well thanks to everyone who helped me a few weeks ago, emailing my intructions etc, i took the easy way out - bought a new clock piece and got my brother to fit it - but i would now be happy to fit others for the 4 friends i encouraged to buy this product years ago!

also i will get another friend to try to clean the clock to perhaps use in future machines.

One disadvantage is the exceedingly bright clock display that i now have !!!! (can the brightnexx be changed???)

Give it time.

Very true. My front panel display is now almost invisible after just over 2 years use.

Colin

Mine's getting pretty dim too, in fact it's dimmer than my Panasonic machine's display on dim. Actually as most of my use of the Hummy is at night then it's not really a problem for me.

yeah, i know!!!

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of appreciation in this thread for your work, Big Les. Your research was first class and your instructions clear and unequivocal. I used methanol (model plane fuel - essentially pure according to Those Who Know), an artist's brush and upwards of 20 cotton buds. As I think you said, clean repeatedly until the bud comes away without discolouration. I saw the white deposits Vic20 described and photographed, but the main contaminant was a dark brown deposit (you can see a little of it on the photos). In my case, there was lots of it, like globs of dried soy sauce (a clue to its origin? - probably not!).
The clock, which has not worked for a couple of years, has now been working for 12 hours, and I have successfully made a couple of test recordings from standby.
Thanks again.

Hi John,

Model plane fuel is mainly methanol but it also contains oil, synthetic I think these days, but if it's not causing a problem then fine. Glad you're up and running again.

From my post #125.

For some reason the moderators have ignored my request, I will bring it to their attention again after Christmas.

Just a quick post to say a big thanks to Big-les whose expertise has enabled me to fix my clock successfully!

I just wanted to report another successful repair here. Thanks Big-les!

I've had my 9200T since April 2007 and it started with the --:-- problem around 6-9 months ago. I've had this thread bookmarked for quite some time now but have only just got around to following the instructions.

It took me three or four attempts of cleaning and testing before my clock finally appeared but it seems to be working fine now. For the record, I used ten cotton buds, a small paintbrush and some surgical spirit from Boots. (I checked a bottle in Sainsburys but found it contained all sorts of additional ingredients including castor oil.)

One really minor observation is that when my clock finally appeared, it was displaying 12:00 rather than 13:00 without an aerial connected. Presumably this is because we're using GMT rather than BST at this time of year. Once I connected the aerial, it changed to the correct time.

Anyway, thanks again. I should have done this months ago.

Happy New Year!

Interesting about the initial clock displayed time but I wouldn't lose any sleep over it and you're probably right with your explanation.

Happy New Year to you too.

Clock went wrong two days ago, remembered this thread, bought some surgical spirit then noticed it contained castor oil and other weird ingrediants, but tried it anyway, 2 cleans with tooth brush, now working fine so a big thanks to Big-les whose expertise has enabled me to fix my clock successfully!

A great big thank-you from me too to Big-les and all who supplemented with their experiences. Surgical-spirit appears to have worked for me. I got the same as tonyruscoe re. the initial time display - it was because it hadn't synched with the OTA time.

(Shame I didn't get this done in time for the X-Factor final which I got much family grief for).

As one of the first to benefit from the Big-les fix, I can report that the display he kindly repaired for me is still going strong after six months continuous use. I still have not got round to re-fitting the replacement board that I bought, as being new, it is so much brighter than the faded old one and lights up the bedroom somewhat more than SWMBO is comfortable with.

It was strange that there was no mention of Big-Les in the New Year's Honours List, in spite of extensive lobbying from the Surgical Spirit and Associated Solvent Manufacturers Association, but rumour has it that a Korean led campaign group masquerading under the 'Why no Knighthood for Brucie?' banner may have influenced HM. Better luck next year, Big-les!

Or it could have been Humax UK who now have a stock room full of display boards they can't shift.

I recently was asked to look at a 9200T which had also stopped recording from standby. The clock was displaying --:-- in standby just like all the others. The owner had seen all the information from Big Les etc, but was a little reluctant to meddle, so I followed the instructions to complete the job.

When the clock module was in my hands I went straight for the silver can clock chip and cleaned it (both sides) but there was no sign of any contamination. I then spied the silver tube device (close to the battery) and I guess this is the 32.768 kHz one. There was something on the PCB which I removed.

After putting it all back together I am pleased to report that the clock now worked in standby again.

The cleaner I used was 'Flux-off' which is used to remove flux from PCB's after soldering repairs. There is a convenient brush in the head of the can which makes it ideal for this job.

IK

I would like to add my thanks to Big-les for his excellent research and repair instructions. My 5-year-old PVR 9200T had the clock problem and I was advised by Humax to fit a new clock board, which they could supply for just over £30. After googling the problem I found Big-les’s post and decided to give it a try. I bought some surgical spirit from the chemist for £3.50 and followed Big-les’s instructions meticulously. When I switched the PVR on I was at first disappointed because the ---- display still showed. I left the machine on standby and when I returned to the lounge an hour late, what joy, the time was displayed. That was 6 months ago and the PVR has been functioning correctly ever since. So once again thanks Big-les.

Just thought I would let people know. I had the clock problem that is described in this thread and thought about doing the DIY repair described by Big Les but due to work pressure etc I never got round to it.

About two months or so after it started, the clock suddenly came back and everything is now working fine.

Not sure whether that adds anything to the identification of the problem but it certainly made me happy as the box has worked pretty well since I bought it and my wife was loathe to let me spend more money on new gadgets.

It is possible that temperature, humidity etc. could influence a clock that is just on the edge of failing, I would expect your clock to fail again. There is no doubt that the problem has been identified.

For the last few days the clock on my 5 year old 9200t has been losing 15mins every hour, and eventually failing when in standby.

I put a few drops of some old VHS head cleaning fluid on a stiff (unused) electric razor cleaning brush, and then just brushed around the suggested area for a few seconds. It worked first time, and hasn't lost a minute since.

Thank you to the legend that is 'Big-les!'

Have just found this thread after fitting a 'new' clock board for my 9200T supplied by Humax (good stuff from Humax the new board arrived 18 hours after order placed).
Anyway I paid £30 and the Humax is up and running again. I fitted the new board in about 20 minutes without any problems and took great care not to damage anything else within the recorder. There was an awful lot of dust which I cleared out.

Happy to have it sorted but have been wondering if the 'cleaning' method would have worked on my old board. I have had a careful look at the board and the visible damage I can see is on the far left front as you look at board white gunk has leaked out of a small silver cylindrical shaped part onto the main board. i am assuming this is the problem and would be surprised if this board could have been fixed. I will keep it just in case the new one goes!
I may be wrong as the --:-- problem started as an intermittent fault and then became permanent.
Anyway thought I would post my findings and happy to have the pvr back up and running and all seems normal. My box is about 4 or 5 years old I suppose.

Regards

kas

The "white gunk" you refer to is actually silicone rubber holding the crystal in place and should be there. Your description of the intermittent and then full failure is what I would expect, your board would have benefitted from the repair.

Oh well, you live and learn. Unfortunately I did a fair bit of web research which came up with the need to replace the board without any mention of a possible fix. Unfortunately I did not see the 'cleaning fix' until after the Humax order had gone through.
At one point I was going to order a 'managers special' 9200 for about £90, so in a strange way I suppose Ihave saved a bit of money!

Hopefully will get a few more years use out of thie pvr now anyway (fingers crossed)!

Regards

Just to add insult to injury then I just Googled "9200 clock --:--" and the first two results are to the My Humax forum, where I also have the repair posted, and here. At least you got it sorted and can use the 9200 to its full capability again.

Am I correct in understanding that your brilliant detective work won't make the clock display brighter?
I do need a brighter clock display (9200T purchased Dec 2005), so is the only solution a new clock display board?

Thanks
Undecided