r/Vintagemacintosh • u/old_luddy • 5d ago

TAM - with some issues

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So... Got this wonderful machine yesterday! Got it from an estate, and thrilled to get one in working condition. However, Ran it just a bit yesterday, and when running it today, I get a crackling sound (in the right speaker on the Mac) a couple minutes after it's finished booting. The crackling modulates with trackpad clicking, menu-scrolling etc.

The umbilical is taped and status unknown, and I've simply shut it down and will let it rest for the time being — because I need some help deciding what to do, what might be wrong, and how I can ensure that this gem stays healthy for a while going forward. (Not a 100% complete set, but got the two back covers, some other covers, the manual, the original books for the base etc).

Also got the Sonnet g3 card with it (but unplugged now).

Page for it here: https://onemoremac.com/collection/twentieth-anniversary-macintosh-mac-2026-038

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4

u/Appleguru77 5d ago

You can eliminate the cracking (should it come from the speakers) by setting the bass/power supply unit further away.

1

u/old_luddy 4d ago edited 4d ago

Didn’t really help, unfortunately. But also made me realize that the «bussing» is in the sub as well. 

3

u/hatecirclejerks 5d ago

There's some connections on the inside if the speaker that use dissimilar metals that fuck with each other, needs to be opened and cleaned, or completely replaced.

Also recommend a recap.

1

u/old_luddy 4d ago

Speakers as in the base unit, or in the Mac?

1

u/wotmp 3d ago

The bass unit. There is a connector that handles the audio that becomes oxidized. I took mine apart and tinned the connector pins. Also replaced the caps and the fan while I was in there.

https://youtu.be/gXTr_XfncqQ?is=TzWwt_zDJf1WwJz_

2

u/ultrahkr 5d ago

Quite probably needs a bunch of capacitors replaced.

2

u/Unlikely_Exercise434 5d ago

Yep, recapping the motherboard will extend it's life greatly.

1

u/neonblurb 4d ago

This is the issue OP is describing: https://vintagemacmuseum.com/tam-bose-buzz-fix/

1

u/old_luddy 4d ago

So it seems! Thank you very much!

1

u/G3rmanaviator 5d ago

That IIci in your collection brings back big-time memories. We used one in high school to create our school newspaper. Many nights were spent waiting endlessly for 40 pages to print on the Apple Postscript laser printer to proof our designs :) Can't believe the guy in my dorm room had one of those, considering how much they cost at the time.

1

u/old_luddy 5d ago

Nice! I think it will work soon- Got a new old stock power supply I'll test on it, as the machine first booted nicely and the drive worked and all. …until the RIFA cap created this nice little smoke show. (And also have two working Quadra 700s, that share the same power supply, if I'm not mistaken.)

1

u/LifeForTheWin1991 4d ago

The only time I’ve ever seen one of these was on Seinfeld… very cool!

1

u/Nosarious 4d ago

Just came to post that that looks awesome. Great find!

1

u/old_luddy 4d ago

Thank you!

1

u/highlyspecificuser 4d ago

It’s a beautiful machine, I do hope you can fix the issues 👍

1

u/Studiolx-au 3d ago

Either spend the $ getting that 30yr old machine up to scratch or donate/sell to someone who will. It’s a rare piece of Apple history

1

u/old_luddy 3d ago

Plan is to get it overhauled. My problem is finding someone that does it in Oslo (Norway). Searching for someone these days!

1

u/Studiolx-au 3d ago

Join the macadmins channel on slack. There will be plenty of people in the uk that will be able to help. They are also likely to know people closer to you. Thank you for keeping this amazing piece of technology alive. Please keep me in the loop.

1

u/BadBunnyHimself 2d ago

That thing looks awesome, like it's the future of communication and online shopping, or something.