Fixing a headphone jack

[Kirk M]

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

 

[N_Cook]

On 17/07/2019 02:26, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

As you obviously like old analogue tech and a high lilelihood of one or
more of the rubber drive-belts/pulley rim bands will be failing, perhaps
you should get inside. As presumably outside of warranty. Inspect belts
and see how easy it would be to replace the socket or maybe if awkwardly
placed socket, solder in a wired line socket, making a hole in the
casing for this wire, bypassing the original.
Is there a " repair cafe" near you, just the sort of job that should be
up their street, if you are warry of going inside.


--
Monthly public talks on science topics, Hampshire , England
<http://diverse.4mg.com/scicaf.htm>

 

[John-Del]

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 9:26:38 PM UTC-4, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

If it's self contained with speakers, jump out the jack. If it's a headphone only unit, you'll need to replace the jack. If it's PC mounted, finding one with the same footprint will be tough. Maybe a non working unit on ebay could be found cheap. If the jack is not PC mounted, then pretty much any similar donor will work as long as the donor isn't too large to fit the cabinet.

I'd look for a donor machine on ebay with a mechanical problem.

 

On Wednesday, 17 July 2019 12:28:51 UTC+1, John-Del wrote:

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 9:26:38 PM UTC-4, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

If it's self contained with speakers, jump out the jack. If it's a headphone only unit, you'll need to replace the jack. If it's PC mounted, finding one with the same footprint will be tough. Maybe a non working unit on ebay could be found cheap. If the jack is not PC mounted, then pretty much any similar donor will work as long as the donor isn't too large to fit the cabinet.

I'd look for a donor machine on ebay with a mechanical problem.

Yeah, generally. The jack should be replaceable. If not you could always add another jack on the back in most cases. Or - if it's bodge o'clock - solder on a flex, feeding it out of the hole in the jack socket, onto which you can attach a new jack socket. Knot the wire inside, solder is not robust.


NT

 

On Wednesday, 17 July 2019 13:19:34 UTC+1, tabby wrote:

On Wednesday, 17 July 2019 12:28:51 UTC+1, John-Del wrote:
On Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 9:26:38 PM UTC-4, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

If it's self contained with speakers, jump out the jack. If it's a headphone only unit, you'll need to replace the jack. If it's PC mounted, finding one with the same footprint will be tough. Maybe a non working unit on ebay could be found cheap. If the jack is not PC mounted, then pretty much any similar donor will work as long as the donor isn't too large to fit the cabinet.

I'd look for a donor machine on ebay with a mechanical problem.

Yeah, generally. The jack should be replaceable. If not you could always add another jack on the back in most cases. Or - if it's bodge o'clock - solder on a flex, feeding it out of the hole in the jack socket, onto which you can attach a new jack socket. Knot the wire inside, solder is not robust..


NT

PS a q-tip is not ideal for contact cleaning. If contact cleaner on card fails, try some very fine sandpaper. Better to not sand it if possible, but sanding works when all else fails.


NT

 

[N_Cook]

On 17/07/2019 08:40, N_Cook wrote:

On 17/07/2019 02:26, Kirk M wrote:
I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that
it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't
making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with
most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the
right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there
compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old
cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since
these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great
to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M


As you obviously like old analogue tech and a high lilelihood of one or
more of the rubber drive-belts/pulley rim bands will be failing, perhaps
you should get inside. As presumably outside of warranty. Inspect belts
and see how easy it would be to replace the socket or maybe if awkwardly
placed socket, solder in a wired line socket, making a hole in the
casing for this wire, bypassing the original.
Is there a " repair cafe" near you, just the sort of job that should be
up their street, if you are warry of going inside.

Beware of the physical insertion (ground/shaft switch usually) may cut
out internal speaker or an amplified output, so would have to be taken
into account

--
Monthly public talks on science topics, Hampshire , England
<http://diverse.4mg.com/scicaf.htm>

 

[Kirk M]

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 7:26:38 PM UTC-6, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

Thanks for all the replies. This is a "Walkman" type unit, so there is no internal speaker. It is made by GPX. I will see if I can replace the jack.

 

[Tim Schwartz]

On 7/16/2019 9:26 PM, Kirk M wrote:

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

Hi,

You could also have a bad solder connection from the jack to the PC
board. I'd check that first.

Regards,
Tim
Bristol Electronics

 

On Wed, 17 Jul 2019 09:44:35 -0400, Tim Schwartz <tim@bristolnj.com>
wrote:

On 7/16/2019 9:26 PM, Kirk M wrote:
I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

Hi,

You could also have a bad solder connection from the jack to the PC
board. I'd check that first.

Regards,
Tim
Bristol Electronics

I have a little MP3 player that suffered from what I thought was a bad
contact but was just like you said, a bad solder joint. I ended up
needing to resolder it a few times and finally had to reinforce the
jack so that the joint would stop breaking.
Eric

 

[Kirk M]

On Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 9:36:05 AM UTC-6, et...@whidbey.com wrote:

On Wed, 17 Jul 2019 09:44:35 -0400, Tim Schwartz <tim@bristolnj.com
wrote:

On 7/16/2019 9:26 PM, Kirk M wrote:
I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

Hi,

You could also have a bad solder connection from the jack to the PC
board. I'd check that first.

Regards,
Tim
Bristol Electronics
I have a little MP3 player that suffered from what I thought was a bad
contact but was just like you said, a bad solder joint. I ended up
needing to resolder it a few times and finally had to reinforce the
jack so that the joint would stop breaking.
Eric

Thanks. I will check that too. I am really glad that I learned to solder in my 10th grade electronics class. Very useful skill.

 

[Mike Coon]

In article <f3b4c4b3-8464-4801-87d5-b0aa150f162c@googlegroups.com>,
kmath50@gmail.com says...

I have a 1990's era AM/FM Cassette player. It works fine, except that it only plays on the left side. The right channel connection isn't making consistent contact. I tried to clean it using a Q-tip, with most of the cotton removed, and it made it worse.

If there was a way to reach inside the jack, and slightly bend the right-channel contact, I could probably fix it.

I purchased a new unit, and the sound quality just isn't there compared to the old one. Yes, I could just transfer all my old cassettes to digital format, but I don't wish to take the time, since these tapes are mostly from the 1970's, so the sound isn't that great to begin with. I also, don't play them that much.

Thanks for any suggestions.

Kirk M

I would say the simplest, cheapish, low-risk thing to try is an
extension cable with gold plated contacts. Unless your plug is already
gold-plated, in which case it is not likely to improve the contact...

Mike.