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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.
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
<[email protected]
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.


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

( Apologies to F. Zappa )

Does anyone have any insight on late 70s solid-state consumer
electronics as to what is making a smell like paint or shellac?


** 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
 
J

Jeff Liebermann

Jan 1, 1970
0
[email protected] hath wroth:
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.

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.
 
J

John Popelish

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.

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.
 
J

Jim Stewart

Jan 1, 1970
0
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.

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.
 
I love that smell.

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

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

Very true, thanks, forgot about that.
 
B

boB

Jan 1, 1970
0
I love that smell.

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
 
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