RCA RP-225 and RP-234

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I've finished cleaning these 2 changers.
Never worked on either type previously.

The RP-225 is from the late '60's and comes out of a
huge RCA VHT75 "Finlandia" console about 7 feet long.

The RP-234 is from a small "RCA Modular" VS3000 AM/FM/Phono
from about 1971.

The cycling mechs are not overly complicated. RCA is still
using a cycling slide and toothed gear assembly in
both of these.
Idler drive wheels.
The RP-234 has a plastic gear assembly.

Each gear assembly is held on by one of the worst
RCA retaining clips. It is a very strong clip that requires
that special tool to insert and pry it open.
But, that clip is a strong steel, and I could not safely
remove it with the tool, without probably breaking the
plastic gear.

So, I got both cycle slides off, and using q-tips and alcohol,
cleaned off all slide and hinge surfaces.
Used turbine oil for "like dissolves like" chemistry to dissolve
old hardened grease.

The RP-225 has a "Feather-glide" or "Feather-Track" cartridge
a bit similar to the Zenith MicroTouch 2g cart.
There were small felt pads that are glued onto the tip of
the tonearm to allow the feather glide.
It won't track right w/o the felt, so I hope after I get the
new stylus in, I can cut a piece of felt and glue it on
so it functions. We'll see.

The RP-234 has some extra built-in circuitry to allow
the mirror strobe function.
The speed strobe markings are printed onto the underside
edge of the platter. The mirror reflects the image, so you
can see them and set the speed.

[hermitcrab]

I bought a whole trashed out theater console to get my hands on one of those strobe models ... I had a console that was missing one... I think those strobe ones are hard to find... the integrated circuit one must have the preamp under the platter?

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Success with the felt placement on the RP-234
tonearm !!
I really had doubts it would work.
The tonearm with a new stylus and a very small piece of
green felt/adhesive backing tracks very nicely.

Styli for the RP-225 due in Monday, and then on
to some of my own Hi-Fi projects.

[William]

Mr. Mogul. My RCA stereo theater has the second changer you have pictured. The one with the strobe. The tone arm is froze and won't move left to right. Any ideas? I have tried PB Blaster and other stuff with no success. The ST was my grand parents and the changer has not been used for probably close to 30 years. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you,
Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Mr. Mogul. My RCA stereo theater has the second changer you have pictured. The one with the strobe. The tone arm is froze and won't move left to right. Any ideas? I have tried PB Blaster and other stuff with no success. The ST was my grand parents and the changer has not been used for probably close to 30 years. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you,
Bill

Bill, send me an email, and I'll forward the service file to you.
I would place some turbine oil or other light oil on the
tonearm swivel shaft and let sit for a few days.

[William]

Thanks, I will do that right now.

Bill

[William]

Since I struck out with my Motorola 1000 radio I decided to move on to something else. Looking around the shop, I decided to get back at the RCA changer that I had mentioned on Mr. Mogul's thread. The tone arm was still kind of stuck when I tried to move it today, but it did move which was good news. I will start a new thread to continue my repair on the RCA 224-128. Thanks go to Mr. Mogul for providing the Sam's for this unit.

Bill