HOME - Back to board
 

Restoring A Filthy VZ-2000

gluecifer - 2008-11-29 05:48

Just got her up to competant state after receiving her in completely rank condition with nothing but the radio working, but for AU$50 (US$32, GBP 21) I thought I'd give her some love and see if I could work some magic.

Here's some comparison shots.





Thanks especially to Docs for his marvellous how-to on taking one apart and more thanks to everyone who ever contributed to a VZ-2000 'problem' thread. Cassette deck now 100% and turntable working great apart from needing the correct sized belt and a new stylus for Side B.

Thanks Brothers.



Rock On.

aza - 2008-11-29 06:19

Nice work Rick.
Hard to believe that people let these awesome peices of equipment get to that kind of a state !

masterblaster - 2008-11-29 11:59

Nice work Gluecifer. It looks great

jvc.floyd - 2008-11-29 12:31

awesome job man i love the vz 2000 its one of my favorite boxes and a huge heavy beast .

jlf - 2008-11-29 15:43

That really came out nice!!!

billpc55 - 2008-11-29 17:42

very good looking vz

retro.addict - 2008-12-01 10:56

Some hard work's gone into that VZ, Rick. Smile It looks really cool now, well done. Cool

simonmackay - 2009-02-26 03:48

You had done a very good job getting the VZ2000 close to "new" condition.
I was having a look at the pictures and had noticed that two of the slider controls had gone missing. If you needed ti achieve the "complete" restoration, it is worth looking around the message board for information about moulding knobs and control caps off existing specimens or look for "part-out" VZs for the replacement controls.
Welcome to the new hobby of collecting and restoring classic electronics from the 60s through the 80s. This class of equipment is as important in the collecting scene as the vintage electronics from the 50s or before.

With regards,

Simon Mackay

gluecifer - 2009-02-26 04:22

Thanks for the kind words Simon. I'm definitely on the look out for people parting this box out, I'm sure I'll pick up the parts I need in due time. One of the most important things I've learned to have in collecting these wonderful pieces is patience. I'm in no rush and am confident something will come along eventually.



Rock On.

fatdog - 2009-02-26 04:59

Hey Rick, you need to get with Appleknocker. He's needing some help on changing the turntable belt.

gluecifer - 2009-02-26 13:35

Ahh unfortunately I'm at the same point he's at, unfortunately I've 50% stripped the screws holding the turntable housing around the platter and can't for the life of my work out another way to get a full size belt in there. I squeezed a very thin belt through in a very unorthodox manner just to make sure everything still moved as it should.

I'm sure someone will have the solution!



Rock On.

transamguy1977 - 2009-02-26 14:43

Man That is a night and day difference.
Its good to see when a deserving box gets another chance at life.

sinister - 2009-02-26 15:19

did you give it a bath?

jasoncambs - 2009-02-26 16:45

looks great , there is a vz3000 on ebay uk at the mo , i wonder if the record player parts are interchangeable between models,, it has a £50 ish buy it now i think

redbenjoe - 2009-02-26 16:51

beautiful work , rick Smile

appleknocker - 2009-02-26 17:41

Dog Gone nice clean up job!!! It's a 100% turnaround Big Grin. This Saturday I am leaving the whole day open to try this belt change on mine. I actually have a whole parts phono assembly out of a different VZ2000 that I have been experimenting on this week. The first thing I have noticed is that every screw I try to loosen is tight as H#LL! It's like Lou Ferrigno worked for Sharp before he took the job as the Hulk Mad So I am not sure how to tackle this problem. It almost seems like it's possible to feed the belt through from the front side (where the record sits) attached to a wire or something to pull it on out and around the platter rather than trying to deal with all those tight wires and impossible screws on the inside.

gluecifer - 2009-02-27 05:48

quote:
The first thing I have noticed is that every screw I try to loosen is tight as H#LL! It's like Lou Ferrigno worked for Sharp before he took the job as the Hulk Mad So I am not sure how to tackle this problem. It almost seems like it's possible to feed the belt through from the front side (where the record sits) attached to a wire or something to pull it on out and around the platter rather than trying to deal with all those tight wires and impossible screws on the inside.


That's exactly what I did, with a belt that was unfortunately too thin to actually drive the platter at the correct speed unfortunately.

SINISTER: no bath, but about 20 KFC refresher towels and a couple of microfibre cloths.



Rock On.

appleknocker - 2009-02-27 12:42

Did you use the belt that was too thin because you didn't have the actual correct sized belt yet or was it because the correct sized belt didn't fit through that front side?
I think I am going to take my first shot at getting this belt on going in from the front side like you did and avoid all the wires and screws unless you alread tried it and the thicker stock belt wouldn't go in that way -

gluecifer - 2009-02-27 18:10

I didn't have the correct size belt, I just wanted to see if it all still worked properly... but fitting the correct thickness belt that way may not work, but it's definitely worth a good try!

Good luck Appleknocker!



Rock On.

tshorba - 2009-02-28 16:45

hey glue i have 2 stylus for the vz at work if you need $25 au each..

retro - 2009-02-28 17:30

Great job!

weylandyutani - 2009-03-02 22:10

Go rick!!!!!!! I had to watch as a VZ3000 went for 62 nz bucks on trade me the other day. in near perfect condition DOH Frown

lasonic.trc920 - 2009-03-17 18:47

That really is amazing. Nice work!