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pioneer SX-650 restoration

ifearbanjos

ifearbanjos

Active Member
First. THANK YOU lwrs10 for the Christmas present. A 1977 Pioneer SX-650. For those who missed the barter town before Christmas lwrs10 offered the unit free plus shipping. Looking hard at the photos you may notice a small problem or two with the reciever. It was found jammed in the open rafters of a house after the roof was blown off in huricane Ivan.
I know I can get a beautiful SX-650 from Crag's febay, or an AK'er for what 30 to 60 dollars. But it would'nt be the same thing. This is an exersize in...AH HELL I'm telling the family 'I am out in the shop working if anyone wants to help' where upon all duck their heads and I fiddle with a project and drink from the latest batch of home made ale to come out of the cooler. All in peace. I may end up with a thousand dollars worth in labor time. parts. paint. and cleaner along with a new cabinet skin but its mine.
I did power it up for a few seconds mainly a bulb check. As advertised it did fire up (maybe wrong word). One was out, blown, so ordered a few. These photos show the unit as it was being taken down to subsections for a thorough cleaning. Fair amount of sand dirt pinestraw leaves and dead animals in the unit. Only part needed I don't have yet is one of the SX toggle knobs. Round with two flats and one grove near trhe base with plastic insert.
TOTAL TO DATE
TIME- 4 hours
COST-
shipping $35.00
bulbs $8.00
supplies $13.00
_______________
total $56.00

Of coarse when done I will have to get a '77 Pioneer TT and speakers for the IVAN/PIONEER
 

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Vinalisfinal what would you need for the knob. Hay mine was running. It just looked like it had been through a huricane.lol Should be back on the project tonight, thats the plan.
 
It just looked like it had been through a huricane
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Yep.It does look like storm surge debris.You have your work cut out for you.Good luck.:thmbsp:
 
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The cover looks like ass, but the whole front of it looks to be in good condition, and that's more important. You can make new side pieces for the cover without too much trouble. Plus then you can use real wood.

Chris
 
Cleaned the main board today. In a test I found that the alcohol would attack the coating on the underside so no alc. Wanted to use alcohol dut to it's anhydrous properties. Wont make oxidation. Used Windex and soft brushes. Compressed air showed that the dirt was quite stubborn. A second round of washing and compressed air and its ready for the hot dryer.
 

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The SX-650 is a nice receiver and it looks like you are well on your way to bringing your's back to life. I had a similar project about a year ago and built a new wood case. The sides are solid walnut and the top is veneered 1/4" plywood. All-in-all I was pretty pleased with the end results and the SX-650 is singing again! Good luck with your project.

When I figure out how to post pictures from Photobucket of my completed SX-650 I'll post them.

Here is the link to my previous thread on building a new case for my SX-650. Pictures are towards the end.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=334799&page=2
 
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Today I opened up the amp block. Got it washed out dried and back together. Also finished rest of the subsections. The power section, control section, and frames. Will start the build up tomorrow. Dollar wrong on the bulbs and alcolol can't be used, cost change.
TOTAL TO DATE
TIME- 11 hours
COST-
shipping $35.00
bulbs $9.00
supplies $7.00
_______________
total $51.00
 

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Another couple hours and the unit is going back together. Decided not to strip and repaint the back panal. Would require having vinyl cut at work to duplicate all the info and clearcoating. Went with a good cleaning and car wax. Keeping a touch of the battle scars but tucked away in back. Last photo shows the front not yet cleaned.
TOTAL TO DATE
TIME- 15 hours
COST-
shipping $35.00
bulbs $9.00
supplies $7.00
____________
TOTAL: $51.00
 

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Good Job so far. Looks like you've made the proverbial Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear!
 
Is this only a cleaning project? Am I missing something here? Wouldn't focusing on the cost in parts/labor to get it working in spec be first before spending time cleaning it? Just asking.
 
Always clean up the boards, & parts 1st to get down to the actual parts so you can inspect it closely. He's already powered it up, so it's more of a clean up than anything else right now. It's easier to work on a clean unit than a dirty one.

It's easier to pinpoint a problem on a clean unit.

Larry
 
Yep you missed it. Shipping is more the a good unit cost. My dad's first car was a model T. He used mules to drag it out of a stream bed and all the way home. Spent untold weeks finding parts for it. He was 9. Side story My mom's cousin same age lived a few miles away. Wanted an airplane so built one using mostly fruit crates from the familys truck farm business. Roped it to the model T and flew it while the T pulled it down the dirt road. Says it flew fairly good till they met a 7-Up truck heading the other way. Retired Lockheed VP. My first pick up did not have any two parts still together. When I got the truck not one part not even one bolt was still attached. It was fully dissambled and spread out over a 5000' shop mixed in with the parts of dozens of close-out Ford parts houses. While restoring I never saw a '46 ford pick up in person till I finished it. Not doing it for sell and profit. The face panel is the only thing of value. Not for want of a big power unit. It's only 35wpc. I have a perfect Technics 35wpc. Doing this because I can. Because I can give it possably dacades of life and give it a new story, a chapter. The Machine God tasks me.
 

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ifearbanjos said:
Yep you missed it. Shipping is more the a good unit cost. My dad's first car was a model T. He used mules to drag it out of a stream bed and all the way home. Spent untold weeks finding parts for it. He was 9. Side story My mom's cousin same age lived a few miles away. Wanted an airplane so built one using mostly fruit crates from the familys truck farm business. Roped it to the model T and flew it while the T pulled it down the dirt road. Says it flew fairly good till they met a 7-Up truck heading the other way. Retired Lockheed VP. My first pick up did not have any two parts still together. When I got the truck not one part not even one bolt was still attached. It was fully dissembled and spread out over a 5000' shop mixed in with the parts of dozens of close-out Ford parts houses. While restoring I never saw a '46 ford pick up in person till I finished it. Not doing it for sell and profit. The face panel is the only thing of value. Not for want of a big power unit. It's only 35wpc. I have a perfect Technics 35wpc. Doing this because I can. Because I can give it possibly decades of life and give it a new story, a chapter. The Machine God tasks me.
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I totally understand where you are coming from. I was a mechanic for 26 years. Restored them too.

Unless it s a total wreck like the one 650 I have...boards good....everything else destroyed....then it can be saved. I bought a SX450 last year for 20 dollars. I restored it. It maybe worth or not what I have in it now, but its like you said...it has history and another chapter for it to continue into. Just because its not a 10xx or 12xx or a 1980...doesnt mean it doesnt deserve its place in history. All these old silver faced Pioneers need to be saved. Its sad sometimes looking on Ebay and see someone has destryed and good unit just because it wasnt working.

Continue one you quest to restore the 650. Good luck on getting it finished. You can do it!:music:
 
How close can I get to the 46 while DROOLING!?!!??!??!? GAWD DANG! That is one PURRRRRRRRTY Truck!
 
It seems like some of us are similarly afflicted. Salvaging a "lost cause" is just the kind of challenge some of us appreciate. I hope your final outs are robust and survived the ordeal.

I got a Kenny out of what was probably a flood or hurricane surge. It had actual dried dirt in it, corrosion, and some kind of foulness that if I knew its origin I probably wouldn't have touched. Other than one power meter which gets a little sticky/flaky at times it sings right along and pulls FM like a big dog. I'm keeping the faceplate in its worn condition out of respect for what it has survived. It's earned the right to have some of the letters worn down. I might laser etch it eventually as a test project, but she's earned a place in the rack just out of raw fortitude - Ugly is only skin deep.

Your 650 is coming along very nicely. Well done.
 
Watthour said:
It seems like some of us are similarly afflicted. Salvaging a "lost cause" is just the kind of challenge some of us appreciate. I hope your final outs are robust and survived the ordeal.

I got a Kenny out of what was probably a flood or hurricane surge. It had actual dried dirt in it, corrosion, and some kind of foulness that if I knew its origin I probably wouldn't have touched. Other than one power meter which gets a little sticky/flaky at times it sings right along and pulls FM like a big dog. I'm keeping the faceplate in its worn condition out of respect for what it has survived. It's earned the right to have some of the letters worn down. I might laser etch it eventually as a test project, but she's earned a place in the rack just out of raw fortitude - Ugly is only skin deep.

Your 650 is coming along very nicely. Well done.
Click to expand...

I seem to be one of those people. Just like My truck...87 Chevy Silverado. Its rusted and there might be better out there...but I am not giving up.
 
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