SONY 8FC-69WA only FM works

[paronaram]

Hello Everybody,
Just join this forum to learn more about this cool technology Flip Clock and maybe get some help with my new purchase.
Picked up a SONY 8FC-69WA in excellent clean / cosmetic condition, but only FM works and radio looks dark, I did some research and I know that SONY radios from this era have green lights on the dial.
Before I start troubleshooting, I would like to know how to remove cover properly, without braking anything
I removed 4 screws from the bottom, unscrew the "sleep" button, removed tuning knob ... everything else does not coming out easily ... (clock and alarm knobs, two screws on the sides)

Any help will be greatly appreciated

Thank you.

[Mackey]

Welcome to the forum!
I just finished a video on that model (see video below).
The lights on the dials are two low volt "white" incandescent bulbs (I replaced mine with bulbs rated at 6V). The bulb on the alarm dial is green.

To remove the case you need to remove the two screws under the clock mechanism (this allows the case to come off more easily). Then there are the two side screws (they MUST come off) and two screws under the base at the corners (Must come off).
The knobs on the alarm and time set have to be pulled straight away. They will be stubborn if they've never been removed. If they do not want to come off use Gorilla Tape (see Video on YouTube - this is not specific the the 8FC-69WA and is a different video than that below).

[Mackey]

The AM will probably be able to be brought to life by spraying the AM/FM selector switch with some electric contact clearer (Deoxit is a favorite). On some later model clocks the selection takes place right where the switch is. In this case, however, you'll see that there is an arm that moves the actual switch (on the circuit board). You will have to spray a small amount of contact clearer there.

See on Amazon.com

Home Depot also stocks contact cleaner by CRC that I have found works well - but I stick with DeoxIT primarily (upon recommendation of one of our members, Engineer).

I could make a short video specific to your needs if this doesn't make sense.

[paronaram]

Thank you Mackey!
I was able to remove the case- thanks for the tip!
This clock was never serviced, knobs and screws was never removed since assembly - so I did clean the switch with DeoxIt and both radio bands are working now!
Both dial lights are bad, so I will need to buy 2x 6V bulbs
Now, clock motor is not spinning... need to figure out if it's a PS or motor
I see that there is 4 wires from motor to PS, I need to remove that black plastic square from PCB to check the voltage or there is other spots to check the voltage

Thank you.

[Mackey]

No. There's no reason to remove that. It’s extremely unlikely that the motor is not working due to lack of current. It almost certainly needs to be oiled. This is a different clock but discusses the process.

https://youtu.be/scNpiKZqxQ0

[Mackey]

I meant to mention that under that black cover is nothing that needs to be serviced (I've removed one and I couldn't get it back on). All it does is cover where the mains electricity comes in. What you're calling the the PS (power supply) we usually refer to here as the transformer. (By the way, we can call it whatever we like - we're making this up as we go). The transformer is serving to power the radio. The motor runs on 120 V - it just picks up the current from under there. I think (don't know for sure, the clock's not open - my parts clock is in storage). But again, we essentially never see a motor not working because it just lost connection.

There remains the larger problem that one of two things may have happened. The internal gears of the motor (inside the silver, can-looking thing) have become warped. They're a mixture of nylon and metal gears and they wear out. You will hear of some brave souls have opened up that can on other clocks and replaced the gear. This is crazy hard and I doubt the repair is every as good as new. Also very difficult to find the right gear. Also, no one knows how long these repairs last. In my case, I just waited until I got a working motor. One day I think we'll find a better solution. But anyway ...

The other problem is that there is a plastic Cam on the end of the motor (an odd shaped circular type affair) which I think tends to wear down. The reason I think it wears is due to the increasing difficulty it has pushing up a lever that causes a ratchet-type thing (it looks like a claw hand) to pull the minutes wheel down. The service manuals and operating instructions of some of these models recommend getting the mechanisms oiled yearly. If you get the mechanism lifted away from the base you'll see where there are metal gears that could use a small drop of oil. Oil sparingly and close to the arbor (the axle of the gears) and any moving metal parts (the ratchet has some places).

Anyway, lots to discuss as you can see.

First this is to look that the video I mentioned to see if you can get the motor running then go from there.

Good Luck.

[Guest]

Good work on fixing your radio and Mackey's instructions were spot-on. Good work, fellas!

[paronaram]

Thank you!

Mackey, very good video right to the point!
Clock motor is working now! Well it stops sometimes, do I need to put more oil or ...
When I removed motor back cover, oh speaking of cover
Does your flip clocks make dust art like this one



Back to our topic, when I remove the cover, I see that motor has a gear that is engaged with other gears to make all this to work, is it safe to remove that wile I'm oiling? Do you think I will be able to reinstall that?
Asking in case I need to add more oil

Also, can you please point me to web resource where can I buy 6V green bulbs?
Also neon light, does it go dim from age? it almost has no light ...

Thank you!

[paronaram]

this bulb should do it right:

https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/2181/CM2181-ND/3151432?itemSeq=367132754

Thank you!

[Guest]

If the motor is stopping after oiling...then you did not oil it properly. It should move freely with very little effort.

Where exactly did you add oil? See attached pics for oiling points. No, you do not need to disassemble the motor as shown in the pics.



The neon lamps should glow fairly bright. Yours is probably well into old age and should be replaced with an NE-2H and 30K or 33K 1/2 watt resistor.

[flipoclock]

Alternatively you could leave it spinning without its cover, just to test. It is theoretically possible that the cover of the motor is interfering with the flywheel of the motor, although that is not very likely to happen.

[Guest]

Also, bulbtown.com or Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor are a good resource for lamps here in the US.

[paronaram]

Just got the 6.3V bulbs, and they glow bright enough with 5.5V, but still get extremely hot
is it OK to leave them near dial ? It won't melt anything?

[paronaram]

Engineer, you never noticed 6.3V bulb gets hot to melt plastic?

[Guest]

Are you sure the source is 5.5v? Is it DC or AC? I don't remember what it is on that model. I think the dial lights have red and blue wires running to the vertical board just under the top push buttons.

6.3v should not run that warm at all even at a full 6.3v. It will make heat, but should not be much. I have not seen one melt unless it was re-wired or modified.