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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment.

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Old 23rd May 2018, 1:48 pm   #1
The Wrong Era
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Default Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson 3425 record player.

Hello
I need some advice/help on a ferguson unit.
I have a few issues..

firstly regardless of which speaker I plug in the left channel is a lot lower in volume than than the right.

the radio only picks up bbc4

When you try to use the turntable there is an awful loud noise that doesn't stop
I have attached an image of the underside of the deck and there seems to be a wire loose which I'm guessing what earths it and which is why there is the noise?

Here is a video of the 'noise' problem.
https://youtu.be/gtFSPY4ZB74

and lastly there is a random loose spring (also attached a picture)

I have fixed smaller portable record players before - but this unit is far more complex than anything I have worked on - so I'm looking for advice before I even start ti tackle it.
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:02 pm   #2
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Default Re: calling on knowleged for a ferguson record player

The mains power cable in the first photo looks lethal, attend to safety before anything else.
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:06 pm   #3
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Default Re: calling on knowleged for a ferguson record player

...or is that an old bit of mains cable being used as the signal cable?!

More pictures, please.
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:09 pm   #4
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Default Re: calling on knowleged for a ferguson record player

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nuvistor View Post
The mains power cable in the first photo looks lethal, attend to safety before anything else.
Mains? Colours are right, but connecting mains to pickup output as here is ill-advised!

Does look like one or more of those connections is dodgy though.

Martin
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:11 pm   #5
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Default Re: Calling on knowlege for a Ferguson record player.

That wiring is an absolutely appalling mess. Look at the way the white wire is routed round the others.

Looks like old mains cable is being used to carry low level signals. Replace it, preferably with some screened stuff.

Attend to the obvious things first.

What's the model number or name?
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:25 pm   #6
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Default Re: Calling on knowlege for a Ferguson record player.

Sounds like there is some RF breakthrough as well. Plugging in different speakers is unlikely to restore volume to the LH channel, it is liable to be an amplifier fault. In the meantime, how experienced are you in troubleshooting and measuring voltages and values?
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Old 23rd May 2018, 2:46 pm   #7
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Default Re: Calling on knowlege for a Ferguson record player.

agreed - the wiring is shocking and in very bad shape
I have attached some more images of the underside

I cant see a model of the actual record player it just says 'ferguson unit audio fm stereo' on the badge the actual record deck is a Garrard SP25MKII

thanks for all the replies so far!
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Old 23rd May 2018, 3:21 pm   #8
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Default Re: Calling on knowlege for a Ferguson record player.

Must admit I thought it was the mains wiring but yes I can see it likely is for signal.

Still two mains cables coming out of the unit, the other for the motor, the wrong one could easily be connected by someone not conversant with it.
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Old 23rd May 2018, 4:31 pm   #9
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Default Re: Calling on knowlege for a Ferguson record player.

A photo of the complete Fergusn unit would greatly assist in identifying it. In addition, Ferguson usually printed the model number on the back cover, and a small white rectangular plastic label, visible from the outside. The model numbers for their “Unit Audio” range usually have four digits, beginning with 34xx.
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Old 24th May 2018, 1:16 am   #10
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

In the name of all that is holy...in three and a half decades collecting and repairing this kit, I've never seen wiring that bad! How on earth do you mangle something that much?!

If you don't have any suitable cable to hand, just get a RCA-RCA lead from a pound shop and cut the plugs off one end. Strip and solder the wires to the tag strip (all the 'earth' shielding can probably be connected to the inner three tags as at present).
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Old 24th May 2018, 7:19 am   #11
Ted Kendall
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

Ye gods! I haven't seen anything like that since the Studer somebody attacked with a gas poker...
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Old 24th May 2018, 8:40 am   #12
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

As Ben has mentioned, obtain some screened cable & replace the rotten lead on the turntables audio output tag strip, plus a general tidy-up of the original tag strip tone arm wiring.

Sounds like some switch cleaner is needed on the switchbank & potentiometers to stop the crackling.

The amplifier being quieter in one channel than the other, most likely the negative feedback electrolytic (could also be dirty switches or pots). Replace both left & right negative feedback capacitors, if ones going, the other won't be far behind. Check the input & interstage decouplers too.

If you have a 'scope & sig-genny, it'll make life a bit easier.

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Old 24th May 2018, 9:04 am   #13
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

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Originally Posted by ben View Post
In the name of all that is holy...in three and a half decades collecting and repairing this kit, I've never seen wiring that bad! How on earth do you mangle something that much?!
Someone who knows nothing and uses a poker as a soldering iron (soldering in the loosest possible term)!!
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Old 24th May 2018, 9:16 am   #14
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

Looks like the eponymous DPO has been at it big time.

(D****d Previous Owner)
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Old 24th May 2018, 9:46 am   #15
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

Either he or the Phantom Bodger so beloved of Radiophile!
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Old 24th May 2018, 12:31 pm   #16
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mark2collection View Post
As Ben has mentioned, obtain some screened cable & replace the rotten lead on the turntables audio output tag strip, plus a general tidy-up of the original tag strip tone arm wiring.

Sounds like some switch cleaner is needed on the switchbank & potentiometers to stop the crackling.

The amplifier being quieter in one channel than the other, most likely the negative feedback electrolytic (could also be dirty switches or pots). Replace both left & right negative feedback capacitors, if ones going, the other won't be far behind. Check the input & interstage decouplers too.

If you have a 'scope & sig-genny, it'll make life a bit easier.

Mark
i'm starting to feel like I am way over my head with this project! :')
there are a lot of circuit boards - this thing is a beast
also I can not find any model number (i did look the first time)
Please see attached for new images of full unit
and here is a short video of all the boards

https://youtu.be/anH7tYi_c_0
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Old 24th May 2018, 12:35 pm   #17
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

Simple things first!

Fix the wiring to the arm.

Work the balance control back and forth, applying Servisol if possible.

Swop over the channels at the cartridge to see if the low output fault moves to the other channel which would indicate a cartridge or stylus fault.
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Old 24th May 2018, 12:39 pm   #18
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

For the model number it might be Ferguson 3425.

Lawrence.
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Old 24th May 2018, 12:42 pm   #19
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson record player.

There is a white piece of paper near the loudspeaker sockets with the model and serial number, the serial number is in big numbers, cannot quite read the model but should be clear when looking at it in front of you.
Looks like it’s 34xx , Lawrence is probably correct.
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Old 24th May 2018, 12:57 pm   #20
The Wrong Era
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Default Re: Calling on knowledge for a Ferguson 3425 record player.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Station X View Post
Simple things first!

Fix the wiring to the arm.

Work the balance control back and forth, applying Servisol if possible.

Swop over the channels at the cartridge to see if the low output fault moves to the other channel which would indicate a cartridge or stylus fault.
okay now I'm even more confused - sorry if I am being thick... why are we talking about fixing the wiring on the arm and the balance control?

Also Lawrence you are right with the model number.... i don't know how I missed that! ><
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