[DMcMahon]

Replaced the remaining 7 electrolytic capacitors, all were high to very high capacitance, some with high ESR. Had to remove the PCB completely because the wires to it kept breaking off the soldered connections when board moved.

Now have sound after powering back up in Playback mode, at least hiss, the level of which is controllable with the volume control so at least now some life in the amplifier. The sound/hiss is very intermittent and just by lightly touching/tapping various areas of the unit can make the the sound to come and go, looks like a bad connection somewhere.

Have not yet been able to check playback with a tape because having trouble getting good battery contact with the 3 x 1.5V D cells that power the motor. This is because it is difficult to get good battery contact with the chassis out of its case. Also when good contact is obtained the motor drives but the Take Up reel table is no longer being driven by the rubber idler wheel that the motor drives.

It is impossible to see why the motor is no longer driving the idler wheel without removing the top panel but as mentioned in Post 12, three of the securing screws for the top panel will not budge, at the moment cannot see how to get the screws out.

The screws are small dome headed screws and just about impossible to get any sort of pliers on them, they are stainless steel and will be very hard to saw a slot across them (to fit a flat blade screwdriver) without damaging the nice top panel finish. Do not really want to try and drill the screws out, probably will damage the top panel and end up with the stubs of the screws still being difficult to remove once top panel is removed.

David