Dynatron Safari portable radiogram - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

gothi59 · 14th Sep 2021, 9:59 pm

Hi all,

Just joined forum and this is my 1st post. Bit of background I've always been a tinkerer ( if that's a real word) but I really don't want to mess this up. Right so my partners mum passed away in march this year, and we have been clearing the house and we came across the above record player under a bed in the house ( poor old dear was a massive hoarder) anyway I just got a replacement stylus for it and had to re solder the battery connectors back on and it is working, both radio and record player.

My problem is the sound is awful and very quiet, I have seen posts on here about things you can do with fixing a better stylus and cartridge. Could it be any of the resistors or caps as I don't fancy de soldering half of each of them to test if I don't need too. Can I upload videos on here to show what I mean.

Cobaltblue · 14th Sep 2021, 10:05 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Sorry the forum doesn't support video.

Is the sound bad on both record and radio or only on record?

The service information for this unit is available here:

https://www.service-data.com/product...05/1832/m11305

Cheers

Mike T

gothi59 · 15th Sep 2021, 6:13 pm

Hi thanks for the quick reply. Pretty much both as bad as each other.

Nuvistor · 15th Sep 2021, 9:48 pm

With both radio and gram being faulty it would be best to do some basic fault finding before any major work. It may be one fault causing both to be faulty or multiple faults, hopefully only one.
The voltages are in the service manual are a good starting point followed by signal tracing or signal injection.
A section in this link on transistor set repairs may help.
https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html

gothi59 · 17th Sep 2021, 6:32 pm

Hi again.

Thanks for the additional reply. I have got it apart and it's a bit overwhelming LOL. I have attached a few photos of what I'm up against.

gothi59 · 17th Sep 2021, 6:41 pm

This is the speaker I've tested it with a multimeter and it's measuring at 31.8 - 32. Does that sound right? No info on the speaker really. And the pic of me testing the speaker was higher than mentioned but it does go down.

Thanks

Station X · 17th Sep 2021, 7:42 pm

According to the service sheet, which I suggest you obtain, the speaker's resistance is 35 ohms, so your figure is OK.

https://www.service-data.com/product...05/1832/m11305

Station X · 17th Sep 2021, 7:48 pm

Prime suspects are the red/yellow/black Plessey electrolytic capacitors and the black Hunts paper capacitors.

I'm sure another member will be along soon to advise you about the transistors.

gothi59 · 17th Sep 2021, 8:16 pm

Hi,

Thanks so much.

gothi59 · 20th Sep 2021, 7:04 pm

I would like to thank everyone who replied helping me out. Unfortunately I am way out of my depth here and I don't want to ruin this beautiful piece of kit. So I am going to try find a company to do the work for me.

14th Sep 2021, 9:59 pm	#1
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Hi all, Just joined forum and this is my 1st post. Bit of background I've always been a tinkerer ( if that's a real word) but I really don't want to mess this up. Right so my partners mum passed away in march this year, and we have been clearing the house and we came across the above record player under a bed in the house ( poor old dear was a massive hoarder) anyway I just got a replacement stylus for it and had to re solder the battery connectors back on and it is working, both radio and record player. My problem is the sound is awful and very quiet, I have seen posts on here about things you can do with fixing a better stylus and cartridge. Could it be any of the resistors or caps as I don't fancy de soldering half of each of them to test if I don't need too. Can I upload videos on here to show what I mean.

14th Sep 2021, 10:05 pm	#2
Cobaltblue Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Exeter, Devon and Poole, Dorset UK. Posts: 6,865	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Hi and welcome to the forum. Sorry the forum doesn't support video. Is the sound bad on both record and radio or only on record? The service information for this unit is available here: https://www.service-data.com/product...05/1832/m11305 Cheers Mike T __________________ Invisible airwaves crackle with life or at least they used to Mike T BVWS member. www.cossor.co.uk

15th Sep 2021, 6:13 pm	#3
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Hi thanks for the quick reply. Pretty much both as bad as each other.

15th Sep 2021, 9:48 pm	#4
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram With both radio and gram being faulty it would be best to do some basic fault finding before any major work. It may be one fault causing both to be faulty or multiple faults, hopefully only one. The voltages are in the service manual are a good starting point followed by signal tracing or signal injection. A section in this link on transistor set repairs may help. https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html __________________ Frank

17th Sep 2021, 6:32 pm	#5
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Hi again. Thanks for the additional reply. I have got it apart and it's a bit overwhelming LOL. I have attached a few photos of what I'm up against. Attached Thumbnails

17th Sep 2021, 6:41 pm	#6
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram This is the speaker I've tested it with a multimeter and it's measuring at 31.8 - 32. Does that sound right? No info on the speaker really. And the pic of me testing the speaker was higher than mentioned but it does go down. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

17th Sep 2021, 7:42 pm	#7
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram According to the service sheet, which I suggest you obtain, the speaker's resistance is 35 ohms, so your figure is OK. https://www.service-data.com/product...05/1832/m11305 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Sep 2021, 7:48 pm	#8
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,288	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Prime suspects are the red/yellow/black Plessey electrolytic capacitors and the black Hunts paper capacitors. I'm sure another member will be along soon to advise you about the transistors. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

17th Sep 2021, 8:16 pm	#9
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram Hi, Thanks so much.

20th Sep 2021, 7:04 pm	#10
gothi59 Diode Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 6	Re: Dynatron Safari portable radiogram I would like to thank everyone who replied helping me out. Unfortunately I am way out of my depth here and I don't want to ruin this beautiful piece of kit. So I am going to try find a company to do the work for me.