Beomaster 8000: Project Start - Initial Check

The Beomaster 8000 is now on the workbench and work begins with an initial check of what works and what doesn't. This Beomaster is in very good shape and when I connected up a couple of music sources (iPod Nano into TP2 and the BM8000 P1 FM station) I was a surprised the Beomaster played beautifully. I started to wonder if any work should be done on this receiver.

The happiness was short lived as the Beomaster stopped producing sound after ten minutes. Here is the Beomaster playing the local classical music FM station.

The first time the Beomaster stopped producing sound the display still showed 2.9 on the volume level, P1 as the tuner selection and 101.1 as the station. I put the Beomaster back into Standby mode then reselected P1. The music started playing again but after a few minutes, no sound. The second time the Beomaster display changed to tuner P and channel 87.5.

The Beomaster is definitely malfunctioning. It is time to open it up into service position and assess the work. Like the other Beosystem 8000 (and 6000) components from this early eighties period, Bang & Olufsen provided nice service access to work on these units.

Here is the Beomaster with the rear cover off, the front panel in service position and the display cover removed.

Here is the rear panel of the Beomaster.

When I unlatched the Beomaster locking bar for accessing the service position I noticed that one of the leaf springs that keeps the locking bar in place is missing. I will have to see if I have a spare in a parts unit.

This picture shows a better look at the Beomaster 8000 display board. The restoration plan is to convert the original LEDs with the SMD LEDs like those that were used in the Beocord 9000 display repair. So quite a bit of soldering is ahead.

Diving further into the insides of the Beomaster I discovered another missing piece. Like the Beocord 9000 unit, this Beomaster has a missing lid dampener. I am guessing this one was also leaking damping fluid. I also noticed that the Beomaster is missing the far left leaf spring for the locking bar. I will look for a spare dampener as well as the two missing leaf springs.

The previous picture was the left side of the Beomaster. Here is the right side (as viewed from the end looking in).

Most of the electrolytic capacitors look like they are original so that puts them in the mid-thirty year old range. The big black axial on the Power Supply PCB looks like it might be a replacement. This unit has been serviced in its past apparently.
Here is a better look at the left and right channel output amplifier boards.

It is time to take inventory of the capacitors and trimmers I need to replace in this Beomaster.