Grundig SC303 Radio cassette - how to remove facia

[jgwilliamson]

Hi,

I'm trying to remove the plastic facia of my Grundig SC303 W1J Radio cassette in order to see if I can fix the "dead" pre-select buttons and I have got it all detached save for the volume/balance control button.

Has anyone tried to do this before and if so how is it done?

Many thanks

John

[Robsey]

The knobs just pull off.

But being nigh on 30 years old, they may be quite stuck on.
A plastic trim removal tool would be better than a knife, screwdriver, or spoon to lever the knob parts off the spindles.

[jgwilliamson]

The knobs just pull off.

But being nigh on 30 years old, they may be quite stuck on.
A plastic trim removal tool would be better than a knife, screwdriver, or spoon to lever the knob parts off the spindles.

Thanks Rob, yes they are on pretty firmly. Hopefully a patient approach will work

[Robsey]

Hopefully a clean of the contact pads or the circuit board tracks should bring a fix,

But if not, there are places on ebay that supply replacement pads.

Brake cleaner, carb cleaner, electrical contact cleaner, or isopropyl alcohol should remove any tarnish from the contact pads.

They are little buggers, so work on a clutter free surface so that they do not ping or roll off across the room, never to be seen again.

[jgwilliamson]

Hi Rob,

Got the facia off but the plot "thickens".

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13qJsUY ... drive_link

The pre-selector buttons are behind the smaller circuit board on the left, but I'm not sure how to get access to the pads.

Can I remove the circuit board by removing the 3 black screws or is it more complicated than that? (probably!)

Any advice greatly appreciated.

John

[Robsey]

Hmm - now you are asking.
I have an old duff one in my kitchen.
Let me have a play for ten minutes.

I will see what is what.

[Robsey]

It is a tad more complicated.

The circuit boards are in two halves.

You need to remove ALL black screws - about ten in all if you want both boards out.

If you are doing just one side, you need to remove the plastic ribbon clamp for that side...
and the central part below the cassette door.



Once those are out, the boards will lift off.



All your contact inserts are now visible.



Usual issue is they are either dirty or collapsed.

This is my original radio from the factory.
My volume knob ripped apart when levering it off.
Oops!!
The buttons collapsed about 20 years ago.
I replaced them back then, but many have collapsed again since.

[jgwilliamson]

Hi Rob,

Wow, that is a good "how2"

I got the boards off and as you suggested some of the pads were torn, and others collapsed:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p7U62T ... drive_link

I've got a "spares" unit coming within the next couple of days and hopefully I can replace the bad pads with some good ones from that....watch this space!

Many thanks again for your help, I must owe you a beer or two by now

Cheers

John

[Robsey]

No worries John,
It is all part of the service.

I hope the soldering in yours wasn't as shocking as the soldering in mine.

[jgwilliamson]

No worries John,
It is all part of the service.

I hope the soldering in yours wasn't as shocking as the soldering in mine.

Cheers Rob,


The soldering looked OK, but the contacts on the circuit boards were pretty dirty. Gave them a good clean so hopefully that will help as well.

John

[vectra1903]

When I was refurbishing my SC303 (an earlier model though) I actually used an old laptop keyboard as a "repair kit". What I did is I took the little post that's in the middle of the old hardened rubber plungers in the radio, cut out the membrane plungers from the laptop keyboard, put the little posts inside of the membranes from the keyboard and stuffed that into the radio keypad. The buttons still work after 3 years so I can say that it is a pretty reliable fix. They don't have any tactile feedback anymore though, they are just mushy with no click.

[jgwilliamson]

When I was refurbishing my SC303 (an earlier model though) I actually used an old laptop keyboard as a "repair kit". What I did is I took the little post that's in the middle of the old hardened rubber plungers in the radio, cut out the membrane plungers from the laptop keyboard, put the little posts inside of the membranes from the keyboard and stuffed that into the radio keypad. The buttons still work after 3 years so I can say that it is a pretty reliable fix. They don't have any tactile feedback anymore though, they are just mushy with no click.

Thanks vectra1903,
That sounds like a good option if I don't get my hands on an old unit.
Cheers
John

[chrisp]

Does anyone know where I can get a replacement liquid crystal display block for the Grundig SC303? Over the life of my Cav I've probably replaced this unit 2 or 3 times with new ones, after the display slowly covered itself with black. The current unit is now going the same way but of course even used units are nowhere to be found.

[Robsey]

Hens teeth comes to mind.

I remember these being on back order 15 years ago.
Stilll waiting for Vauxhall to tell me they have new stock.

Just be patient and periodically check out ebay.
Chip displays do popup from time to time.