[William Sommerwerck]

I've narrowed down the problem, so I'm looking for a more-or-less specific
answer, not speculation.

Track 4 is down in level and has a rough, scratchy sound. I cleaned the
contacts on the boards and the head block, first with alcohol, then ProGold.
That did no good.

When the play-head cables are swapped, the problem remains with the track 4
cable (yellow), indicating that it's not a board problem.

If I remove the three screws holding down the head block and gently push
back on the block's PC board, track 4 comes in loud 'n clear. This suggests
a problem with the head-block connector, but gently tightening the pins that
connect to track 4 doesn't do any good.

As I intend to use the machine solely for playback, replacing the head-block
connector wouldn't be a major tsimmes, as I could leave the erase and record
cables dangling.

Anyone know what's going on here?

Thanks in advance.

--
"We already know the answers -- we just haven't asked the right
questions." -- Edwin Land

[Scott Dorsey]

William Sommerwerck wrote:
If I remove the three screws holding down the head block and gently push
back on the block's PC board, track 4 comes in loud 'n clear. This suggests
a problem with the head-block connector, but gently tightening the pins that
connect to track 4 doesn't do any good.

As I intend to use the machine solely for playback, replacing the head-block
connector wouldn't be a major tsimmes, as I could leave the erase and record
cables dangling.

Anyone know what's going on here?

Cold solder joint? Cracked solder joint? Pin come loose?

The problem could be either on the block or the socket.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."