gone to goo if they haven't been replaced in the recent past.

DeLaGoal · 23rd Mar 2018, 12:15 pm

Thank you for your replies everyone.

Nuvistor, thank you for your advice regarding the bulbs. Here is a photo of the unit taken by the seller.

Paul, Edward, Ben, thank you for your advice regarding the cassette deck.

dalgwcobl · 24th Mar 2018, 1:07 am

The Goldring G101 record deck can have speed problems caused by hardened grease in the turntable bearing. If it's playing OK, leave well alone as it can be difficult to get the turntable trim off without damaging it. Note the G101 uses a thin round-section drive belt which, while it has an excellent wow and rumble performance, does not give enough torque to use a dust-bug or similar tracking record cleaner. Complaints from customers about this resulted in Goldring producing the G102, with a more rubust flat drive belt, to enable a dust bug to be used without slowing the speed. However, the G102 suffered from motor noise as a result.
The N2506 tape deck will undoubtedly have liquorice for drive belts by now!

22nd Mar 2018, 10:29 pm	#1
DeLaGoal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2	Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B Hello everyone. I'm new here and I'm looking for some advice. 18 months ago I bought a Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B from eBay. I was assured it had been fully serviced. At the time I had just moved house and was in the middle of decorating, so I carefully stored the unit until I had the time to set it up. I have now done so. Unfortunately it appears to have two faults. I feel very foolish for not taking the time to fully check it upon arrival and I am now well beyond the year's warranty the seller offered. The tape cassette deck does not move. Play, rewind and fast forward are dead. The power button to the tape deck does work. The lights which illuminate the radio display have an intermittent fault. Whist they work initially, after a few minutes they begin to flicker and then go out. A gentle tap on the top of the unit will bring one or sometimes both back on, but sometimes cause the other to go out. After a while, they will both go out again. I would like to attempt to bring the unit back to full working order but I do not have much experience. If anyone could point me in right direction I'd be very grateful.

22nd Mar 2018, 10:59 pm	#2
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B If the bulbs are the screw in or bayonet type it may just be dirty connections on the bulb holders, if the are the soldered in type it is probably the bulbs are faulty and need replacing. If the power switch on the cassette deck is not working, that requires investigation before looking at the play and rewind. It could be the switch but there are many other possible causes, some easier than others Post some photos of the unit it may jog memories and get more informative information. __________________ Frank

22nd Mar 2018, 11:10 pm	#3
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 27,967	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B The chances are the cassette deck just has a bad capstan belt which needs changing. It could have deteriorated while it's been in storage.

22nd Mar 2018, 11:48 pm	#4
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,338	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B This is one of the better Dynatron music centres and you are very fortunate in that both channels of the amplifier are still working! The cassette deck is a fairly basic 1975 Philips unit and belts can still be sourced. I'll search through my Library (I'm ex Philips) and try to locate the model number. __________________ Edward.

23rd Mar 2018, 10:31 am	#5
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B It's a Philips N2506. Probably as basic as it gets. Belts will have gone to goo if they haven't been replaced in the recent past. __________________ Regards, Ben.

23rd Mar 2018, 12:15 pm	#6
DeLaGoal Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 2	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B Thank you for your replies everyone. Nuvistor, thank you for your advice regarding the bulbs. Here is a photo of the unit taken by the seller. Paul, Edward, Ben, thank you for your advice regarding the cassette deck.

24th Mar 2018, 1:07 am	#7
dalgwcobl Pentode Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Royston, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 131	Re: Dynatron Cavalcade SRX 30B The Goldring G101 record deck can have speed problems caused by hardened grease in the turntable bearing. If it's playing OK, leave well alone as it can be difficult to get the turntable trim off without damaging it. Note the G101 uses a thin round-section drive belt which, while it has an excellent wow and rumble performance, does not give enough torque to use a dust-bug or similar tracking record cleaner. Complaints from customers about this resulted in Goldring producing the G102, with a more rubust flat drive belt, to enable a dust bug to be used without slowing the speed. However, the G102 suffered from motor noise as a result. The N2506 tape deck will undoubtedly have liquorice for drive belts by now!