NEW VERSION, this kit now includes a special Stereo tuning indicator LED that only lights when a stereo FM station is detected, just like the original Weltron did, and importantly it does not adversely impact reception (the stereo bulb is actually an important part of the tuning process, and a standard LED will not present correctly and remains unhelpfully 'on' all the time). Also the kit has been revised so it can now be fitted to the 2 most common versions of the 2001* without any further user adaptation
This all-in-one kit can be used to fully refurbish your Weltron 2001* Spaceball lights
If you have attempted changing the bulbs in a Weltron you know what a nightmare it is to find and order correct bulbs; even more difficult when replacing the bulbs with LEDs that match the lighting quality of the original bulbs.
The original bulbs ran hot making removal impossible without totally destroying the rubber grommet they sit in (they are often fused together) and those grommets are impossible to buy nowadays. This is a kit that replaces all of the bulbs and grommets, eliminates the trial and error of finding the appropriate replacement bulb and updates the bulbs to more efficient modern LEDs that are at the appropriate brightness. This kit saves a lot of time and frustration, ensuring a better lighting experience than was in the original Weltron when it was new!
After nearly 50 years of use the bulbs, leads and mounting grommets will be fragile leading to bulb failure. These old bulbs generate a LOT of heat and are increasingly hard to find especially with the correct diameter and attached leads required by the Weltron.
Our new kit replaces all 6 bulbs with specially selected low energy LEDs. There's quite a science involved as you need just the right brightness and just the right beam angle otherwise you'll end up with bright blue-white intense spots of light which are not at all suitable in the classic Weltron. We've done all the hard work for you and matched each bulb to its power supply and its purpose and apart from their crisp brightness you'd never know they were modern LEDs. An important consideration is that the LEDs have less draw on the transformer and run totally cool
For each of the LEDs we've commissioned a special grommet to hold it in place and replace the old, cracked grommets. We've even recreated the special grommet that sits in the faceplate to hold the stereo indicator bulb
To further enhance the visuals we've added some new features. Due to age many of the coloured lenses in the Weltron are a little faded, so the red power button can look pink etc to get around this we've used colour matched LEDs that effectively restore the red, green and orange/yellow lenses back to their factory colour. But the biggest enhancement we've introduced is a means to light the dial (which in the original design had no light at all), this uses a new custom wiring harness and doesn't require any modification or permanent fixing to the existing Weltron body/frame. See the photos, it gives a subtle crisp white glow to the dial and nicely highlights the dial pointer (NB: this looks quite bluish in the photographs however it is white IRL, also fitting the dial lights is totally optional, if you want keep your Weltron as original simply don't add the new lights, the wiring is totally separate)
Please note basic soldering skills are required to join existing wires to each of the new kit lights. But the Weltron is a mains powered machine that contains lethal voltages, so installation should be entrusted to a suitably qualified technician
It's not an easy task dismantling the Weltron frame to get to the bulbs but well worth the effort when you have exactly the right parts and detailed instructions to hand
The kit includes :
5 x LEDs of various intensity, beam angle and colours
1 x Stereo tuning LED and special wiring harness that does not impact tuning quality
2 x LEDs, 3 x special holders and a wiring harness for new dial light feature (note: adding the dial lights is totally optional)
6 x black grommets (black avoids light bleed)
8 x sections of heatshrink to protect your solder joints
1 x special tool to hold the dialcord under tension whilst working on the Weltron (essential to minimise dialcord problems during installation)
1 x detailed 14 page photographic instructions (a link to the files will be provided)
As an add-on to the LED kit you can also select a brand new Japanese 8-track drive belt. With the Weltron chassis dismantled to allow access to the bulbs it's a 15 min job to remove the old belt, clean the pulleys and capstan and install the new belt.
* IMPORTANT Please note there are 2 known common versions of the 2001 one with the tape drive pulley above the loading slot, the other with the pulley below the loading slot, please check carefully before purchase of the belt. The lower pulley version is identifiable via a plastic white bracket that holds the tape head, if in any doubt please send us a photo of your tape player through the loading slot and we'll confirm which is required.
This kit and the installation instructions were originally built around the Weltron 2001 version with the 8-track player flywheel mounted on the top of the 8-track loading slot, the later version which has the flywheel mounted below the loading slot may well be different when it comes to bulb wiring colours and 8-track layout etc. But the new kit is now compatible with the later version and where known we have highlighted the differences in a new section of our 'how to' document
PLEASE NOTE:
1. sometimes due to supply issues we may substitute some of the items shown in the photos (for example the holding tool may not always be white). But rest assured the quality will remain consistent throughout
2. due to current conditions and restrictions international items will take between 25-30 days at least to arrive at their destination. If you are in a location that we do not currently ship to please contact us to see if we able to ship to you. Happy to combine shipping - please ask. Please check out our other Weltron items