Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Nic-15fl · 21st Apr 2017, 10:10 am

Hey all, lately it's been difficult for me to get some sound from the cartridge base due to those metal pins, and it's the spring version of the cartridge I have. Is it likely because contact base is dirty? Or can it be that they're not touching it close enough? For a short while I got audio in the left speaker, but now nothing at all.

sp10mk11 · 21st Apr 2017, 5:12 pm

I have had the same problem on these sort of Dual decks, I just clean the connector pin ends and the PCB inside the headshell with switch cleaner on a cotton bud and no more problems.
Good luck
Gary

Nic-15fl · 21st Apr 2017, 6:56 pm

I don't think they're dirty, last Thursday I had fine stereo sound in them, can't I shape them up so I'm having more contact? That's the point with them, right?

Audio1950 · 21st Apr 2017, 7:41 pm

Have you checked the cartridge pins and the insides of the connecting tags? They can get a sort of verdigris on them over time.

Nic-15fl · 21st Apr 2017, 9:10 pm

Can I scrub that off with a steel brush?

vidjoman · 21st Apr 2017, 9:55 pm

I think this might be one of those where the finger lift moves to release the cartridge carrier. If so I've seen several where the plastic fixing lugs in the carrier have been broken off and this causes the carrier to not connect with the fixed contacts.

Edward Huggins · 22nd Apr 2017, 9:41 am

I have found that scraping the connecting pins/lugs with a new Stanley knife type blade very effective and more precise than brushing/sanding. It can make all the difference!

Nic-15fl · 22nd Apr 2017, 2:48 pm

I think cleaning the contacts was all I needed, I've got stereo sound now.

GP49000 · 24th Apr 2017, 7:54 am

Good, glad you fixed it.

On many Duals the crimped connections on the cartridge wires go bad

21st Apr 2017, 10:10 am	#1
Nic-15fl Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Aabenraa, Denmark. Posts: 262	Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. Hey all, lately it's been difficult for me to get some sound from the cartridge base due to those metal pins, and it's the spring version of the cartridge I have. Is it likely because contact base is dirty? Or can it be that they're not touching it close enough? For a short while I got audio in the left speaker, but now nothing at all.

21st Apr 2017, 5:12 pm	#2
sp10mk11 Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 1,275	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. I have had the same problem on these sort of Dual decks, I just clean the connector pin ends and the PCB inside the headshell with switch cleaner on a cotton bud and no more problems. Good luck Gary

21st Apr 2017, 6:56 pm	#3
Nic-15fl Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Aabenraa, Denmark. Posts: 262	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. I don't think they're dirty, last Thursday I had fine stereo sound in them, can't I shape them up so I'm having more contact? That's the point with them, right?

21st Apr 2017, 7:41 pm	#4
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. Have you checked the cartridge pins and the insides of the connecting tags? They can get a sort of verdigris on them over time.

21st Apr 2017, 9:10 pm	#5
Nic-15fl Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Aabenraa, Denmark. Posts: 262	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. Can I scrub that off with a steel brush?

21st Apr 2017, 9:55 pm	#6
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. I think this might be one of those where the finger lift moves to release the cartridge carrier. If so I've seen several where the plastic fixing lugs in the carrier have been broken off and this causes the carrier to not connect with the fixed contacts.

22nd Apr 2017, 9:41 am	#7
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. I have found that scraping the connecting pins/lugs with a new Stanley knife type blade very effective and more precise than brushing/sanding. It can make all the difference! __________________ Edward.

22nd Apr 2017, 2:48 pm	#8
Nic-15fl Hexode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Aabenraa, Denmark. Posts: 262	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. I think cleaning the contacts was all I needed, I've got stereo sound now.

24th Apr 2017, 7:54 am	#9
GP49000 Hexode Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sonoma County, California, USA. Posts: 405	Re: Trouble with metal spring pins on Dual 1218. Good, glad you fixed it. On many Duals the crimped connections on the cartridge wires go bad