Well done Alex

I must have missed your follow up post, the one after you reported the readings.  It probably came along while I was compiling my replies.  Anyhow, at least you have a solenoid that works and an arm that drops when required. 

Yes, I would have a look at the adjustment of the photosensor - I had that problem on my unit as well - it was fairly simple to fix.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, photosensor now adjusted and working.

Guess what!  I have another problem!

With everything reassembled and no record on the platter, the arm sometimes travels to the very end and then drops onto the empty platter.  Sometimes it works ok and returns without dropping, but every so often it will come down.  This is after the search light goes past the end of the platter ribs, so is it still searching for the start of a record?  Once it goes past the end of the ribs it must think it's found the record.  Fortunately I realised what was happening before I replaced the cartridge.

I have looked at all the switches under the arm and they all seem to be operating ok.  I can even work them manually and so far I have not been able to recreate the problem.  It seems that the end switch may not be working, but the arm looks like it presses it down - in fact when it does work it only has to touch it and the arm instantly reverses.

I've had enough of it for one day.  I'm away for the weekend but I plan to return to the task on Monday - refreshed and ready for another battle...!!!

Hi Alex

That is just typical for these machines, you fix one problem and only end up identifying the next one.

Unfortunately, you have reached a point where your BG4000 loses its similarity with my BG6000 - I have no complex switching system to fiddle with, so I can't help you with that one.  I am sure that someone on the site does know the nuances of your machine and will follow your progress with interest.  I am sure you will end up fixing it - it only takes time.

Best of luck and have fun

Geoff 

Thanks Geoff for your help so far, and everyone else for that matter, it has been invaluable.

Although I'm not at home at the moment I have sneaked a few minutes away from other duties to browse the forum.  I'm being summoned to bed as I write - but I'll leave that one there in case I get moderated...the bug has definitely got hold of me...

I just couldn't recreate the problem before I left home so I decided to box it all up and be wary of it in case it happens again.  I'll just have to test it every now and then and see what happens.

All I need to do now is make an adapter lead up to connect the DIN plug to my RCA input.  I haven't actually played it through an amp yet.  Am I right to think it will be ok to plug into any phono input, or do I need any other type of preamp?  I have two cartridges with it, an SP15 and an MMC20E.

alexb1406 wrote:

I haven't actually played it through an amp yet.  Am I right to think it will be ok to plug into any phono input, or do I need any other type of preamp?  I have two cartridges with it, an SP15 and an MMC20E.

Depends on whether your amp has a RIAA preamp in the the phono input. The Beogram 4000 doesn't have this fitted, Steve at link & Lee at can both supply a preamp kit with all relevant cables to do this.

Thanks Chris, I have with the SP15 the original box that it was supplied in dated 1973, cleaning brush and scales - I haven't fitted these back in the box yet as they were given to me loose but it looks like there are compartments underneath inside the box for these.  There is also a graph that looks like it might be the performance chart, I assume for this specific cartridge from the factory.

Coming back to the RIAA, please correct me if I'm wrong but I thought phono inputs were, by definition, designed to have the preamps in the amp.  If the preamp was in the turntable then you would have to connect it to an AUX input.  My amp, an AKAI AA-1175 (nearly as old as the BG4000) has both phono and aux inputs.  I presently have two other turntables connected via a switching box to the phono input.  So I presume that there must be a RIAA built into the phono input of my amp...am I right?

Amplifiers of that vintage normally have the RIAA built in as you surmise. My SP15 still performs well so certainly worth a try - very similar to the MMC20EN and hence better specified than the black 20E.

Thanks Peter, you've confirmed exactly what I thought.

I'm trying to get the bits together to make up the din/rca converter lead.  Our local Maplin didn't have a female din plug.  I've found one in another store but I can't collect it till Monday.

Well, we're up and running!

Made the link lead up yesterday and plugged it in, and after I connected a ground lead with a couple of crocodile clips to cure the mains hum (it's missing altogether) it sounded great.  Anyone have any idea where this lead originally connected to on the Beogram?  Finicky maybe, but I'd like to make it look as original as possible.

As predicted the SP15 doesn't work at all.  If Soundsmith can do anything with it I may be tempted to let them overhaul it as I believe this would have been the original cartridge fitted to the BG4000.  And I have another project on the way that is missing a cartridge and the MMC20E would be a good candidate for it...yes, the temptation was too much - I bought the BG2200 that I had my eye on...EBAY, THOU ART TEMPTATION...

Any psychologists on our forum, can you please set up an ebay rehabilitation program...or more appropriately, a B&O rehabilitation program...

alexb1406 wrote:

Made the link lead up yesterday and plugged it in, and after I connected a ground lead with a couple of crocodile clips to cure the mains hum (it's missing altogether) it sounded great.  Anyone have any idea where this lead originally connected to on the Beogram?  Finicky maybe, but I'd like to make it look as original as possible.

There was no separate ground lead - the sleeve of the DIN connector and the outer shield of the cable create the shield ground connection. It connects to the chassis inside the Beogram.

I don't think anyone will overhaul the SP15 if the coils are broken, apparently both Sound-Smith and Axel from schallplattennadeln.de only fix the suspension (and Axel replaces the entire cantilever/stylus). It was indeed the original cartridge, I would just keep it as a display piece as the whole set with the factory test charts is quite rare.