Expert Repair Tips From an Enesco Technician
E-mail greetings from a repair Expert: “Enesco music boxes hold fond memories for me.” And with that sentiment and a long history with manufacturing for Enesco, our expert forwarded some key advice from Hong Kong, hoping he could extend long-distant assistance to those of us who share his love for these delightful inventions that some times stop working.
- His credentials:
- Eight years in China at the plant that manufactured the Musicals (1991-1998)
- Concurently worked three years running the warranty repair and service center (1992-1995) for Enesco (Illinois)
- Today: working in Hong Kong in another industry
He writes: Normally, the electrical-operated music boxes consist of four main parts:
- -The transformer
- -The PCBA
- -The mechanical sound module
- -The gear box with the lever linkage
A common happening is that the plastic parts may become brittle over time. ... Also, the lubricant (i.e. the grease at the gear and the lever linkage) can dry completely, which "sticks" the entire gear mechanism.
The gear box/ linkage mechanism differs among the music boxes. Therefore, different techniques are needed to fix the unique, broken Musicals.
Trouble Shooting Check List
_Check the transformer and whether its output matches with the wordings printed at the outside of the transformer. The output voltage is 9V and 500mA. For those giant music boxes, such as Doll House and The Amusement Park, they need 1000mA (or 1A ).
_Check the output current and the voltage of the PCBA. The PCBA provides output voltage to the mechanical sound module and the gear box w/the lever linkage. The output voltage to the mechanical sound module is not adjustable, while it is adjustable for the gear box w/ the lever linkage. If I remember right, these two output voltages should not be over 3V.
_For the mechanical sound module, it is motor-driven. There is a comb-like plate, and it is rubbed against by a cylindrical drum to play music. Sometimes, the comb-linked plate may become corroded or the strips may break off after years of use.
_If you find that the broken musical no longer plays music or plays with abnormal sound, I would venture to say that the mechanical sound modules are broken, and they cannot be fixed anymore. The mechanical sound module needs to be replaced instead of repaired.
_Check the gear box w/lever linkage. Use Q-tips to remove all the 'dried' lubricant and check whether there is slippage between the metal shaft and the gears.
And last, but not least: It is challenging to find out how to properly open a broken music box in order to work on it! [Our technician bids a fond farewell and leaves us with his best advice and our own ingenuity to figure out the workings of these delightful Musicals]
Good luck!