Hitachi TRK 8600HC acting up!

[BoomboxLover48]

I brought out my Hitachi 8600HC the 6 speaker version for maintenance and clean up.

The function switch needed good cleaning to make VU meters work finally. But every time I turn the power on and turn it back on one VU meter will only work or sometimes none of it will work. At times the second one works for a few seconds and then gives up.

Sometimes both of them worked well and the next day it wont work at all. This problem is driving me nuts. :annoyed:

I again went through more switch cleanup and still got the same problem.

It is a very tricky box to put back together.

It sounds loud, clean and clear. I should say it rocks!
Buth the VU meter issue is driving me crazy. :annoyed:

Any help on fixing this issue will be greatly appreciated.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Bump !

 

[ledmeter]

Have you removed and disassembled the switch and checked the contacts? Sometimes they're worn through and they don't make contact properly.
Once I opened a box like this and the wires that ran to the meters hadn't been tied back after servicing and one of the wires was pinched in a cabinet screw post and severed.
Also is there a switch or button which selects meter function? Sometimes there is one to go between level and tuning/battery.
Replacing both needles could also be an option.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Have you removed and disassembled the switch and checked the contacts? Sometimes they're worn through and they don't make contact properly.
Once I opened a box like this and the wires that ran to the meters hadn't been tied back after servicing and one of the wires was pinched in a cabinet screw post and severed.
Also is there a switch or button which selects meter function? Sometimes there is one to go between level and tuning/battery.
Replacing both needles could also be an option.

Thanks for the reply!
The long function switch has another 6 point switch also tied up to the side of it. The battery/tuning/level switch works well on battery/tuning position to work both meters. So we can rule out pinched wire and meter issues.

I've removed many function switches to clean up from other boxes but this one is a bear to work on.
Sometimes both VU meters work, at times left one works and he right one slowly dies away. Later both will work and slowly fade away.

 

[baddboybill]

It could be anything Royce from bad components to bad meters. Have you tried all functions to see if there a difference. Radio,tape and line in ?

 

[Alberto]

This might be a long shot, but I'll throw it out there anyway. If you have the service manual, see if you have variable resistors (trimmers) they are used to to adjust the meter level. They sometimes oxidize and do not make good contact. With radio off mark the position and spray some contact cleaner. With a small screwdriver rotate it back and forth and set it back to its original position.
Good Luck Royce.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

It could be anything Royce from bad components to bad meters. Have you tried all functions to see if there a difference. Radio,tape and line in ?

Thanks Bill! It has the same issue on line in, radio and tape.

When I change change the band to SW and bring it back to FM both VU meters work well for an hour or so and one or the other slowly stops working. Then if I change the function switch and play with it the VU will work again. In all cases either the left or right VU will quit working after 1 or 2 hours. Sometimes it will stop working after 10 minutes. I checked most parts for any loose connections but found none. It is a very clean box with no kind of abuse to it. I don't think anyone opened it up before.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

This might be a long shot, but I'll throw it out there anyway. If you have the service manual, see if you have variable resistors (trimmers) they are used to to adjust the meter level. They sometimes oxidize and do not make good contact. With radio off mark the position and spray some contact cleaner. With a small screwdriver rotate it back and forth and set it back to its original position.
Good Luck Royce.

Thanks Alberto!
Good suggestion!

It works for hours without issues when I play with the function switch or the band switch. I cleaned both of them really good with Deoxit 5 Fader Lube.
I will get a service manual and see if those trimmers have any issues with oxidation. The whole interior looks like brand new but you never know where oxidation can start.

 

[baddboybill]

Alberto has a point the variable resistors might be going bad

 

[stynger007]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

 

[BoomboxLover48]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

Thanks for the information. I didn't clean the record switch yet. I postponed that part because I didn't have the belts for the 8600. That record switch is all hidden under the cassette drive. I also have to get the manual for this unit. I have no idea about the belts to buy. The cassette door acts very tricky when I put the front panel back. I somehow make it after a couple of tries. I still dont know how it falls back nicely to operate the door. After opening so many boxes this poses a puzzle to me. Thanks again for the advise I'll do it soon after getting the service manual and belts.

 

[monchito]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

Thanks for the information. I didn't clean the record switch yet. I postponed that part because I didn't have the belts for the 8600. That record switch is all hidden under the cassette drive. I also have to get the manual for this unit. I have no idea about the belts to buy. The cassette door acts very tricky when I put the front panel back. I somehow make it after a couple of tries. I still dont know how it falls back nicely to operate the door. After opening so many boxes this poses a puzzle to me. Thanks again for the advise I'll do it soon after getting the service manual and belts.

That record bar can reak havoc when dirty give it a real good cleaning

 

[stynger007]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

Thanks for the information. I didn't clean the record switch yet. I postponed that part because I didn't have the belts for the 8600. That record switch is all hidden under the cassette drive. I also have to get the manual for this unit. I have no idea about the belts to buy. The cassette door acts very tricky when I put the front panel back. I somehow make it after a couple of tries. I still dont know how it falls back nicely to operate the door. After opening so many boxes this poses a puzzle to me. Thanks again for the advise I'll do it soon after getting the service manual and belts.

That record bar can reak havoc when dirty give it a real good cleaning

Don`t wait for the belts, try it you may be pleasantly surprised

I miss my 8600 very well made, one of Hitachi`s finest , but man, what a pain to get apart , it`s like a jigsaw puzzle that pushes to the point of thinking you missed a screw and is the panel gonna snap If you can, take a few pics of the jigsaw , you know what I mean there`s like 50 tabs that all interlock with one another

Put new belts on the one I had, but can`t remember what size they were- took them off and went to the local electronics shop and bought 4 of each in varying sizes from the originals- unless of course you are dealing with belt melt, don`t know why but every Hitachi I ever worked on was a victim of belt melt except the 8600..

Good luck

 

[BoomboxLover48]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

Thanks for the information. I didn't clean the record switch yet. I postponed that part because I didn't have the belts for the 8600. That record switch is all hidden under the cassette drive. I also have to get the manual for this unit. I have no idea about the belts to buy. The cassette door acts very tricky when I put the front panel back. I somehow make it after a couple of tries. I still dont know how it falls back nicely to operate the door. After opening so many boxes this poses a puzzle to me. Thanks again for the advise I'll do it soon after getting the service manual and belts.

That record bar can reak havoc when dirty give it a real good cleaning

Thanks Ramon! That is something I forgot to clean. I will do the record bar clean up soon. Just waiting to buy more Deoxit Fader lube 5 to do the job.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

stynger007

Don`t wait for the belts, try it you may be pleasantly surprised

I miss my 8600 very well made, one of Hitachi`s finest , but man, what a pain to get apart , it`s like a jigsaw puzzle that pushes to the point of thinking you missed a screw and is the panel gonna snap If you can, take a few pics of the jigsaw , you know what I mean there`s like 50 tabs that all interlock with one another

Put new belts on the one I had, but can`t remember what size they were- took them off and went to the local electronics shop and bought 4 of each in varying sizes from the originals- unless of course you are dealing with belt melt, don`t know why but every Hitachi I ever worked on was a victim of belt melt except the 8600..

Good luck stynger007

HI stynger007,
That is absolutely correct! I was also thinking what did screw I missed while trying to open it. I didn't want to break anything in that mint box. I slowly went to each corner and pulled out 2mm each. And went again like that when it finally separated with a cracking noise. I though I broke something but on more detailed inspection it were those tabs separating. I wa s relieved. Every time I had to open it I go through the same trouble of this friction hold type of lock on the rims of the box. The box is in amazing cosmetic condition and both channels and radio work fantastic. I took a break working on it for while because I don't want to be in a hurry and make any mistakes. I will clean the record switch this weekend of the following weekend after buying more deoxit fader lube 5. The function switch drank a lot of it for the cleaning need.

I will take pictures of the tabs and post it when I open it up.
Thanks again. Royce

 

[BoomboxLover48]

have you tried cleaning the record switch? They can cause channel out/ vu meter problems, when you toggle the meter or function switch it supplies a signal which can cut out in the way you are describing..yes the 8600 function switch is a bear to work on.. try cleaning the record section post back good luck!

Thank you stynger007 and Ramon! It was the dirty record switch!

After seeing Christine working on the same unit I brought out mine and started working from noon till 7:00PM.


A good cleaning of the record switch cleared all the problem with the VU meter. The function switch is working so well.
I put new belts for the deck and now everything is working on 8600.

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Old belt cleaning was a big mess. Here are some pic of the interior before cleaning.

I forgot to take more pictures. I was very impatient to see it the VU meter and deck is working or not.

The top plate has a thin steel plate spring to push on the center of the flywheel unlike teflon or hard plastic parts in other boomboxes.

I feel bad I should have taken pictures of the deck after cleaning and installing belts. However Christine MyOMy posted some pictures with belts. https://boomboxery.com/forum/index.php/topic/24444-hitachi-trk-8600e-dodgy-deck-distraction-naughty-noise/?hl=8600#entry304969

 

[BoomboxLover48]

https://youtu.be/H9I_q3TaKzQ


All working like a charm!

 

[baddboybill]

Awesome 😎


Bad Boy Bill

 

[BoomboxLover48]

Awesome


Bad Boy Bill

Thanks Bill!