1. Home
  2. Electronics Design
  3. old electronics smell

old electronics smell

I have a TEAC X-3 reel to reel deck. There's this smell that comes out of it after about half an hour that I don't really like. Does anyone have any insight on late 70s solid-state consumer electronics as to what is making a smell like paint or shellac? I think the power transformer is coated with something that smells when warm. If could get a better idea of what it is I can maybe replace the part or clean it up. I'd investigate more myself but the thing is a bit bigger than what I can handle right now in my tiny lab space.

Reply to
a7yvm109gf5d1
Loading thread data ...

** Old tape recorders never die - they just smell funny.

( Apologies to F. Zappa )

** Not very likely to be the AC transformer or a motor - unless the unit has a serious fault.

More likely the smell is from a high power resistor in series with the take up motor to reduce torque in play & record mode.

....... Phil

Reply to
Phil Allison

snipped-for-privacy@netzero.com hath wroth:

Likely candidates are - dust. - melting insulation. - boiling electrolyte belching from partly dried electrolytics - mice, rats, ants, or other insects or critters. - burning rubber idler wheels. - dried oil on the bushings (varnish). Anyway, it's difficult to tell from here. I would leave it unplugged until you have a chance to rip it open and look inside.

--
Jeff Liebermann     jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D    http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann     AE6KS    831-336-2558
Reply to
Jeff Liebermann

It may contain phenolic paper circuit boards (orangish instead of the greenish fiberglass epoxy). These give off a very distinctive odor when components mounted on them get warm.

Reply to
John Popelish

I love that smell.

Reminds me of The Mill when I worked for DEC, or the inside of a telephone exchange building. Hard to find that smell anymore.

Sorry you don't share my love for it...

Try burning some incense.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

It's not bad, but the ladies don't like it. My space-age 70s love shack is perfect except for that smell.

Gack, that gets into everything, and they all smell nauseating. I guess I'm not such a 70s guy after all.

Reply to
a7yvm109gf5d1

Very true, thanks, forgot about that.

Reply to
a7yvm109gf5d1

DITTO !! In fact, there's another smell I like... The old ditto machine copies they made in elementary school. That and the smell you're talking about... Old military radios and telephone central offices.

Another smell that takes me back is tuner cleaner... Takes me right back to high school days when I had to spray the buttons of my old blue box when phone phreaking.

boB

Reply to
boB

ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.