vesta fire ddx delay

[944cabby]

I've recently bought an old faulty '80's Vesta fire ddx digital delay which i'm hoping to get working again.
Unfortunately, i've hardly found any info on the net other than shino vesta fire were a japanese company which became Vestax, and can't find a schematic anywhere.
The unit has 4 knobs - Range,Feedback,Multi,mix.
I've conncted to battery and mains power supply but no Led lights up, there's no clean guitar sound with the pedal off - the only sounds you can here are "scratchy" and occasional very loud clicks when you turn the Mix knob.
I've had a look inside but can't see any visibly broken/damaged parts - so it looks like it will be a process of elimination to get it going again.
Could anyone suggest where i should start first?Replacing the old capacitors maybe?

[Govmnt_Lacky]

First.... the obligatory reference to the DEBUGGING thread:

http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=29816.0

Follow and obey 

Next... posting some pictures of the circuit and ALL of the wiring. May help!!


Good Luck 

[944cabby]

Here's some pics, unfortunately i can't find a schematic anywhere - Vestax are still operating but only make reference to building effects in the late '70's and '80's.

[Quackzed]

those caps on the opposite side of the board look suspicious... likely someone modified it, added those, or at least changed 'em...
if not ,they'd be on the same side of the board as all the other components...
i aways check jacks, switches, pots, contacts first. basically anything that moves or gets connected/unconnected can get worn out or damaged
then power issues like reverse polarity diode, electro caps , anything likely to be damaged if overpowered...
-basically follow the debugging procedure...
oh yeah, those type of board mounted jacks always break the traces they're soldered to...
betcha thats it. wiggle the jacks while looking at the traces theyre connected to on the other  side of the board, see if theyve broken any of the traces or just arent connected...
that goes for any board mounted stuff... battery wires always break from movement, if you're not getting led then it might be battery wires or ac power jack...

[944cabby]

those caps on the opposite side of the board look suspicious... likely someone modified it, added those, or at least changed 'em...
if not ,they'd be on the same side of the board as all the other components...
i aways check jacks, switches, pots, contacts first. basically anything that moves or gets connected/unconnected can get worn out or damaged
then power issues like reverse polarity diode, electro caps , anything likely to be damaged if overpowered...
-basically follow the debugging procedure...
oh yeah, those type of board mounted jacks always break the traces they're soldered to...
betcha thats it. wiggle the jacks while looking at the traces theyre connected to on the other  side of the board, see if theyve broken any of the traces or just arent connected...
that goes for any board mounted stuff... battery wires always break from movement, if you're not getting led then it might be battery wires or ac power jack...

Yes, those two caps on the underside do look suspicious and look like they've been added, but there are exactly the same caps in other positions on the board.

[Tony Forestiere]

I used to have one of those; (hated it after a while). The center pin in the DC jack was smaller than a Boss supply and cut off quite frequently. It also ate batteries (which I see you tried). I am going with the board mounted jacks, (especially the Input) as the LED/lack of power issue and possible lack of switching the effect on.
Good luck!

[tiges_ tendres]

Can you post voltages of the voltage regulator? 

[Earthscum]

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I am going with the board mounted jacks, (especially the Input) as the LED issue and possible lack of switching the effect on.
Good luck!

Aye, my first thought as well... always check for bad  or broken in/out wires, or in your case, bad jack. Mechanical first, easiest to fix, most often to cause problems.