Pioneer SX-353 - help: no sound in the right channel :-(

Hi. I'm new here, so I feel a little lame asking for help immediately, but a gave the forum a search and didn't find anything on point, so here I go:

I just picked up a Pioneer SX-353 receiver for a decent, albeit not a steal price ($60). But, I'm in Seattle, and there's definitely a market vintage stereo equipment, so that's actually not bad. The metal front and wood case are actually pretty pristine, plus the LEDs and meters (the needle style work).

Anyways, I'm getting ZERO sound out of the right channel. Not on phono, FM or Aux. Left channel actually sounds really good, nice and crisp. My speakers are brand new, and switched them to double check that they're both functioning. I'm using brand new speaker wire (amazon basics) and what seem like good quality RCA cables (monoprice, they're thick and shielded). After doing some online research, it seemed like cleaning out the dust and deoxing the knobs was the place to start. Which I did, no problems there. Actually it wasn't that dusty, so it had definitely been well loved previously. Looking at the connectors for the right channel speakers inside, there was no obvious issue compared to the left channel.

Does anyone have any guidance on troubleshooting this? Or experience with this or similar receivers?

I did contact the previous owner, and he said he hasn't this problem. Is there some simple boneheaded mistake I'm making in the setup that's causing this?

http://i.imgur.com/HXrh9yu.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Zk0s9vF.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/gFPIOBb.jpg

check for a channel line fuse. balance control fault.. speaker front switch fault.. speaker ear wiring fault.... obviously take precautions not to electrocute yourself.... thats the obvious starters.

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Originally Posted by struth

check for a channel line fuse. balance control fault.. speaker front switch fault.. speaker ear wiring fault.... obviously take precautions not to electrocute yourself.... thats the obvious starters.

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When you say "check" what are we talking about?

The New Acoustic Dimension '160a' was a great, best looking 70's receiver eva imho, but rare in the USA

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Originally Posted by Brawling Attorney

When you say "check" what are we talking about?

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Well unless your ok with electrics best not touching anything inside until unplugged. Also allow time for any big capacitors to discharge Have a look and see if there are any fuses in the output stage of each channel

As for switches etc clean and wiggle check for broken wires etc. I've got an old leak that was only working on one and it was the bad switches. A good clean sorted it
If your not sure what your at I would advise getting help from someone. Better safe than dead electricity doesn't take prisoners

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Originally Posted by struth

Well unless your ok with electrics best not touching anything inside until unplugged. Also allow time for any big capacitors to discharge Have a look and see if there are any fuses in the output stage of each channel

As for switches etc clean and wiggle check for broken wires etc. I've got an old leak that was only working on one and it was the bad switches. A good clean sorted it
If your not sure what your at I would advise getting help from someone. Better safe than dead electricity doesn't take prisoners

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I've already cleaned the switches. They look connected and functioning. But, I didn't really look at the fuses (saw them though). I'll pop it open today and take a look. Thanks struth!

If you have a meter you can pop the fuses and check them if one is badly blown the expect youve likely got a short in the o/p stage.. if the unit has been off all night it should be safe to work on:) visual checks can on occasion not tell the truth lol. I had to clean my balance, volume amd all the selector switches several times before the channel came back properly. old amps, that have sat unused often suffer from this.

good hunting

Have you tried using the 'Speaker B' outputs and selecting B on the front?

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Originally Posted by Firebottle

Have you tried using the 'Speaker B' outputs and selecting B on the front?

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Yeah, no go.

Actually, I went ahead and double checked (it wouldn't surprise me if I had overlooked trying that the first time). Unfortunately no right channel on the Speaker-B inputs either.

I did call a friend's Dad, who's pretty handy. He suggested I plug in some headphones and see if I'm any right channel through them. But, I don't have any headphones with a 1/4 inch jack, so I ordered an adapter off Amazon. Tomorrow after it comes, I guess I'll have one more bit of information to share about what's going on in there!

Upside: my lady friend is coming over tonight, and I dug out a couple mono records. Paul Anka singing "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" sounds halfway decent, or at least has a pleasant character :-)

Regarding that Akai 'X1800' Open Reel i take it your not using the 8 Track cartridge facility?

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Originally Posted by Virtual-Symmetry

Regarding that Akai 'X1800' Open Reel i take it your not using the 8 Track cartridge facility?

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I think it's a Roberts Reel to Reel...but I have a few 8 tracks, although I can see why they're fondly remembered (but not popular to use today). I actually haven't figured out how to play the Reel to Reel through anything else yet, although it's got built in speakers.

It is but Akai built the machines to Roberts Spec. .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cross-Field-...wAAOSwn9lXKqnT

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Originally Posted by Virtual-Symmetry

It is but Akai built the machines to Roberts Spec. .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cross-Field-...wAAOSwn9lXKqnT

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Oh, they're identical. Neat, I didn't know that.

Yeah, I do use the 8-track. It works pretty well, although the selector button is finicky. I picked up a random lot of a dozen carts on ebay, when I picked up the Roberts/Akai. It included tape of selections of music scenes from the Olivia Hussy Romeo and Juliet film...it's actually surprisingly amusing.

The reel to reel works too, but it's got a loud noise that I think is mechanical. I think it might only need some lubricant.

I got that adapter and tried the headphone jack. No, right channel through headphones either :-(

Likely of small help but?
Local Hospital thrift shop had, a month or so back, a small stack 5/6? 70's receivers on sale for 8$ each. All with a tested ok sticker
Wife only had one word; NO.
Hunt about ? could be simpler than repair.

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Originally Posted by danilo

Wife only had one word; NO.

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That's just not fair is it? :eyebrows:

Certainly isn't.
Ever heard Buddy Guy's version of "cheaper to keep her" :lol:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKDc-euX7ws

Taking another pass at deoxing the switches. Visually inspected all the fuses. They all look fine, although I won't know for sure until the multimeter I ordered off Amazon comes.

I'm still optimistic I'll figure this out. Anymore simple fixes people can recommend before I start futzing with capacitors is welcome :doh: