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Hello everyone. I have an Elmo ST-180E M 2 Track. There is no sound. The meter lights up, but the needle doesn't move. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks in advance. Tom
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Hi Tom,
On my Elmos, the needle doesn't do anything until you are in record mode.
No sound, especially on a machine that's been idle long time very often (...but not always) is a matter of oxides building up on switch contacts.
Here's an old line of discussion that may help!
The Ol' Elmo Switch Trick!
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Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for this information. The Elmo Switch trick sounds really promising. I will report back.
TomComment
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The Elmo Switch Trick did not work, however, I sprayed some electronic Cleaner on the outside of the volume knob and I got sound. It is sometimes choppy, so it must be the volume knob. I am unsure how to get that little control module off so I can access the rear of the volume knob.
TomComment
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I think maybe you are on the verge of inventing the Elmo Pot Trick! ("Potentiometer", that is!
)
Wipers on potentiometers can get oxidized too.
You may be able to help here just by unplugging the machine and turning the volume up and down a bunch of times, even before you start taking things apart.
I don't have an Elmo ST-180, but on my ST-800s when you take the final film guide off, there are screws underneath it that allow you to take the control assembly and rotate it away from the chassis. You'll need to take the control knob off first: it's shaft goes all the way through the chassis. You need to be careful: there are linkages underneath that need to go back together the same way they left the factory.
Hopefully you'd be able to access some port on the volume potentiometer body and spritz some of your cleaner in there, then rotate the knob a bunch of times to help scrape off accumulated crud.
There is also an integral switch in there to turn the sound circuit on and off. (Can't hurt to clean that one too.)Comment
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Thanks Steve. I am going to try that. I really appreciate your help.
TomComment
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