Akai 1720L

[Mark Morb]

I may be able to get one of these quite cheap (£75 is that cheap, it's in good condition) to compliment my Sony TC399 (I need something that can play older tapes so a 1-4 3-2 arrangement).
I cannot find a user manual anywhere online and was wondering what speeds it supports as it only appears to have a switch saying Tape Speed Low or High

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Mark

[ms660]

So far as I can make out the tape speed is set according to whether the capstan sleeve is fitted and which position the speed selector switch is set to, it would have been a 3 speed machine as supplied, 1-7/8, 3-3/4 and 7-1/2 ips. There's a 1710 owners manual here if that's any use:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/dsp_mult...10w_manual.pdf

Lawrence.

[Welsh Anorak]

Do check that the sleeve you fit over the capstan shaft is present - it's item 3 on the link above..

[Mark Morb]

Thank you so much for the replies...I will check that with the seller that the capstan sleeve is present.

Much appreciated.

Mark

[DMcMahon]

Item 3 in the manual link is the Capstan Storage Post, item 4 is the Capstan and item 5 the Capstan Shaft.

If the Capstan is not missing, then it should be either fitted to the Capstan Storage Post for 1 7/8" speed operation (with low speed selected) or fitted to the Capstan Shaft for 3 3/4" (with low speed selected) / for 7 1/2" ips (with high speed selected).

Note that the Capstan is also referred to as the Capstan Bushing in the manual and also note in other similar Akai documentation often called Capstan Speed Selection Sleeve.

There is a Service manual for the 1720L/W available for download from hifiengine.com (and possibly other sites).

If good condition and all working then £75 is good I would say.

[Mark Morb]

That's all great info....thanks a lot. I had discovered the Service Manual but not the operation manual explaining how to select the various speeds, but thanks to this forum I now have that knowledge as well...

Thanks,
Mark