Kenner KITT voice box repair

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bgt01
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What year did the original Knight Rider start: 1982

Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by bgt01 » Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:52 am

Hello everyone. I have a vintage Kenner KITT talking car toy that I've owned since new. A while ago the voice box stopped working and I decided to see if I could figure it out. So, like any good first new season episode, I blasted KITT apart and got to work. This thing is '80s analog simple and that's part of why I love it. It's literally a record player run by a rubber band and a small motor. Luck for me after all these years the motor still runs, but I did need to put some gear lube on the shaft to get it spinning freely. And, the original rubber band is in great shape so I didn't have to find a replacement. The band had come off the pulley, causing the record to not turn. Getting it back on wasn't hard and I took some pictures of the process. Just be careful and take your time, especially with removing the body from the chassis. Once I got it working I ran through all the saying and recorded each into my phone in case KITT ever breaks for good.
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bgt01
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Re: Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by bgt01 » Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:36 am

Next 3 pictures
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bgt01
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Re: Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by bgt01 » Wed Oct 08, 2014 9:39 am

Final 3 pics, including a nice shot of "Hassel-doll."
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Kitt_24
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Re: Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by Kitt_24 » Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:46 am

Awesome thanks BGT01 i have 3 kenners one works another works but not very good and one doesn't work.




-Kevin

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KITTfan
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Re: Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by KITTfan » Fri Oct 10, 2014 7:17 am

Well done repair tutorial :) I don't have Kenner KITT myself but love reading repair stuff like this with excellent photos to show the steps.
Your KITT seems to be in excellent condition, electrical connections and other metal parts still seems to be like new, no oxidation or rust as was case with my 80's Pontiac Trans-Am toycar, some screws had developed a bit of rust during the years:
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Lost Knight
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Re: Kenner KITT voice box repair

Post by Lost Knight » Fri Oct 10, 2014 6:26 pm

Awesome tutorial, bgt01.

My Voice Car's voice also stopped working as well about a year ago. I used to have a brand new one back in 1983, but my mother eventually threw it out since the doors kept popping off, as moms tend to sometimes do. (But my Michael Knight figure survived my childhood, albeit with some paint wear.) That was a tough day. I bought a used one with a slight scuff on the roof off eBay for $43.00 a few years ago and the voice still worked up until last year.

It's painful to see K.I.T.T.'s "surgery" :lol: . I always wondered what the mechanism was for the voice. I always thought it was a cassette. Maybe I will take a shot at repairing mine as well.
“Gimme maximum turbo thrust and blast me outta here, will ya!?”
:kitt: :dash4:

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