New Vista RCA VGT 90 W K

[mattmatty]

Sounds good, no rush here lol.
Here’s that stamp off the cabinet inside. Looks like it didn’t post above.
All the literature I found says that this chassis is:
RC-1223B
I did end up collecting the schematic diagram for this unit from two different sources, of course it means nothing to me at this point of the journey, but I do have them saved, so for some reason that’s like a comforting blanket
I’m delaying tackling those knobs, it’s time to give them a shot!

[mattmatty]

Knobs pulled off w/ a little cajoling…
No simple way to remove the face plate bevel thing. Looks like I might have to go in from the back and do something?

[mattmatty]

Cancel that call. Faceplate is off! This is fun.

[electra225]

You may be able to spray those controls if you have a straw on your can of contact cleaner. See if you can see a slot on the round body of the controls. That slot will have a phenolic block with wires connected to it. That is where you want to squirt your cleaner, in that slot. Manipulate the control as you squirt the cleaner into the control. This will help clean it. It might be a good idea to stuff some paper towels in the area under the controls so the cleaner won't run down on the chassis. Be careful doing that. Common sense should keep you out of trouble doing this.

You are doing fine. Having fun is what this is all about........

[mattmatty]

Yeah, I have Deoxit D5 with the little red straw, I backed things up with paper towels, and just sprayed each of these knobs although none of them had a slot, just hoping the cleaner got down between the cylinder and whatever casing it is in,? And I turned each knob like 100 times and then added a little more to the sticky ones, the volume and the one that chooses between the functions, and then turned them a bunch more. I don’t think I’ve ruined anything yet

Here is a little better picture to show those control knobs to you guys. From right to left is the pull on and volume button, then treble, then base, then balance, with pull up on that AFC, and lastly, the action selection knob from stereo to phono, or a.m. etc.

[mattmatty]

Actually right to left in the pic

[electra225]

Have you turned it on since you cleaned the controls? How does it sound?

[mattmatty]

Hi, I had a long reply typed out, didn't seem to go through...?....?...? Oh well.
I did power it up and give it a run. I had added a new FM antenna. I found a clear station. i was able to get really clear sound at times! Really high volume at times too, wild! Seems issues are with getting the whole signal to each speaker set, or however you describe that..? For moments it seems the "full" sound was coming through all L side, but R sided seemed muted, and it didn't seem to be a balance issue, more with what the speakers were picking up, or sounding out. Fiddling with the knobs got that full sound to at times, switch from R to L, or back, and at times fiddling seemed to cut out speakers within a speaker set, or at least change what they were receiving, different levels of treble and bass, or lack of one or the other at times.. ?

Really cool, some progress. This console is out in the middle of the living room, w/ the tools and cleaners and such. I need to tuck it in for the evening, I'll need to work on it in spurts, mostly Sun/Mon's. I am comfortable cleaning/lubing any "hand-pull" or screw connections I can reach, not the soldered ones, if y'all think that is a logical next step? Happy to tinker with anything I can get to. If I need to pull this receiver at some point I'm sure I could figure it out, just don't think I'm there yet, prolly some other little maintenance things I could be doing?

Thanks guys, this is great to see some progress.

[William]

If your RCA is like most of this era, Electra's suggestion of removing the knobs is correct and the dial bezel should lift off. If I am right, it is held down with clips that are attached to the dial bezel and if can hook your finger nails under the bezel you should be able to lift it off. If not something thin that won't damage the wood can be used too. Your cleaning looks good so are are already doing the first step. Until your next post, hang in there.

Bill

[TC Chris]

The knobs you see are on shafts that turn the actual innards of the control. Those are usually visible inside the chassis. They look like miniature tunafish cans. Inside those cans are circular resistance elements, which is where you want to get the control cleaner. How to get it inside? Look for the lugs exiting the covers--usually 3 of them, with either wires attached or soldered to printed circuit board traces, That's where there's an opening to squirt some stuff in.

The circular resistance element inside has a wiper, driven by the shaft, that rotates over it. The length of resistance element that the wiper engages controls the total resistance in the circuit to affect volume or tone levels.

There will also be a rotating switch to select among phone, AM radio, FM radio, etc. There are often rotating devices. You can see how a rotating tab engaged various contacts. This is where I try to use an artist's brush to apply the cleaner sparingly.

For each device that you're cleaning, apply the miracle stuff ad then rotate the control back & forth to make it work.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Matt, you and I may be in the "failure to hit 'submit'" club. I have a bad habit of posting, maybe even including pictures, but I only give the "submit" button a passing glance. So, then, my post does not "take". Make sure when you are ready to post, that you really do click on "submit".

If I understand your post correctly, you still may have an intermittent condition with a speaker. Have you cleaned any external speaker switch, which will likely be separate from the tuner/amp? It is likely in a place that is hard to access, most of them are. If the external speaker switch is dirty, it will cause issues with channels and speakers not working right. It will be an open switch, not enclosed in a metal housing most likely. Spray it with contact cleaner while you manipulate the switch, then see if conditions improve.

Sorry, Chris. I posted the same time you did. I didn't mean to step on your post.

[William]

A couple of things, to the right of the receiver is the speaker selector switch. That needs to be cleaned too, if dirty it could cause some of your weak right channel. I would also suggest that you pull the receiver and see if you can get a better angle at the openings that Electra talked about. The openings are where the side wires hook to the controls.

One other thing, if two or more people are typing in a thread and they all hit submit at the same time the forum as been known to kick one of them out. I suggest that you copy and paste what ever you type just in case that happens, that way you can just paste it back in without remembering what you wrote and typing it all over again. I am guessing that is how you lost your longer post. I noticed after, you, me, and Electra were on at the same time and all probably tried to hit submit at the same time.

You are off to a good start and we look forward to next weekend when you are able to get back at it.

Bill

[electra225]

Bill, not only did we post at the same time, we posted about the same thing......

[William]

Yup, I just read though Matt's post again and found that out. I guess more advice is better than no advice. Chris gave good advice too so Matt has plenty to work with when he gets back at it.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Matt, you and I may be in the "failure to hit 'submit'" club. I have a bad habit of posting, maybe even including pictures, but I only give the "submit" button a passing glance. So, then, my post does not "take". Make sure when you are ready to post, that you really do click on "submit".

I am a charter member of the failure to "submit" club. Because I'm such a slow learner, I always hit the "refresh" icon to see if my post shows up. If not, it means "you've done it again, Chris." This site lets me back up to my post and correct the failure.

Chris Campbell

[mattmatty]

Thanks guys, GREAT advice!

-I have NOT cleaned any cleaned any "external speaker switch". I assume that is the thing in these two attached pictures? User side & back side? I can do that if that's what should be done?

- The message I am getting here is it would be best to pull the receiver cabinet, and get better access to the knob's functional areas, in order to clean and lube them. ?
--- I am up for that task. I'll get things set up, takes tons of before pics, place all screws in individual labeled pill or glass jars, and ensure I can put the thing back together again. If I hit a "what the he%$ am I doing" moment, I'll pause and check back in here. This work won't happen until next Sun/Mon, so I have time to prepare, and glean any other advice y'all have.

--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGvOmwZvhVk Been watching this guy a little bit. A good primer.

Cheers, have a great week everyone.
Matt

[TC Chris]

- The message I am getting here is it would be best to pull the receiver cabinet, and get better access to the knob's functional areas, in order to clean and lube them. ?

Technically, it's the chassis you should remove--the metal structure holding the electronic parts. That may involve pulling the knobs. You may also have disconnect some wires, although you may be able to get away with just pulling the chassis out and keeping it near enough that you don't need to disconnect things. Then you will have access to the back of the controls.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Does anybody know what those two sand resistors under the external speaker switch are for? I'm guessing something to do with the earphone jack, maybe?

[William]

Yes, that is the speaker switch we are referring to that needs cleaning. Also, if you refer back to the photo that shows the bare chassis, no knobs, no bezel just shafts sticking up and the tuner dial needle, you will see three screws. If you remove those screws you should be able to pull the chassis straight up and like Chris mentioned, maybe up enough to have better access to the controls. If not, then you will need to carefully remove wires making sure you know where each goes. Again, not hard to do but it will take a little time.

Bill

[William]

I am not sure what they are for, but my RCA Home Theater has them too along with other components attached to them. Head phones would make sense.

Bill