Ann Arbor VLT-51W

[jkipp]

I have an VLT-51, it works and sounds good besides the function switch being very finnicky. Any time you rotate the knob to switch between tape, pho, fm, fm-s, and am, the left speaker will crackle and turn off and only play on right side. I found out that tapping or shifting the knob/applying pressure to it, it will come back to normal but it takes a couple trys and the entire time it is producing fuzzy/crackling sounds from the left side

[maxidyne]

Welcome aboard! We hope you enjoy the forum. As to the problem with your stereo, it sounds like you have a function switch that is dirty. Spraying it with contact cleaner should help. Good luck...

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Welcome to the forum !!

Yes, some electronics cleaner should make
that switch better.

[William]

Welcome you to our little forum. We are a bunch of good guys willing to help with problems you might have, so there are lots of helpful resources that will help you keep your RCA alive and well.

Bill

[jkipp]

Thankyou for the responses, I opened up the back of the stereo and I’m not sure how I should go about getting at the switch, is there a way to remove the knobs and lift off the faceplate on the radio that anyone knows of or how I should go about it? Thanks

[maxidyne]

Judging by what I can see in your pictures, I would suggest that removing the knobs then removing the chassis might be the best option. I don't see screws that come out on top to remove the bezel. You very likely won't be able to clean the function switch with the chassis in the cabinet. Good luck...

[William]

I have an older model, its an RCA stereo theater, but the principle is the same. Remove the knobs, and then the faceplate/bezel should lift off. There are retaining clips that actually hold the faceplate/bezel in place but if it's like mine they are friction retainers and with some careful effort it should pop off which will revel the top of the chassis. After you unplug all the wiring there should be some screws that actually hold the chassis to the cabinet. If not, then yours is slightly different than mine and your chassis screws/retainers will be located inside and accessible with the back off. If you provide photos as you go along we can help you get though this process. It's not hard, or scary, just be careful and you will be just fine.

Bill

[jkipp]

Thankyou everyone I cleaned the function switch and its working a lot better. lastly does anyone know what the black box and the white clip are for, there mounted on the front inside the black box has a wire connection. thanks

[electra225]

I am GUESSING here. Maybe a light of some kind? A light to illuminate the record changer compartment. When you open the lid, the part on top, the latch, has a switch of some kind that makes the light work? Some of the guys will know in case I am wrong, which is likely.......

Welcome to the forum! I hope you will join us often. If I can be of service to you, let me know.

[TC Chris]

I think you're rght about the light. In the photo it looks like there's a receptacle for the push-in style bulb like the little automotive ones (license [late lights, side markers, etc.).

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

If you refer to an earlier topic on this same model stereo, you will see that Mr. Mogul was kind enough to post the parts list. The bulb we are talking about is listed as an "CM12" whatever that means. I'm guessing again that it refers to the part number of the bulb, maybe a neon of some kind? I need to get more information on this....

This is a CM12 bulb. Methinks this is the bulb mentioned in this topic.

CM12 bulb.jpeg (16.47 KiB) Viewed 17385 times

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

CM-12 (Chicago Miniature) lamp.

Lots of info doing a simple search.

Check the parts list Greg mentioned for the bulb ratings.

The RCA console lamp holder probably had a white plastic light
diffuser over it originally.

And that white plastic bracket probably held the
45 RPM record spindle adapter.

[electra225]

I didn't see the white bracket....

[jkipp]

I opened the back and it looks like the black and white wires connected to that socket, tie into the green indicator light that turns on when the radios on. Turns out the socket is just clipped on, and the socket says leecraft 2300 on it. I found a pic online showing something connected to the white bracket also.

[electra225]

The bulb would go into that black socket, then it looks like it clips to the black piece. I don't see holes for a cover, but it may have had one. The thing in the white bracket looks like a 45 rpm adapter. The pilot light (the green light) is typically red or orange. Never saw a green one. The light in the changer compartment comes on with the radio, then?

[William]

The light does come on when the chassis is turned on and there is, apparently missing on yours, a white cover that friction fits that covers the light. I see your RCA stereo has the oval woofer like mine does. Is the black thing above your oval woofer a horn tweeter?

Bill

[jkipp]

Yes I believe it is a horn tweeter. I put a 194 automotive bulb in the socket and it does light up when the unit is turned on. As for the white thing I don't think its the 45 adapter i have one of those, I added a cropped photo of the white thing that im missing, I also included a pic of the green light that indicates the unit is on

[Ken Doyle]

As for the white thing I don't think its the 45 adapter i have one of those,

See the 45 adapter here:
https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog ... ategories=

[William]

Thanks Ken, I just thought about doing the same thing. His white thing is he 45 adaptor and somehow it goes into the black thing. I have not seen an arrangement like that before. I'm glad the bulb worked, now you need to be on the lookout for the white cover that goes over the bulb.

Bill

[jkipp]

Finding that covers gonna be like a needle in a haystack, hopefully someday. Thankyou everyone for all the help!