Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working

Subject: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 12:05 AM

I have this old Sanyo AM/FM Radio Cassette recorder that is not working. I think I bought it in the late 1990's and used it to listen to tapes or radio for several years. It always worked fine.

I came across it recently and it had 4 old AA batteries still in it.
Probably had been in there for years. I removed all of them and put in 4 new AA batteries. (Made sure they were put in correctly) However, after trying to hear the radio and putting in a cassette tape, nothing happened. The little light that normally comes on did not light up and radio and cassette player would not work. I tried 4 other batteries - still nothing.
I looked closely where the batteries go inside the compartment and found there was some greenish color on the ends where the batteries go. Perhaps it just needs to be cleaned in the battery compartment real well but I don't know what to use to clean them. I don't want to get too much moisture in there so just wondering if anyone knows what would be the best way to clean our the green substance (probably leakage from the old batteries that were in there for so long.)
Thank you.

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 12:34 AM

Hi, Lin -
Use a toothbrush to scrub the terminals with a mixture of baking soda and water (1 tablespoon soda to 1 cup water). You don't want to flood the innards of the recorder, but it should be fine to just get the brush wet and then scrub.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: GUEST,Lin
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 12:42 AM

Hello Joe:

Will get some baking soda at the store tomorrow and try it.
Thank you Joe for the tip.
Li

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 03:56 AM

Go with Joe - sounds like a bad connection to me - the green substance has to go - it is a corrosive coat that builds up over time.
If baking powder doesn't work, take a sharp knife and gently scrape the terminals until the metal shines - often the negative (ground) connection is a spring, so you need only clean the part that touches the battery - gently is the word though.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 04:45 AM

You can also brighten the metal with a sliver of sandpaper, An emery board, a small file or a small screwdriver. The spring end is best done with abrasive paper, if you have any. Go carefully!

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 05:13 AM

s never a good idea to leave batteries in any device that is not going to be used for a while - Take them out , and IF rechargeable discharge thoroughly ready for recharging

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 08:48 AM

Found this - may be useful
"Baking powder/water solution will break-down the corrosion. Trick is to get everything clean and dry. I apply the solution with an old toothbrush, then flush with water, then dry with compressed air. Protect yourself from spray, especially your eyes. To clean/polish the contact surfaces I use: emery cloth or very fine sandpaper, a fine wire brush, small knife blade, pencil eraser. Once surfaces are dry and polished, I use an electrical contact paste to prevent future corrosion. I make a practice of keeping all electrical contacts clean and protected whenever I'm doing any work on my bikes, whether they show signs of corrosion or not. I hope that helps. Good luck, and do good work."
This is for larger components - skip the compressed air
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Greg F.
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 10:41 AM

If alkaline batteries formed the corrosion, baking soda (which will neutralize acid) won't do squat.Try 5% vinegar solution, applied sparingly with a cotton swab. Then, as a precaution, use the Baking Soda solution to neutralize any residual acicity. Dry well. be VERY careful using an abrasive like sandpaper wch will remove the plating on the contacts if used too vigorously.An old-style typewriter eraser- which contains a mild abrasive- if you can find one, is a better choice.

Good luck!

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Oct 16 - 11:00 AM

I have rescued such items many times using only sandpaper, scrapers... such as tiny screwdrivers, or pencil erasers. So far I never had to resort to chemicals.... but if you do, a Q-Tip is a good way to apply.

I do, however recommend getting totally away from alkaline batteries now that GOOD rechargeable batteries are available.,,, such as Eneloop by Panasonic. They are more expensive to buy, but rechargeable thousands of times! I have 'almost' totally switched over to them for small devices...

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: GUEST,Lou Judson
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 07:25 AM

Rub the contacts with a pencil eraser too.

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 09:11 AM

I have had success with contact cleaner. The final buff mentioned above is always a good idea, though.

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 09:27 AM

Am all for rescuing this old Sanyo- well done for trying.
       but if all else fails, and unless you need the radio, such small cassette players are still easily available. Argos have a Bush for £18 and a Philips for £30....

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 12:07 PM

Spray cans of contact cleaner [maplins} and ear buds usually work...

The only thing that has defeated me so far is my mum's old alarm clock
which was too far gone...

Guessing vital connections on the circuit board were heavily dissolved by battery leakage...???

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 01:53 PM

Yes, contact cleaner works wonders!

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Gurney
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 02:48 PM

Well, all the advice you've received is good, especially that from Leadfingers. I've had neglected batteries totally rot out the contacts that the batteries touch!

The other thing that goes wrong with ancient tapedecks is that the drive-belt breaks. It's made of rubber, and rubber isn't forever.

Subject: RE: Radio/Cassette Recorder Not Working
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 26 Oct 16 - 06:44 PM

Those cheap radio cassettes all had one thing in common: a shocking degree of wow and flutter. But they were all I could afford in the early 70s and they kicked me off into appreciating an amazing diversity of music. I remember going to my very first classical concert in the mid-70s in London (a young Riccardo Muti was conducting Beethoven's 7th, Strauss's Four Last Songs and the The Fairy's Kiss by Stravinsky). The clarity and immediacy of the sound and the absence of wow, flutter and hiss were revelatory!