The Mellotron Group

Hi guys-

  Here is a suggestion.  If wiggling the cable at the control box causes the speed changes, yep, it is something in the box or the potentiometer.  If wiggling the cable at the SMS card end causes the speed changes, first try cleaning the card edge connector.  The pads on the card edge can be cleaned with a fresh pencil eraser (remember pencils?), followed with some alcohol or contact cleaner.   Be careful cleaning the connector.  Be creative and try not to bend the contacts.  If still no workee, resolder the offending wires to the connector.  While you're at it, it might be a good idea to clean both connectors on the SMS card.  Hope this helps.

    -Bruce Daily


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On Tue, 11/17/15, Chris Dale unobtainiumkeys@gmail.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] model 400 #1300 screwing up
 To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
 Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 4:50 PM
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
       
       
       Not likely since the cable in
 question is from the pitch pot to the SMS. This has nothing
 to do with the tape heads.
 
 
 Okay, sorry I thought it
 was the headblock cable.
 In this case, yeah
 I'd clean the cables and connectors, and proceed from
 there.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 On Tue, Nov 17, 2015 at
 12:40 PM, lsf5275@aol.com
 [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 wrote:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
       
       
       
 
 
 Not likely since the cable in question is from the
 pitch pot to the SMS. 
 This has nothing to do with the tape
 heads.
  
 
 In a message dated 11/17/2015 2:49:46 A.M. Eastern
 Standard Time, 
 newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
 writes:
   
   
   
   If you've got cable rot and
 you've moved the cable around, then 
   you might now have magnetized tape heads as well. 
   
 
   Demagnetize.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   On Mon, Nov 16, 2015
 at 9:05 PM, lsf5275@aol.com
 
   [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 wrote:
 
   
       
     
     
     
     
     Check for a bad solder 
     joint at both ends of the cable.
     
     
      
      
     
     In a message dated 11/16/2015 9:04:38 P.M. Eastern
 Standard Time, newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
 writes:
       
       
       
       That's certainly worth trying,
 Terry.  I go for 
       replacing the cable rather than stealing from your
 other machine.
       
 
       On Mon, Nov 16,
 2015 at 7:01 PM, Terry Conheady tmconheady@yahoo.com
 [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 wrote:
 
       
           
         
         
         
         
         
         hey.
         suppose i detach the motor and
 install a hand 
         crank.
         i think it's in the cable
 as i was able to use it for 
         a bit by taping the cable in a certain position that
 allowed it to play 
         stable. that, however, stopped working. now all i
 get by moving the 
         cable is real fast or stopped. could i shorten the
 cable and solder the 
         cut end to the plug, or maybe just replace the cable
 with a new one or 
         even use the cable from #413 as i rarely use it
 because it still has 
         sms10 board in it.
         
 
 
         
 
 
         
         
         
         On
 Monday, November 16, 2015 7:18 
         AM, "Frank Stickle lsf5275@aol.com
 
         [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 
         wrote:
 
 
 
         
         
           
         
         
         
         
         I'm pretty sure the whole machine is ruined
 forever.
 
 Sent from my
 iPad
         
         
 On Nov 15, 2015, at 2:30 AM,
 Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com
 
         [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 wrote:
 
 
         
             
           
           
           I had the same problem. It turned out to be
 the potentiometer of 
           the pitch control itself. It may not be for you,
 but when mine was 
           changed the problem went away.
           Hope this helps?
           Andy K
 
 Sent
 from my iPad
           
 On 15 Nov 2015, at 04:16, tmconheady@yahoo.com
 
           [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 
           wrote:
 
 
           
               
             
             
             hi.
             i'm doing  a lot of recording
 with #1300 and it 
             started to give me problems. the motor is
 speeding up, slowing down, 
             stopping and sometimes lurching fast and slow. i
 have one of Marcus' 
             sms4 boards in it. when i touch the motor
 control cable connected to 
             the board it seems to make the above mentioned
 problems go from one 
             to another. maybe it's a short on the cable
 or the connector. any 
             thoughts and or solutions from any of you owners
 out 
             there? 
             the wires are yellow/white/green/red/
 and a double gray, 
             in that order.
             i'd really appreciate any help
 you folks can 
             offer.
             thanks,
             terry conheady  400s #1300 and
 #413
             
           
         
         
         
 
 
         
         
 
 
       
 -- 
 
       
       john barrick
       
 
       *Leo got it right the first time*
       *then he added a second pickup and got it 
       righter*
       
       
       
     
     
 
   
   
 
     
      
 
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
      
 
     
     
 
 
 
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