UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > General Vintage Technology > Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here)

Notices

Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE!

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 23rd Nov 2022, 1:02 pm   #1
OldTechFan96
Octode
 
OldTechFan96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 1,177
Default Sonotone 9TAHC Repair (audio drop outs)

I have a Sonotone 9TAHC installed in a Garrard AT6 MKII. Occasionally when playing a record the signal from the cartridge would cut in and out.

I though that the stylus was at fault, so a brand new one was ordered. Unfortunately, this did not solve the issue. I noticed that if some gentle pressure was applied to the headshell the audio would come back.

This convinced me that the cartridge was at fault.

I removed the cartridge from the headshell and was easily able to remove the metal surround from the cartridge body.

At this point the 'rabbit ears' and ceramic elements can be withdrawn from the cartridge body.

The elements were filthy and were gently cleaned with Autosol.

Once everything was back together the cartridge worked fine without any issue.

I don't consider this post a comprehensive guide to solving this issue, it's more of a proof of concept.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	before.JPG
Views:	136
Size:	41.0 KB
ID:	268602   Click image for larger version

Name:	after.JPG
Views:	127
Size:	44.5 KB
ID:	268603  
OldTechFan96 is online now  
Old 23rd Nov 2022, 1:18 pm   #2
Nickthedentist
Dekatron
 
Nickthedentist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,820
Default Re: Sonotone 9TAHC Repair (audio drop outs)

Well done!

Another thing which is well worth doing with these is to remove the plug from the back (use a blade to gently tease it out), and clean its contacts, as well as the contacts in the cartridge to which they connect. I use a cotton bud soaked with Servisol Super 10. They go from black to shiny in a few seconds.

But note that all the 9TAHCs I've dealt with recently have suffered from their rubbery bits hardening-up, causing poor tracking, distortion, and no doubt increased record wear.
Nickthedentist is online now  
Old 23rd Nov 2022, 1:46 pm   #3
OldTechFan96
Octode
 
OldTechFan96's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 1,177
Default Re: Sonotone 9TAHC Repair (audio drop outs)

Thanks Nick, that is very good advice.

Mine tracks very well at only 3g as set by my Garrard stylus balance.

I noticed that the 'rabbit ears' on my Sonotone were, material wise, somewhere in-between a soft rubber and a firm plastic. I wonder if recreating the rubber pieces would be worthwhile?

I guess that they are all on borrowed time?

One of these days I'll experement with one of these.
OldTechFan96 is online now  
Old 23rd Nov 2022, 2:00 pm   #4
ben
Dekatron
 
ben's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
Default Re: Sonotone 9TAHC Repair (audio drop outs)

Great stuff! I have done similar with the Sonotone 25xx or 35xx series with good results.

Incidentally, there were two or three different types of cantilever in the 9TAHC. One rubber, one black plastic and another which was as you say some kind of hybrid. Some held up better than others but it has been a while since I last looked at one. Will have to dig a few out and will post photos.
__________________
Regards,
Ben.
ben is offline  
Old 23rd Nov 2022, 3:32 pm   #5
Andrew2
Nonode
 
Andrew2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dukinfield, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 2,034
Default Re: Sonotone 9TAHC Repair (audio drop outs)

Nice cartridges these are, especially for a ceramic type which were looked down upon by the moving magnet brigade.
In the early 70's I had an SP25 Mk2 in which I fitted a new 9TAHC, but the audio from one channel was intermittent. Usually it could be coaxed back into life by a gentle touch on the stylus.
In the end it became such a pain I just went out and bought a new one, but that one was the same - on the other channel!
So both of them went back to Sonotone with a (long and very studenty) letter. A couple of weeks later I received two new cartridges and an explanation of the fault, which sadly my memory cannot recall.
__________________
Andy G1HBE.
Andrew2 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:24 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.