Old Magnavox boomboxes are notorious for having failing gears. So I try to stay away from them. But if you happen to have one, you can find replacement gears online or 3D print your own.
I went the route of purchasing gears online. However, I still needed to drill a larger hole and use my own additional E-Clip (which thankfully I had), to secure the gear in place. The original gear didn’t have a clip.
Thankfully after those fixes it restored functionality to this boombox.
Magnavox D7140
When it’s working, this a nice-looking and simple boombox with tape and radio functionality.
Orange Gears
This photo shows the original failing orange gears. If I remember correctly, one gear has already been removed in this photo at the top. You can see the empty spindle where it belongs.
Here’s a photo of the installed gears in the Magnavox D7140. I had to drill the hole bigger, and install a C-Clip to hold the gear in place.
Here’s a short video of the process of drilling a larger hole in the gear.
Other notes
The power cord on this machine can also be an issue. It was tricky finding one that fit and held on securly. If it’s loose, it can cause the unit to flicker on and off.
And lasly, you’ll also need to change the belts. I have a library of mixed bag belts that I purchased form AliExpress before the tariffs. The main capstan belt is thicker than the usual 1mm belt. I believe it’s 2mm thick.
If I had to do this again, I’d try 3D-printing my own gears, since the ones I purchased weren’t even perfect and needed modifications.
Useful product links:
- Gears: Set of 3 Piece Gears for Philips D6260 D6530 D7030 D7140 D7240
- E-Clips: 480Pcs E Clips Assortment Kit (M1.5-M15), External Retaining Rings, 14 Sizes Snap Rings Assortment Kit
- Belts: 50 Pcs Cassette Player Belts Replacement Kit, Mixed Flat Rubber Drive Belts for Tape Recorder Repair Audio Machine Maintenance, Multi-Size Drive System Belt Set for CD DVD VCR (2mm Width)
- E-Clip Installation Tool (Optional): E Clips Removal and Installation Assortment Kit Tool Set
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