when you push record (disclaimer:  I have done a lot of the modern 'Ems' but not that one) does it push a switch with a zillion contacts in it, or is it a soft record button that uses (forget chip registration at the moment) to switch from one thing to another?

if its the switch, drown it in D5 and work it a 100 times.

I myself only log in when I am cleaning out links (mebbe Im part of the problem?)

Is it because everyone is over on the AK and spends all the time there or is the hobby really on final approach?

I mean I dont post as much on the AK but day-yam - it seems this is down to a couple posts a month.   The forum has the coolest name but is it too extra-local to pitt?

Im always checking out c/l and f/b market for 'undervalued assets' I can fix for the store (but to be honest I look at just as many cars as I do stereos) and see that everyone with a pulse buys at the local estate auctions, wipes it down and sells for more than what I would restored...Kinda kills the buzz when someone fronts up $300 for a blown stereo and then my bottom line estimate puts them into 'no way' territory.  they then dumpster it and head over to best buy for modern junk.

I myself am closing the record store end of Feb - its too hard to restock.  And really, I wanna get out of retail and just do customer repairs.  From what people are telling me, I might be perhaps the last one active in pitt besides semi retired vince?

Different world we live in now, I dunno if anyone has accounts at digikey or mouser but the product EoL notices are coming in by the dozens....If I am cynical, 'thru hole' has perhaps 5 years left.

Happy belated Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone has a good one.

So... I know a little bit about measuring and fault-finding, but I am still a novice, so bear with me.

Symptoms as follows: Everything seems to work - level meters, level adjustment for recording, selector switches, buttons - everything works, clicks etc.

However, when I hit "record" nothing happens. It has a light that is supposed to turn on when recording, this does not turn on. If I go to tape-monitor, it plays what is already on the tape - ie, no erasing what is on there, and no recording of new content.

It has a record mute button - this works (tested continuity while pressed and not) - has no effect on the actual recording (it still doesn't work) - I was hoping this button might've been stuck, but it doesn't seem this is the culprit.

All other functions work fine, play, ff/rew, etc. After looking through the service manual, I found a few test points, which (if I read the manual correctly), should give some voltages when measured. They do not. It is flat at 0, which I assume means they do not get power at all. But that is kinda where my knowledge of reading schematics and such end.

Anyone able to take a look at the service manual, and maybe suggest some things / places I can test measure, to see if I can pinpoint where the problem occurs? Looking at the board / components, I can't see any indicators of anything wrong - caps look good, everything else look good, no burnmarks, nothing.

Nothing gets overly hot either, while it is turned on, so no obvious shorts, it seems.

Service Manual

So, I was hoping someone could point me to some things I can test, measure, etc. Note that I while I do have an oscilloscope, I've never played with it, and know next to nothing about it, so preferably stuff I can do with a multimeter.

Happy Thanksgiving guys. Enjoy the holiday!