Thorn Ultra Model 6054 Record Player

[John1961]

Hi, I have the above Record Player and it has been sat for years at my mum's (recently passed) doing nothing. I have put a new plug on it and with fingers crossed thought it would kick into life immediately. My son is a DJ and I have been promising I would get the record player home and see if it works as he would like to use it for general playing of some vinyl records he has.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the first step to take. I will consider taking it for repair but whilst I'm not an electrician or familiar with messing about with such items, I am retired and willing to give it a go to start with.

The player has been cleaned up and looks in good condition with I suspect very little wrong with it, just need to get it turned on to see if it works or if there's something else wrong with it. Any help getting started would be appreciated.
John

[Station X]

Hello and welcome to forums.

I assume that when power was applied the player did not "kick into life immediately"? Good 3 amp fuse in the plug?

Does it show any signs of life? Hum from the speaker? Pilot light if any lit? Turntable rotating? Any sound from the speaker if you stroke the stylus?

[John1961]

Hi Station X and thanks for allowing me on here. I have just checked fuse (replaced with new one to double check) and nothing at all, appears totally dead. I think if I can get it to turn on there is a good chance there won't be much if anything wrong with it. Is it a case of simply taking the screws out and looking inside?

[Station X]

Unfortunately I don't have a circuit diagram for this player, so it's difficult to give you further advice.

By all means take a look inside, but barring disconnected wires and fried components you're not going to find many faults just by looking. If you do look post a few pictures here of what you see.

If the player is completely dead the most likely fault is a dodgy OFF/ON switch. These can often click into the ON position, but actually remain off.

Does the player have a pilot light, even if it doesn't light up?

[John1961]

Thanks Station X. I will take a look and will take some pics. There is a pilot light although at this stage it doesnt light up. I will take a look at the ON/OFF button which does feel a bit stiff and like it isn't clicking on and off freely.

[Station X]

That sounds like a good plan. generally Pilot lights are wired directly across the output of the OFF/ON switch.

Do you have a multimeter to test the switch if necessary?

[John1961]

Hi, I have opened the back and feel a bit out of my depth.

I have a ken a few pics and attach them here.

The deeper I get into this the more I’m thinking repair shop but obviously don’t want to waste my money on something that might ultimately be no good.

[buggies]

The label indicates an 800mA fuse on the main pcb which is probably just for the amplifier.
Your photos 3 and 4 show a more likely suspect on the small square paxolin board in series with the brown mains cable.

[John1961]

Hi and thanks, is there a particular area I should be looking at...perhaps I could take a more specific picture of the board you’re referring to.

[teetoon]

Hello John. I'm wondering if the switch is gummed up as you say it doesn't seem to click.
Myself, I have a cassette deck where the power button will latch in and out but you have to do this a few times before it will click and actually switch on.

It's only been like it a dozen years or more but I rarely use it so haven't bothered to fix it .
Most likely a squirt of switch cleaner (servisol) would sort it if that is indeed what the problem is.

David.

[1955APREN]

Hi John.

I think the switch is the same type that was used on lots of Thorn TV's (Lorin type). I might have one if you require one. Could you please let us know if you have any test equipment like Station X suggests. To replace the switch you will need to have a soldering iron and to test a multi meter.

Regards, Derrick.

[Station X]

It would be worthwhile to trace the incoming mains wiring. The pictures are not clear, but it appears to go to the brown board, through the fuse and then on to the OFF/ON switch. In the absence of a meter? do a visual check of the fuse.

[ben]

It certainly sounds like the switch as cause. I suppose one way to eliminate it from the list would be to bridge its contacts - with power off - blue to blue, brown to brown. Have you got a soldering iron?

Incidentally, I have one of these units and they are well worth repairing.

[Station X]

I don't suppose you have a circuit do you Ben?

[John1961]

Sorry guys hope be been a bit busy and not able to get back to this recently. I’m grateful for the help/suggestions but think I might be out of my depth. I don’t have a soldering iron or meter but have been looking at buying a meter. The more you guys help the more I’m determined to get thus working but just need some time I think. I can get some more pics uploaded...gonna have a look now with my son.

[John1961]

Is this fuse likely to be the cause ?? station X you mentioned a visual check of the fuse, would it be worth replacing this first before anything else ?

[Station X]

As suggested in post #12 do a visual check on it. Make sure that the internal wire is continuous from one end cap to the other.

EDIT. I notice that the end caps appear to be corroded. If they are corroded, then clean them back to bright metal by scraping or using fine glass paper. Same goes for the fuse holder.

[John1961]

Thanks Station X will give that s ho first and see where we are...thanks all for input so far. John

[John1961]

Ok so I have cleaned up the fuse and connectors and replaced but nothing. It looks like the wire goes Cap to the end of the fuse but can’t be 100% sure. My son reckons the turntable should rotate whilst not switched on but it doesn’t. I don’t think it should. This fact doesn’t point to anything wrong/further wrong with the player does it?

[Station X]

The time for speculation is over. Get yourself a Digital Multimeter (DMM) and we'll tell you what tests to do.