Anyone repair 70's handhelds? My Digital Derby don't work

cspacefan

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Anyone repair 70's handhelds? My Digital Derby don't work

Just got one of these great machines and the seller assured me it worked.

digital_derby.jpg


Unfortunately only some of it works. The lap counter does not move and nor do the dashed lines in the middle of the road. The cogs make a bad grinding sound as well so my guess is something is either broken or at the very least caught inside there.

Anyone ever open one of these babies up before? I might give it a try but I don't want springs to pop out and destroy what little does work.

Anyone know someone who fixes it?
 
That is a cool little unit. I don't fix these things, and I can't see any way I would take on such a repair for someone else but I have had some experience with the problem you describe.

Grinding gears is normally a sign that one or more of the gear teeth or tines have broken off. Reasons for the breakage can be old age or one or more shafts driving the gears binding. Since I doubt you can find originals you'll need to have the damaged gear reproduced. Reproductions will be easiest to do in metal with a CNC.
 
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cspacefan

I remember begging my grandparents for this handheld for Christmas one year. I think it was in the Sears catalog...

Wish I knew how or who could fix it for you...I appreciate you posting brings back a lot of great memories.
 
Man, that brings back memories "Digital Derby". I got one under the Christmas tree and loved that thing, don't thing I ever shifted properly though! I'd gladly pay $14.99 (without batteries) for one today. Thanks for posting and I hope you can get it working again.
 
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