Sharp GF-6060E radio cassette restoration. Part 1. Stripdown !

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I bought one of these new when I was an apprentice gas engineer in 1981. This particular one was given to me by a member of the vintage radio forum a few years ago. I've now made a start on its restoration. This may take some time but please join in and watch this piece of my history come back to life piece by piece.
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[@Radiocruncher]

Apologies for missing the premiere but I dozed off 💤😴🛌🥱 I hope you all enjoy the video

[@jaroslavkvasnicka6856]

Mám tento stroj.Je to jako nové na rozdíl od videa.Ten můj je zachovalý krásný a plně funkční.Díky pánu Bohu za to.Maximální spokojenost.DJ Margael

[@Radiocruncher]

A very nice radio cassette back in the day

[@steves8083]

Hi Graham, The 'beat cancel' switch setting slightly modifies the frequency of the tape bias oscillator when in recording mode. The idea is to find a switch setting, usually by trial and error, that does not result in a beat action with the received frequency on AM reception. The hope is that harmonics of the record bias oscillator will not interfere with the radio station being recorded. You can test this by selecting recording mode on the cassette system (you don't actually need a tape inserted - just press the record interlock lever), select record and play together and listen to a radio station on AM - then change position of the switch to A-B-C. One setting should result in clear reception. Best wishes, Steve S (Dorset)

[@Radiocruncher]

Hi Steve and thanks very much for this info. I’ve seen this feature on a lot of tape decks but never had to use it. I assume then that it’s only needed if you are recording from the radio. Cheers Graham

[@steves8083]

@@Radiocruncher My pleasure, Graham. It's akin to having an unwanted BFO running for SSB reception whenever you are recording onto tape and you're trying to listen to AM broadcasts. The 'bells and whistles' of having an all-in-one radio and tape system make us realise that the whistles are not so popular after all! Keep up your interesting work. Best regards, Steve

[@Radiocruncher]

Strangely enough there’s a couple audio glitches. One at 11:18 and one at 15:31. They only last 1 minute each so hopefully that won’t affect your viewing pleasure. See you on the next one. Graham

[@MichaelBeeny]

Hi Graham, good to see you making videos that I don't have to donate almost a day of my life to watch! Many of the more lower cost cassette players of the day did not make proper use of the chrome tape. To get the best results both the EQ and bias should be switched. Many however just switched the EQ. In such cases you would get best results from using standard tape, and cheaper.

[@Radiocruncher]

Hi Michael. I have a lot of footage that I’ve shot over the last year to edit up so plenty more where this came from. Interesting comment about the chrome tape setting. I will have to get my head in the service manual and see if they are both switched. Regards Graham

[@danielrussell446]

Well done Graham a brilliant video what a well engineered radio typical of the older Japanese stuff we had a lot to Sony stuff some dating from that era and it was bullet proof and lasted extremely well I am still sad when I took my stacker system to the car boot I should have kept it! We live and learn lol anyway looking forward to this one coming back to life and my isn’t it yellow 😂

[@Radiocruncher]

Thanks Daniel. It might not be Sharps best radio but it brings back a lot of memories. I regret parting with loads of things over the years including my complete vinyl collection. It’s very yellow 🫣

[@we1330]

I had one of these, the stereo mics were excellent for their day!

[@Radiocruncher]

Yes I remember recording with it back in the early 80's. It worked well

[@tarstarkusz]

This was made right at the end of good boomboxes. You can really see how this has been designed down to the Pence/Yen. Right around 1982 is when boomboxes started being made like absolute junk.

[@Radiocruncher]

Yes there is a lot of plastic in there. Shame they cheaped out on them

[@LeeLocke]

Let's do this!

[@Radiocruncher]

It’s getting the works for sure

[@lesliedymond9484]

Hello Graham interesting video the old girl has had a hard life ha nice unit tho

[@Radiocruncher]

Thanks Les. Yes it certainly has. You have seen it in the flesh so know what it was like

[@AstonsVintageTechnologyWorkshp]

Oh man, you're going to have fun making a new capstan rubber idler. It's press fit and a complete pain in the bum to size and fit. Best of luck. :D

[@Radiocruncher]

Well spotted Aston. It is indeed the capstan tyre that has turned to goo. I’ve ordered some from China so the fun will begin when they arrive

[@AstonsVintageTechnologyWorkshp]

​@@Radiocruncher Okey, found the seller's selling them, well, that would have saved me some time a few years ago. 😛 Also, when you take out the capstan from it's bearing, as the rubber bit has bitten the dust and gone to goo, cut the majority of it off and clean the rest. It ruins the phosphor bronze bearing with goo if you don't. 🙂

[@melvyndalley9558]

@@Radiocruncher I managed to get one from Czech republic off ebay. Most GF models seem to use the same item.

[@Radiocruncher]

Great tip Aston thanks. Still waiting on the rubbers

[@Radiocruncher]

I think you are right Melvyn. I bought 20 as I have 2 more cassette players here in need of them

[@johnturner9239]

Will be good to see how that cleaner copes with that nasty stuff..

[@Radiocruncher]

It did very well John. More to come soon

[@santoshkumar-rf9pd]

Maheshwar mp India se very very very nice sir ji tape DAC radio

[@Radiocruncher]

Thank you

[@ParallelSyntax]

I’ve just got one of these and I’m trying to fix it up. The volume is very crackly and loud. Only one channel works and even when fully turned down, it’s at a medium volume. Soon as I turn it up a little the other channel activates. I’m also having issues getting stereo on FM. Very rarely I can get it to activate, despite a strong signal. I’ve tried contact cleaner to no avail. Can you suggest what else I could try? Have you experienced any of these issue?

[@Radiocruncher]

It’s great that you are restoring one as well. Mine also had really scratchy pots. I’ve stripped them out of the set and put them in my ultrasonic cleaner a couple of times. I’m then going to use Deoxit fader lube to lubricate them. I haven’t got them back in the set yet but I’m hoping that will do the trick. If not then they will need to be taken apart and cleaned manually. Good luck with yours and please let me know how you get on. Regards Graham

[@LeeLocke]

I can almost smell that nicotine!

[@Radiocruncher]

It’s was dripping off it Lee when I was cleaning it. You could drink it