There's something so incredibly satisfying about taking a Formerly Useful Thing that others view as trash and having a go at bringing it back to life. There's no one holding you accountable if you're unsuccessful! Poking around the inner workings of an everyday thing, figuring out how much more complex it is than you could imagine, learning what NOT to do by getting it wrong, and extrapolating from those mistakes in other situations.... And the joy of making it useful again. Knowing it's still kicking around - to make someone's life a little easier, or happier, or more secure, or whatever - instead of abandoned in a pile of trash? That's a really cool feeling. What's almost cooler, though, is when someone brings you a Formerly Useful Thing and says, "I don't need this anymore but I know you like fixing stuff, so if you want it's yours." That's a person who _gets it,_ and in my experience there aren't a lot of them, so they're pretty dang special. Anyway. Yeah. Thanks, Matt, for sharing all of these Formerly Useful Things with us. It's a joy to experience, regardless of the outcome. 🤓🍍
As a repair tech I know the feeling of not everything it fixable. It's a hard choice to mark something as not worth it or past your ability to repair. It happens to the best of us, but the videos can still point out really cool things and that can be in of itself a bag of hidden secrets.
@@slaughterround643 If they were paid a decent salary for ruining their backs and actually had enough time to carefully handle the crapload of Amazon packets they need to get out on a daily basis, then maybe they would give a crap. But no, people nowadays basically expect free delivery for everything.
Just ordered a board game from the UK to come to the USA. Game cost? 25 pounds. Shipping? 21 pounds or 17 pounds for a lighter box, my choice. "Put that sucker in a tank - I know how the USPS treats packages." (My local post office guy? Kid gloves and great care, so I won't put it on him. I put it on the automated machines and the guys who are there making sure they can keep up with the package volume.) Still, the amount of packages that arrive undamaged each day globally is truly astounding; so I tolerate my occasional damaged package (with moderate disappointment).
EZ TV... Truly a perfect description of this channel. It is so relaxing to listen to and learn from Mat regardless of the outcome of a repair attempt :)
Doctor Techmoan, you tried. You really tried. I was there. I saw your bravery and skill. But...but sometimes the patient just doesn't make it. Next time, Doc. You'll be back next time! .....Awesome video! I've had projects turn into scrap metal and plastic. I feel this a bit too close! LOL
Who reads the comments before watching the video, especially after that intro? Yeesh. And I know how you feel, CJC. I'm working on a project right this minute that I suspect is going to be broken down into spare parts.
Those repair shows are so fake. Oh we’re not going to get it finished on time, on budget, can’t find the parts, etc. But they always manage it. So there is no payoff at the end, because you know the result before they start. Your idea sounds a lot better. It’s kind of like Dave Jones on EEVBlog. Sometimes things can’t be repaired, but you learn something along the way regardless.
I used to watch a show called Monster Garage. It wasn't restoring vehicles but the same premise with the budget and whatnot. At first it was decent, they were given a budget and had to stay within it. Then as the show went on they were still given the same budget but would do things like "this brand new $10,000 motor was donated to us so it cost us $0" Come on, why even bother saying you have a budget.
@@HerecomestheCalavera Or Pimp My Ride for that matter. As snazzy as some of the cars may seem after being made over by West Coast Customs, they were by and large too "hot" and impractical for their owners to even consider using as a daily driver. On top of the fact that the participants had to rehearse their reactions as well.
@@HerecomestheCalavera Or that episode when West Coast customised a new SUV for a mechanic by installing monitors at the truck's undercarriage citing the owner's occupation.
As someone who repairs electronics as a bit of a business I'm really happy you're bringing up the "know when to fold em" part of the game. Everyone thinks they have a gem, it's rough explaining that sometimes it's just not worth it. Hope you do more of these!
A good friend has one of these Pioneer players. We struggled to figure out how to disassemble it to access the belts to repair them. Thanks a TON for showing us the process. There is a complicated calibration process for the tone arm adjustment.
I was one of the bidders on this exact device! I'm glad I got to learn what the fate of this machine was, unfortunate it did not work out - you inspired me to get into vintage audio tech, hence why I was bidding on this machine - I've fixed a bunch of 70's cassette field recorders, 80s walkmans and micro-cassette recorders and a different turntable since following you. I love watching your videos!
When the shipper sends you lemons? Don't make lemonade! Make the shipper take the lemons back!. Get mad! You don't want their damn lemons! What are you supposed to do with those? Demand to see the shipper's manager! Make the shipper rue the day they thought they could give you lemons! Don't they know who you are? You're the person who's going to burn their house down! With the lemons! You're going to get your engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns their house down!
While I wouldn’t always want to watch content like this, I need to thank you for posting what is the most realistic and accurate PL-88 video on the entire internet. I picked one of these up at a yard sale for $1 a few years ago, everything worked like new except for that drawer mechanism. Thinking I could fix it, I dig into it and, like you, marveled at the asinine location of the belt. I ordered a replacement from eBay. They sent me the wrong belt. I ordered another one from LP Gear. They sent the right belt. But somehow, somewhere in the multiple disassemblies and reassemblies, I somehow broke the drawer mechanism worse than it was already broken, and now it sits in storage, in pieces and useless. Any other video I’d seen just showed one operating. Never a successful repair. In fact I was shooting a video about how to repair it just last month, but ironically decided not to post it because I couldn’t end up with a working unit. Imagine my surprise when I saw this! So not having enough information, I must have done something really wrong to mine. You’re probably right to just throw it away. They are beautiful units, and mine at least sounded stellar, maybe the best sounding turntable I ever owned. But it’s really one of the worst designs I’ve ever seen, and as you unfortunately learned, completely unserviceable. But for my particular edge case, thank you for showing me my inability to repair it was not my own shortcoming. I figure, if you also had problems, it’s not us, it’s poorly designed! So thank you for the confidence boost. Cheers!
I like the idea. Gives it a sense of suspense. I don't like the shows where they take old cars and replace 90% of the original parts to "restore" it, just to get a result.
I think thats why Edd left Wheeler Dealers, it got to the point where they would just throw money at a junk car instead of actually repairing salvageable cars.
Those repair shows are great because I like to see things returned to use and not thrown away. And I like seeing how things that I might never encounter are made. I do not watch those highly produced repair shows because there is always some fake-ass drama or crisis or deadline injected into what could be an interesting project. Your video had none of that nonsense and was very nice. As an aside, a single linear rail is very common (and generally the optimal solution) on mechanisms that are not required to exert a lot of force. It removes the requirement of aligning the rails (and keeping them that way) which would be a challenge on something with a sheet metal and plastic frame. The amount of play required so that the will not bind up will make is very susceptible to racking and jamming up if other steps are not taken to correct this in the drive mechanism. The most expensive Coordinate Measuring Systems (CMS) machines used in the machining industry move their gantry on a single side rail for the utmost in smoothness and accuracy.
I actually like this idea. It's important to teach folks "shit doesn't always work out." Also, these types of shows seem to always have the same unbearable, loud-mouth, asshole of a host. (Just look at Richard Rawlings from "Fast N Loud".) Thankfully, Mat here is none of those things. Keep doing what you're doing, mate.
Brilliant. Your best yet!! Thank you. So many UK daytime “ trash to treasure” shows” Esp “money for nothing” with some very dubious “profits” being returned to unsuspecting people who just wanted to get rid of some crap at the tip.
It's never the end result that is entertaining, but the journey. That's why I enjoy your videos as well as Aging Wheels, Rich Rebuilds and Strange Parts.
12VoltVids is another repair channel. Very focused on technician's repair of appliances though. And he is ornery (raw), which is a change in RUclipss world of more and more polished productions. (Not name dropping at all, no sirreee not me :)- )
I just picked up a 1982 sony system (syscon fl-400), it has a sony PS-FL1 drawer loading automatic turntable and they are pretty neat! It also turns out that the cassette deck is actually a slightly nicer model ( a TC-FX500R instead of the TC-FX44 that was advertised) although rewind and and auto reverse tend to get stuck, so I will be venturing into my first time repairing vintage electronics (I am hoping it just needs new belts and some clean up and lubrication of the gears). Your videos have been a huge inspiration to me and I just wanted to say I really appreciate them.
Love the concept Matt. Abs plastic can be welded with MEK a solvent you can pickup in the paint department of your local home store. It’s better than glues which add material and don’t work..
I don't mind at all that it didn't work out in the end, it's neat watching the effort to repair it. Please don't hesitate to make more such videos, good and bad outcomes alike, you can learn just as much from a failure as a success.
I'm all for this concept, Mr. Techmoan! I love watching this kind of stuff on HGTV where they fix up broken old houses and turn them into bright colorful valuable houses. The only difference is, with HGTV, almost all the shows have a happy ending.
I think a video on repair failures are just as important as successful ones, especially if they go over why exactly the repair attempt failed. It's still very informative and could help someone that is also trying to repair the same thing to save their time/money.
I've actually always enjoyed the mix of "repair relaxation" and mild uncertainty tension, in your restoration videos. Keep up the excellent work, including your somewhat sardonic sense of humor.
Personally I'd like to see more videos like this. Seeing how the thing worked, how it was dissembled, how your whole 'logic train' worked while you were working on it was quite interesting. Plus it's good to have a sense of when to wave the white flag and declare defeat. If nothing else, I'd say that was the most important part of the video. Sure, you too can take a crack at fixing your home gadgets...but know when to say uncle. Pity about the player though. I have a thing for classic electronica and I could tell that was a nice item in its day.
Somebody had mentioned already how repair shows don't really have a payoff, because no matter how dire they claim the situation is, they always manage to fix it. I would really enjoy an honest format where there is no clue given as to whether a repair/restore will work out well or not. There would be a bigger payoff when something is repaired if sometimes repairs failed. Yes, please bring us more integrity to repair entertainment, just no clues up front, and no click bait style titles.
The USPS isn't perfect, but when you think of the huge territory they have to cover, and hear a few absolute horror stories about other countries postal systems, it makes you really appreciate how well they are run.
OMG! This POS "Worthless" video has been my favorite so far! I LOVED seeing a bunch of junk NOT being able to be resurrected as so many of my own projects have not been able to be raised from the dead.... We all WANT to see them come to life because they meant so much to us "back in the day". But sadly, rubber belts deteriorate, metal rusts, and plastic cracks... Thank you, Techmoan!!! I have (when I was younger), really felt bad for finally throwing away a bunch of old electronic crap that I sentimentally felt close to. But no, some stuff just needs to be thrown away and/or recycled. Let it go!
"Failure" should be always an option. That's the way we how learn. Nothing to be ashamed about it. Keep going with your great videos and content! As always: thanks for making this video!
I had access to a large electronics dump at my previous university, and after befriending the electricians of the campus after various event organisations, I spent many hours picking up old scientific equipment, audio equipment, etc etc etc (even a functional mac pro...). I can say that after a good year of constant discovery and attempted repairs, I feel confident enough in my skills to repair most electronics and mechanical things up until the late 90s so yay I guess...
It can be fun if you have loooots of time. We almost stopped repairing 80's equipment at my place because its mostly broken or breaking plastic parts and always differing electronic circuits. :P
Oh wow, this is some serious deja vu. I rebuilt a PL-05 a while back and had to do just about everything you did, though mine wasn't nearly so bad off to start. You showed a drawer type record player several years ago and I thought it was just the best idea for my setup in the living room. Off to eBay I went and after some searching and time I came across the PL-05 mentioned earlier, it was listed as for parts/needs repair. Been working for a few years now.
For what it's worth, I don't mind watching videos of failure to repair things. That's a whole section of RUclips as it is. Usually, it's people buying stuff off eBay listed as 'for parts' and seeing what can be done to repair them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's entertaining enough just watching the way people go about diagnosing and fixing what they do, whether it works or not.
What exactly does that mean? Was it not actuay fixed in the end? Was he just using that shelf for the jacks to test the sound? This is more ambiguious than the ending of The Thing
I'd definitely watch more in this series. I have had more than my share of projects that would have been beyond economical repair - and loving gramophones as I do, that's often down to crumbling pot metal beyond saving - but a glorious failure is no less interesting to watch than a perfect restoration video. It's rather humbling, and more realistic.
There's no need of a happy ending. You've tried your very best, it was like all your content very entertaining. And you're also human like we all, I like and appreciate it very much if someone, furthermore with a very good reputation like you have, shows us not the perfect world of hobby enthusiasts. Chapeau!
I see this all the time where something is a goner. I quite often watch EEVBlog's repair videos and they quite often end like this. It is a little thing called Beyond economical repair. You gave it your best shot.
IT IS A SCANDAL how couriers handle people's property ,you pay an arm en an leg for shipping and then you get that on your doorstep. I would made pictures and file a claim to the shipping company . They have a insurance for such things .
@@MagnusNilsson76 Both views are correct. I worked washing trucks for FedEx for a little while, and packages were tossed around and treated poorly all the time. It's just the way that the job gets done in such a quick fashion. Just imagine, you return from your shift, already an hour late, then you have to unload all the packages, some very heavy. It's just gonna happen, it sucks.
@@MagnusNilsson76 Agreed ,but that make it not okay to throw everything around. You sometimes see a courier searching that one package to deliver and spend 10 min throwing evering back and forward in de back of the truck to find package all beaten up. And the backside of better packaging is more weight ,more weight is more shipping cost and less chance to sell something. Why not just simple respect of somebody's property . I don't think a courier who shops for a tv throws it in a shopping cart and from there toss it in back of his truck or car and when he comes home with it give it a swing thru the front door. But that is what they do as a job.
At some point you're going to have to decide on a balance between acceptable risk and cost. You can't spend pennies per kg on shipping and expect it not to be done in the fastest way possible by the supply chain. The solution is either proper packaging or regulation
Wow, that thing got absolutely hammered in shipping. What a bummer, that's a really neat turntable. Your repair knowledge might be limited, but I doubt even a pro could get that thing working again without spending more than it's worth in good shape. That said, this was still a very cool video. Thanks for putting it out there even if you weren't successful in repairing it. It was still a lot of fun to watch.
One of my favorite youtubers is called MyMateVince and he has a similar format where he tries to repair devices but he isn't a professional so sometimes isn't successful but his videos are still entertaining
I love this vid! Reenactment is just fabulous! So real! And really not every repair gets the big payoff! Humor is a requirement for many aspects of life or diy! Thanks!
I just picked up a PL-44fs still with the box and original packing and paperwork from a fella who bought it new in 1986. The drawer is sluggish but I'm hoping a new belt addresses it! I'm also hoping it's guts are similar enough to this model to follow a bit! I'm pretty excited about it, snagged it for $115 and was a 2 hour drive from me so I didn't have to risk shipping!
You are by FAR my favorite RUclipsr. Your videos are well thought out, high quality, informative, cover a diverse set of topics, and on top of that, hilarious. Keep up the good work man.
Great video! The tools you're looking for is called a spring hook & a pair of curved forceps. Your use of tape however was an innovative workaround. Keep them coming!
Well Done mate ! Nice angle and so refreshing to see real life scenario instead of the usual glitz and glam. I could really feel my serotonin up take expand C :
Good on you trying to fix it, maybe it will serve to fix another broken one. I enjoy restoration videos. But this was badly broken and by the looks of it badly made from the start.
@@kcuhc84 he said it was advertised as not working. But it then got destroyed in transit, but if you have a go at fixing it yourself I don't think your allowed your money back. He probably already had his money back (not worth shipping back). Always pick up big fragile things yourself
Thanks for documenting and sharing your efforts. I just got a Pioneer PL-88FS a little while ago and need to replace the belts. Seeing how to get to them is really helpful. If you can’t get yours going I’m sure that the parts can go to a good use. If the little light and optical sensor that are in the cartridge are still working they could revive another turntable. I’d also love to see more front loading turntables. I have three (a Marantz TT-222 and two Sonys) and am always interested in seeing more models.
Could be the special eBay Global Shipping Program ordeal. I know they will repackage parcels for efficiency, throw out the original box and all the extra fluff, put it in a smaller box after they wrap 2mm of bubble wrap around it.
It doesn' t even have to be international. I bought a second hand cordless drill from another city, about 100 miles from here. It was bubble- wrapped and in a cardboard box but as it arrived, the box was crushed and the body of power tool was literally shattered. And no- one to blame but myself for not going to collect in person.
At least it showed up... For months dozens of packages were just not being delivered in my area all last year and almost through Christmas. After many complaints someone put up a game camera and caught the postal worker taking packages and throwing them into the woods (presumably to retrieve later). After all the complaints the post office only finally took action because of the video. And all they did was fire her, no charges to my knowledge and wouldn't even give her name for us to file charges. No offer of any replacement... nothing. All the way up to the highest national level we were able to contact. They make the numbers very hard to find and eventually will stop answering your calls. The only thing they would say is contact the shipper and see if they will replace them. Though the shipper didn't employ the thief or have anything to do with the problem. Between myself, my mother a few miles away, and some other people I know in the area we had thousands of dollars worth of packages go missing with no solution or even any attempt of a solution at all. Keep in mind not all online retailers offer different shipping methods or insurance (and they're all equally terrible anyways) for the "free market" to push the best to the top. I know my rant isn't exactly on topic but as you can probably tell I'm still a little pissed about it.
Well, if anything, it's the discovery of things you didn't know existed when you were a kid, because you didn't get to go check out the awesome hi-fi stores, or have access to any cool hi-fo magazines. This was still a great Techmoan video.
Thought that was going to turn in to triggers broom, best bit , when you listed the faults after all your efforts had my brew flying across the room in fits excellent keep up the good work
You shouldn't shake air duster cans. Not only do they not require it, The cans also do not contain a metal ball bearing like in paint cans so shaking it achieves nothing. Most air duster cans warn you not to shake the can.
I love repair videos. I love making repair videos (provided the camera doesn't get in my way). And this one... was great! I laughed so much at the second chance ending. Wish I could fiddle around with this turntable a bit, myself. Sorry things didn't work out, but you sure made the best of it.
I'm glad you said from the shipping company and not the seller. So many people would open a case against the seller when it isn't their fault. Unless it was very poorly packaged.
@@HerecomestheCalavera The claim should be against the seller, and I say that as a business seller on eBay of some 17 years, simply because it is they who have a contractual relationship with the courier. The buyer claims from the seller, the seller claims from the courier--assuming that the goods were appropriately packed--the courier refunds then improves its handling processes. Well, maybe the last of those is a little fanciful but the principle stands. A seller's responsibility is to supply the goods as advertised. That they contract an agent (a courier or postal service) to fulfil the obligation doesn't shift the liability. The only case in which a buyer should be expected to claim against a carrier is where they have employed them directly, for example, where an product is advertised as being available only for collection and a buyer arranges for a third party to collect on their behalf. Any issue of claims is, of course, complicated by the fact that the turntable was sold as non-working, parts only. Nevertheless, if the condition was significantly different from the description then the seller remains liable.
Here's one fan that totally loves the idea! Honestly my only issue with those types of shows is the part where "something huge goes wrong" and "they don't know if they'll get it finished in time" when you, as the viewer, knows they'll get it fixed and that it'll happen off screen. I'd always much rather they either not do that bit, or they actually fail to get it fixed. Adding some uncertainty to whether or not the thing actually gets fixed adds a whole new level of suspense to the program. At least, that's my opinion and I might be the vast minority with that.
Simon Smith Good luck with that. I had a very expensive package that got damaged during shipping. I had insurance and filled a claim with FexEx and sent them pictures. The next day I got a response saying that they reviewed the claim and are not covering the damage. When I called them for an explanation the lady I talked to was by far the rudest cunt that I’ve ever had the displeasure of speaking to. Fed ex insurance is a flat out scam.
@@nutz4gunz457 Yeah well packet service companies are the worst. They're the ones who mess up but they never fix anything. Here in the Netherlands, if your package gets lost or damaged, by law it is the senders responsibility so you have to either refund or resend the shipment. The packetservice just gets away with it.
Since he bought it on eBay the seller is obligated to cover shipping damage. It sucks for both parties, but this happens relatively often with used hifi equipment on eBay. I swear half the shit I've bought ends up this way, including a beautiful tape deck and my first Yamaha reciever..
@@nutz4gunz457 Well remember that the seller also has a responsibility to properly pack things, even well packaged items can sometimes get damaged but if done right it should be pretty rare and the damage fairly minimal, now I don't know if I would ask for a refund on this since they'll likely want the player back, but you can always ask for a partial refund and the sellers will usually oblige.
At least he received it. My Hermes lost a parcel I sent tracked and signed. Their own tracking said "left in porch". Although I got a refund it took about 3 hours of phone calls, form filling etc. In hindsight not worth it for a £50 parcel.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Love that re-shot ending...especially when the turntable "disappears" from the rack....lol
There's something so incredibly satisfying about taking a Formerly Useful Thing that others view as trash and having a go at bringing it back to life. There's no one holding you accountable if you're unsuccessful!
Poking around the inner workings of an everyday thing, figuring out how much more complex it is than you could imagine, learning what NOT to do by getting it wrong, and extrapolating from those mistakes in other situations....
And the joy of making it useful again. Knowing it's still kicking around - to make someone's life a little easier, or happier, or more secure, or whatever - instead of abandoned in a pile of trash? That's a really cool feeling.
What's almost cooler, though, is when someone brings you a Formerly Useful Thing and says, "I don't need this anymore but I know you like fixing stuff, so if you want it's yours." That's a person who _gets it,_ and in my experience there aren't a lot of them, so they're pretty dang special.
Anyway. Yeah. Thanks, Matt, for sharing all of these Formerly Useful Things with us. It's a joy to experience, regardless of the outcome. 🤓🍍
The puppets should have come to judgement on this one.
I was really hoping for that.
defenatly !
Bring back the puppets!
The puppets should come to the judgement of every video, just because they're awesome !
denimadept I agree let’s hear from them !!
The delivery re-enactment was AMAZING!!!
Matt, you are the King!!!
Techmoan introduces yet another video category (after the "Cheese Sandwich"):
The "Unrepairtainment" category. :-)
Jac Goudsmit unrepairtainment! Lol
EEVBlog's been at this for years
Well coined start a TV trope might catch on.
@@claw_md True, this has a different feel though, and I like it.
@@claw_md Dave's like:
Broken thing: exist
Dave: Yeah, naaah.. It's beyond economic repair.
:D
Wait a minute, that phone call was from the 8-Bit Guy? :)
I'm sure another YTP is in the works right now.
Give this man an award for that re-done closing montage! I watch for the nostalgia and stay for the humor.
As a repair tech I know the feeling of not everything it fixable. It's a hard choice to mark something as not worth it or past your ability to repair.
It happens to the best of us, but the videos can still point out really cool things and that can be in of itself a bag of hidden secrets.
Well done “Re-enactment” at 2:08...
Spot on.
Heck delivery people
Reminds me of Yodel.
@@r4nadon Royal Mail then they charge more if you complain.
@@slaughterround643 If they were paid a decent salary for ruining their backs and actually had enough time to carefully handle the crapload of Amazon packets they need to get out on a daily basis, then maybe they would give a crap. But no, people nowadays basically expect free delivery for everything.
Just ordered a board game from the UK to come to the USA. Game cost? 25 pounds. Shipping? 21 pounds or 17 pounds for a lighter box, my choice. "Put that sucker in a tank - I know how the USPS treats packages." (My local post office guy? Kid gloves and great care, so I won't put it on him. I put it on the automated machines and the guys who are there making sure they can keep up with the package volume.)
Still, the amount of packages that arrive undamaged each day globally is truly astounding; so I tolerate my occasional damaged package (with moderate disappointment).
As always, I came for obscure tech but stayed for the low key shade that gets thrown. Fantastic.
I've never seen such seamless editing at the end there. Truly we are watching the work of an artist.
it's great to see these old machines given another lease on life, I am sure you will enjoy it for another 35 years!
I love it...a channel about a bloke , starring a bloke , doing bloke stuff...including admitting defeat...best on RUclips.
EZ TV... Truly a perfect description of this channel. It is so relaxing to listen to and learn from Mat regardless of the outcome of a repair attempt :)
Doctor Techmoan, you tried. You really tried. I was there. I saw your bravery and skill. But...but sometimes the patient just doesn't make it. Next time, Doc. You'll be back next time!
.....Awesome video! I've had projects turn into scrap metal and plastic. I feel this a bit too close! LOL
well thanks for the spoiler i guess
Who reads the comments before watching the video, especially after that intro? Yeesh.
And I know how you feel, CJC. I'm working on a project right this minute that I suspect is going to be broken down into spare parts.
@@TheRealColBosch don't take me too serious ;)
@@TheRealColBosch Best of luck to you!
@@cjc363636 I just about got it fixed. Without Photoshop, even!
It still sounds better than The Record Runner.
Or the RokBlok
Those repair shows are so fake. Oh we’re not going to get it finished on time, on budget, can’t find the parts, etc. But they always manage it. So there is no payoff at the end, because you know the result before they start.
Your idea sounds a lot better. It’s kind of like Dave Jones on EEVBlog. Sometimes things can’t be repaired, but you learn something along the way regardless.
I used to watch a show called Monster Garage. It wasn't restoring vehicles but the same premise with the budget and whatnot. At first it was decent, they were given a budget and had to stay within it. Then as the show went on they were still given the same budget but would do things like "this brand new $10,000 motor was donated to us so it cost us $0" Come on, why even bother saying you have a budget.
@@HerecomestheCalavera Or Pimp My Ride for that matter. As snazzy as some of the cars may seem after being made over by West Coast Customs, they were by and large too "hot" and impractical for their owners to even consider using as a daily driver. On top of the fact that the participants had to rehearse their reactions as well.
MyMateVince keeps it real.
@@blakegriplingph There was one where the driver was an artist so they put paint guns on the car pointed down to paint the road. WTF?
@@HerecomestheCalavera Or that episode when West Coast customised a new SUV for a mechanic by installing monitors at the truck's undercarriage citing the owner's occupation.
That's how it's done. Play on little Pioneer PL-88FS stock photo, play on!
So there was nothing wrong with that turntable that a bit of Photoshop couldn't fix.
Or should we say: "It's dead, Jim."
The ending shows that Mat is psychic.
Its dead jim.... You hold the platter and I'll steal the vinyl
As someone who repairs electronics as a bit of a business I'm really happy you're bringing up the "know when to fold em" part of the game. Everyone thinks they have a gem, it's rough explaining that sometimes it's just not worth it. Hope you do more of these!
Techmoan every video I watched if yours I've found interesting. Thanks for the entertainment Sir.
A good friend has one of these Pioneer players. We struggled to figure out how to disassemble it to access the belts to repair them. Thanks a TON for showing us the process. There is a complicated calibration process for the tone arm adjustment.
14:33 I love how the turntable overlay dissapears for a moment there haha. Honestly I still enjoyed the video despite it not being a true happy endin.
I was one of the bidders on this exact device! I'm glad I got to learn what the fate of this machine was, unfortunate it did not work out - you inspired me to get into vintage audio tech, hence why I was bidding on this machine - I've fixed a bunch of 70's cassette field recorders, 80s walkmans and micro-cassette recorders and a different turntable since following you. I love watching your videos!
It was still interesting to watch even if you couldn't get it back to its former glory. Sometimes it's really just not economical to fix something.
You must have not watched his HD Laserdisc video
Experience, i think its good pay off
I loved the “re-enactment!” When the shipper sends you lemons, make lemonade!
When the shipper sends you lemons? Don't make lemonade! Make the shipper take the lemons back!. Get mad! You don't want their damn lemons! What are you supposed to do with those? Demand to see the shipper's manager! Make the shipper rue the day they thought they could give you lemons! Don't they know who you are? You're the person who's going to burn their house down! With the lemons! You're going to get your engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns their house down!
@@NamesForDogs I love that reference
@@NamesForDogs lol
I thought you were going to replace each part with a part from a new turntable, until you just had a 100% new turntable, ship of theseus style.
Theseus's turntable ?
Which one would be the original?
Oohhhh
Or as us common folk would say, Trigger's broom
While I wouldn’t always want to watch content like this, I need to thank you for posting what is the most realistic and accurate PL-88 video on the entire internet. I picked one of these up at a yard sale for $1 a few years ago, everything worked like new except for that drawer mechanism. Thinking I could fix it, I dig into it and, like you, marveled at the asinine location of the belt. I ordered a replacement from eBay. They sent me the wrong belt. I ordered another one from LP Gear. They sent the right belt. But somehow, somewhere in the multiple disassemblies and reassemblies, I somehow broke the drawer mechanism worse than it was already broken, and now it sits in storage, in pieces and useless.
Any other video I’d seen just showed one operating. Never a successful repair. In fact I was shooting a video about how to repair it just last month, but ironically decided not to post it because I couldn’t end up with a working unit. Imagine my surprise when I saw this! So not having enough information, I must have done something really wrong to mine. You’re probably right to just throw it away. They are beautiful units, and mine at least sounded stellar, maybe the best sounding turntable I ever owned. But it’s really one of the worst designs I’ve ever seen, and as you unfortunately learned, completely unserviceable.
But for my particular edge case, thank you for showing me my inability to repair it was not my own shortcoming. I figure, if you also had problems, it’s not us, it’s poorly designed! So thank you for the confidence boost. Cheers!
I like the idea. Gives it a sense of suspense. I don't like the shows where they take old cars and replace 90% of the original parts to "restore" it, just to get a result.
I've had a yard broom for 25 years and it's as good as new. All it's needed is two new handles and three new heads!.
@@mikeos1 Trig!
At that point you've basically built a new car
I think thats why Edd left Wheeler Dealers, it got to the point where they would just throw money at a junk car instead of actually repairing salvageable cars.
I've spotted some of the repair shows displaying a different car all together at the end of it all. 😆. Just for the hollywood ending
I wasn't convinced during your preamble, but like the man says "Let's find out": and your usual good humour and high quality videos carried it through
Loved it! I wouldn’t mind watching more videos like this.
Those repair shows are great because I like to see things returned to use and not thrown away. And I like seeing how things that I might never encounter are made. I do not watch those highly produced repair shows because there is always some fake-ass drama or crisis or deadline injected into what could be an interesting project. Your video had none of that nonsense and was very nice.
As an aside, a single linear rail is very common (and generally the optimal solution) on mechanisms that are not required to exert a lot of force. It removes the requirement of aligning the rails (and keeping them that way) which would be a challenge on something with a sheet metal and plastic frame. The amount of play required so that the will not bind up will make is very susceptible to racking and jamming up if other steps are not taken to correct this in the drive mechanism. The most expensive Coordinate Measuring Systems (CMS) machines used in the machining industry move their gantry on a single side rail for the utmost in smoothness and accuracy.
I actually like this idea. It's important to teach folks "shit doesn't always work out." Also, these types of shows seem to always have the same unbearable, loud-mouth, asshole of a host. (Just look at Richard Rawlings from "Fast N Loud".) Thankfully, Mat here is none of those things. Keep doing what you're doing, mate.
Brilliant. Your best yet!! Thank you.
So many UK daytime “ trash to treasure” shows”
Esp “money for nothing” with some very dubious “profits” being returned to unsuspecting people who just wanted to get rid of some crap at the tip.
It's never the end result that is entertaining, but the journey. That's why I enjoy your videos as well as Aging Wheels, Rich Rebuilds and Strange Parts.
Love aging wheels!!!!
12VoltVids is another repair channel. Very focused on technician's repair of appliances though.
And he is ornery (raw), which is a change in RUclipss world of more and more polished productions.
(Not name dropping at all, no sirreee not me :)- )
Can't stop watching your retro videos... And it's very interesting to see you repairing the record player. Thx
I love this guy. He makes me laugh. Especially when he gets things that need fixing. The spontaneous things he says us so funny.
I just picked up a 1982 sony system (syscon fl-400), it has a sony PS-FL1 drawer loading automatic turntable and they are pretty neat! It also turns out that the cassette deck is actually a slightly nicer model ( a TC-FX500R instead of the TC-FX44 that was advertised) although rewind and and auto reverse tend to get stuck, so I will be venturing into my first time repairing vintage electronics (I am hoping it just needs new belts and some clean up and lubrication of the gears). Your videos have been a huge inspiration to me and I just wanted to say I really appreciate them.
Love the concept Matt. Abs plastic can be welded with MEK a solvent you can pickup in the paint department of your local home store. It’s better than glues which add material and don’t work..
I don't mind at all that it didn't work out in the end, it's neat watching the effort to repair it.
Please don't hesitate to make more such videos, good and bad outcomes alike, you can learn just as much from a failure as a success.
Nice ending. Love the Photoshopped deck in your setup.
I'm all for this concept, Mr. Techmoan! I love watching this kind of stuff on HGTV where they fix up broken old houses and turn them into bright colorful valuable houses. The only difference is, with HGTV, almost all the shows have a happy ending.
Careless delivery, resulting in damage, makes tech moan
I think a video on repair failures are just as important as successful ones, especially if they go over why exactly the repair attempt failed. It's still very informative and could help someone that is also trying to repair the same thing to save their time/money.
I'm fine with the 1st ending but the second one had me chuckling at its absurdity.
I've actually always enjoyed the mix of "repair relaxation" and mild uncertainty tension, in your restoration videos. Keep up the excellent work, including your somewhat sardonic sense of humor.
Personally I'd like to see more videos like this. Seeing how the thing worked, how it was dissembled, how your whole 'logic train' worked while you were working on it was quite interesting. Plus it's good to have a sense of when to wave the white flag and declare defeat. If nothing else, I'd say that was the most important part of the video. Sure, you too can take a crack at fixing your home gadgets...but know when to say uncle. Pity about the player though. I have a thing for classic electronica and I could tell that was a nice item in its day.
Somebody had mentioned already how repair shows don't really have a payoff, because no matter how dire they claim the situation is, they always manage to fix it. I would really enjoy an honest format where there is no clue given as to whether a repair/restore will work out well or not. There would be a bigger payoff when something is repaired if sometimes repairs failed.
Yes, please bring us more integrity to repair entertainment, just no clues up front, and no click bait style titles.
2:20: Royal Mail demonstrating it's pride in their work.
About the same quality as the USPS 😁
I think they made a pacrel throwing competition
I usually expect that from Fedex or UPS. USPS packages usually come with the least amount of damage in my neighborhood.
For such heavy stuff a wood frame is really needed for long distance transport...and perhaps add an inch of bubble wrap on top of that
USPS would just lose it.
The USPS isn't perfect, but when you think of the huge territory they have to cover, and hear a few absolute horror stories about other countries postal systems, it makes you really appreciate how well they are run.
Still worth the watch! I’ve always enjoyed watching you fix (or attempt to fix) things.
I like the idea of you uploading more videos, even if the project fails.
OMG! This POS "Worthless" video has been my favorite so far! I LOVED seeing a bunch of junk NOT being able to be resurrected as so many of my own projects have not been able to be raised from the dead.... We all WANT to see them come to life because they meant so much to us "back in the day". But sadly, rubber belts deteriorate, metal rusts, and plastic cracks...
Thank you, Techmoan!!!
I have (when I was younger), really felt bad for finally throwing away a bunch of old electronic crap that I sentimentally felt close to. But no, some stuff just needs to be thrown away and/or recycled. Let it go!
Parts of the machine look like someone has tried CPR on it and yelled "Don't you die on me!" a couple of times.
"Failure" should be always an option. That's the way we how learn. Nothing to be ashamed about it. Keep going with your great videos and content! As always: thanks for making this video!
I had access to a large electronics dump at my previous university, and after befriending the electricians of the campus after various event organisations, I spent many hours picking up old scientific equipment, audio equipment, etc etc etc (even a functional mac pro...). I can say that after a good year of constant discovery and attempted repairs, I feel confident enough in my skills to repair most electronics and mechanical things up until the late 90s so yay I guess...
Your video helped me replace the drawer belt in my PL-05, which appears to have the same internals! Thanks Techmoan!
I don't envy you. Working on mechanically complicated equipment from the 80s isn't fun! You did well!
It can be fun if you have loooots of time. We almost stopped repairing 80's equipment at my place because its mostly broken or breaking plastic parts and always differing electronic circuits. :P
Oh wow, this is some serious deja vu. I rebuilt a PL-05 a while back and had to do just about everything you did, though mine wasn't nearly so bad off to start. You showed a drawer type record player several years ago and I thought it was just the best idea for my setup in the living room. Off to eBay I went and after some searching and time I came across the PL-05 mentioned earlier, it was listed as for parts/needs repair. Been working for a few years now.
Love the ending!
Especially the undoubtedly intentional glitch at 14:33!
For what it's worth, I don't mind watching videos of failure to repair things. That's a whole section of RUclips as it is. Usually, it's people buying stuff off eBay listed as 'for parts' and seeing what can be done to repair them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's entertaining enough just watching the way people go about diagnosing and fixing what they do, whether it works or not.
14:32 Hey! Looks great in your HIFI setup...and its gone.
What exactly does that mean? Was it not actuay fixed in the end? Was he just using that shelf for the jacks to test the sound? This is more ambiguious than the ending of The Thing
I tuned in and out of your video, but was pleased to see you fully restored the player at the end, well done Technoman.
“....fixed by magic fairies from the future.”
*spits drink*
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
Thanks for that!
I'd definitely watch more in this series. I have had more than my share of projects that would have been beyond economical repair - and loving gramophones as I do, that's often down to crumbling pot metal beyond saving - but a glorious failure is no less interesting to watch than a perfect restoration video. It's rather humbling, and more realistic.
You my friend, possess bounds of patience. 🙃 A hilarious tongue in cheek video. Keep up the great and ever entertaining videos.👍
There's no need of a happy ending. You've tried your very best, it was like all your content very entertaining.
And you're also human like we all, I like and appreciate it very much if someone, furthermore with a very good reputation like you have, shows us not the perfect world of hobby enthusiasts.
Chapeau!
That turntable is more than any normal human can handle to fix. But, as always, great vid. :)
I'd be that guy who did whatever it took to get it working.
I do understand techmoan's decision though.
I've done the same with a few things.
I see this all the time where something is a goner. I quite often watch EEVBlog's repair videos and they quite often end like this. It is a little thing called Beyond economical repair. You gave it your best shot.
IT IS A SCANDAL how couriers handle people's property ,you pay an arm en an leg for shipping and then you get that on your doorstep.
I would made pictures and file a claim to the shipping company . They have a insurance for such things .
I'd say that people need to be more mindful on how they pack things. He said that it wasn't properly packaged.
@@MagnusNilsson76 Both views are correct. I worked washing trucks for FedEx for a little while, and packages were tossed around and treated poorly all the time. It's just the way that the job gets done in such a quick fashion. Just imagine, you return from your shift, already an hour late, then you have to unload all the packages, some very heavy. It's just gonna happen, it sucks.
@@MagnusNilsson76 Agreed ,but that make it not okay to throw everything around.
You sometimes see a courier searching that one package to deliver and spend 10 min throwing evering back and forward in de back of the truck to find package all beaten up.
And the backside of better packaging is more weight ,more weight is more shipping cost and less chance to sell something.
Why not just simple respect of somebody's property .
I don't think a courier who shops for a tv throws it in a shopping cart and from there toss it in back of his truck or car and when he comes home with it give it a swing thru the front door.
But that is what they do as a job.
At some point you're going to have to decide on a balance between acceptable risk and cost.
You can't spend pennies per kg on shipping and expect it not to be done in the fastest way possible by the supply chain.
The solution is either proper packaging or regulation
Wow, that thing got absolutely hammered in shipping. What a bummer, that's a really neat turntable. Your repair knowledge might be limited, but I doubt even a pro could get that thing working again without spending more than it's worth in good shape. That said, this was still a very cool video. Thanks for putting it out there even if you weren't successful in repairing it. It was still a lot of fun to watch.
This would be like James May's show the The Reassembler. In other words, PLEASE KEEP MAKING THESE VIDEOS!!!
Was that when May wasn't on Top Gear?
@@LegoWormNoah101 possibly. Youd have to check the show's release date on imdb.
When you attempt a repair/restoration project like this and it isn't successful, I'd rather see the video of it than not. I enjoyed it!
One of my favorite youtubers is called MyMateVince and he has a similar format where he tries to repair devices but he isn't a professional so sometimes isn't successful but his videos are still entertaining
@@Okurka. Haha I know but hey at least he's learning no matter how slow the progress is
I love this vid! Reenactment is just fabulous! So real! And really not every repair gets the big payoff! Humor is a requirement for many aspects of life or diy! Thanks!
14:32 damn you fixed the cloaking circuitry too??? fantastic job! :)
I just picked up a PL-44fs still with the box and original packing and paperwork from a fella who bought it new in 1986. The drawer is sluggish but I'm hoping a new belt addresses it! I'm also hoping it's guts are similar enough to this model to follow a bit!
I'm pretty excited about it, snagged it for $115 and was a 2 hour drive from me so I didn't have to risk shipping!
You definitely should sell this concept to the Discovery Channel.
They'll love it.
You are by FAR my favorite RUclipsr. Your videos are well thought out, high quality, informative, cover a diverse set of topics, and on top of that, hilarious. Keep up the good work man.
I think we should all chip in and get him another PL-88FS.
Another broken one or few so he can frankenstein kit
Great video! The tools you're looking for is called a spring hook & a pair of curved forceps. Your use of tape however was an innovative workaround. Keep them coming!
Troy Seber I think a crochet hook or two should do the trick at that particular size.
I was kind of hoping for an ending involving a sledgehammer. A fair response I think.
This isn't Photonicinduction.
Well Done mate ! Nice angle and so refreshing to see real life scenario instead of the usual glitz and glam. I could really feel my serotonin up take expand C :
Good on you trying to fix it, maybe it will serve to fix another broken one. I enjoy restoration videos. But this was badly broken and by the looks of it badly made from the start.
Go to the seller on Ebay, "Not as advertised" they have to do the work. Them's the rules.
@@kcuhc84 he said it was advertised as not working. But it then got destroyed in transit, but if you have a go at fixing it yourself I don't think your allowed your money back. He probably already had his money back (not worth shipping back). Always pick up big fragile things yourself
Thanks for documenting and sharing your efforts. I just got a Pioneer PL-88FS a little while ago and need to replace the belts. Seeing how to get to them is really helpful.
If you can’t get yours going I’m sure that the parts can go to a good use. If the little light and optical sensor that are in the cartridge are still working they could revive another turntable.
I’d also love to see more front loading turntables. I have three (a Marantz TT-222 and two Sonys) and am always interested in seeing more models.
Another victim claimed by international postage -.-7
Could be the special eBay Global Shipping Program ordeal. I know they will repackage parcels for efficiency, throw out the original box and all the extra fluff, put it in a smaller box after they wrap 2mm of bubble wrap around it.
Each courier probably played their part but it was probably the last leg being thrown around by DPD in the back of their vans.
Blame Pat the Postman! Ever since his show got canceled, he doesn't care about his job lol
It doesn' t even have to be international. I bought a second hand cordless drill from another city, about 100 miles from here. It was bubble- wrapped and in a cardboard box but as it arrived, the box was crushed and the body of power tool was literally shattered. And no- one to blame but myself for not going to collect in person.
At least it showed up... For months dozens of packages were just not being delivered in my area all last year and almost through Christmas. After many complaints someone put up a game camera and caught the postal worker taking packages and throwing them into the woods (presumably to retrieve later). After all the complaints the post office only finally took action because of the video. And all they did was fire her, no charges to my knowledge and wouldn't even give her name for us to file charges. No offer of any replacement... nothing. All the way up to the highest national level we were able to contact. They make the numbers very hard to find and eventually will stop answering your calls. The only thing they would say is contact the shipper and see if they will replace them. Though the shipper didn't employ the thief or have anything to do with the problem. Between myself, my mother a few miles away, and some other people I know in the area we had thousands of dollars worth of packages go missing with no solution or even any attempt of a solution at all. Keep in mind not all online retailers offer different shipping methods or insurance (and they're all equally terrible anyways) for the "free market" to push the best to the top. I know my rant isn't exactly on topic but as you can probably tell I'm still a little pissed about it.
I kind of like it when success isn't a foregone conclusion in repair videos. Keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Looks like a job for my mate Vince..😊
Well, if anything, it's the discovery of things you didn't know existed when you were a kid, because you didn't get to go check out the awesome hi-fi stores, or have access to any cool hi-fo magazines.
This was still a great Techmoan video.
Hilarious! I love repair videos anyway so this is a winner. Now just add drama by letting the Moans do the work and argue over it.
Thought that was going to turn in to triggers broom, best bit , when you listed the faults after all your efforts had my brew flying across the room in fits excellent keep up the good work
You shouldn't shake air duster cans.
Not only do they not require it, The cans also do not contain a metal ball bearing like in paint cans so shaking it achieves nothing. Most air duster cans warn you not to shake the can.
I actually love those shows.
Love your material.
Have this same unit needing work...
So im excited to watch
Beautiful ending. Subverting expectations like a regular Rian Johnson!
I love repair videos. I love making repair videos (provided the camera doesn't get in my way). And this one... was great! I laughed so much at the second chance ending. Wish I could fiddle around with this turntable a bit, myself. Sorry things didn't work out, but you sure made the best of it.
Do a claim and get ur money back from shipping company.
I'm glad you said from the shipping company and not the seller. So many people would open a case against the seller when it isn't their fault. Unless it was very poorly packaged.
@@HerecomestheCalavera I think he said it was badly packaged.
@@HerecomestheCalavera The claim should be against the seller, and I say that as a business seller on eBay of some 17 years, simply because it is they who have a contractual relationship with the courier. The buyer claims from the seller, the seller claims from the courier--assuming that the goods were appropriately packed--the courier refunds then improves its handling processes. Well, maybe the last of those is a little fanciful but the principle stands.
A seller's responsibility is to supply the goods as advertised. That they contract an agent (a courier or postal service) to fulfil the obligation doesn't shift the liability. The only case in which a buyer should be expected to claim against a carrier is where they have employed them directly, for example, where an product is advertised as being available only for collection and a buyer arranges for a third party to collect on their behalf.
Any issue of claims is, of course, complicated by the fact that the turntable was sold as non-working, parts only. Nevertheless, if the condition was significantly different from the description then the seller remains liable.
Here's one fan that totally loves the idea! Honestly my only issue with those types of shows is the part where "something huge goes wrong" and "they don't know if they'll get it finished in time" when you, as the viewer, knows they'll get it fixed and that it'll happen off screen. I'd always much rather they either not do that bit, or they actually fail to get it fixed. Adding some uncertainty to whether or not the thing actually gets fixed adds a whole new level of suspense to the program. At least, that's my opinion and I might be the vast minority with that.
Is it just me or has Pat the Postman gone more careless in delivering the mail?
One of the best I have seen, I particularly liked how short that telephone call was..."yep.......ok"...No.....
I would have complained and got to some of my money back if it was damaged
Simon Smith Good luck with that. I had a very expensive package that got damaged during shipping. I had insurance and filled a claim with FexEx and sent them pictures. The next day I got a response saying that they reviewed the claim and are not covering the damage. When I called them for an explanation the lady I talked to was by far the rudest cunt that I’ve ever had the displeasure of speaking to. Fed ex insurance is a flat out scam.
@@nutz4gunz457 Yeah well packet service companies are the worst. They're the ones who mess up but they never fix anything. Here in the Netherlands, if your package gets lost or damaged, by law it is the senders responsibility so you have to either refund or resend the shipment. The packetservice just gets away with it.
Since he bought it on eBay the seller is obligated to cover shipping damage. It sucks for both parties, but this happens relatively often with used hifi equipment on eBay. I swear half the shit I've bought ends up this way, including a beautiful tape deck and my first Yamaha reciever..
@@nutz4gunz457 Well remember that the seller also has a responsibility to properly pack things, even well packaged items can sometimes get damaged but if done right it should be pretty rare and the damage fairly minimal, now I don't know if I would ask for a refund on this since they'll likely want the player back, but you can always ask for a partial refund and the sellers will usually oblige.
At least he received it. My Hermes lost a parcel I sent tracked and signed. Their own tracking said "left in porch". Although I got a refund it took about 3 hours of phone calls, form filling etc. In hindsight not worth it for a £50 parcel.
I like how you left it at 14:34 with what was actually there for a split-second.