Akai 4000DS cam set - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

abcdefg1 · 7th Mar 2012, 3:19 pm

Some time ago I read that one of the contributors to this forum was planning to come up with a solution to the perennial shattered Akai tape transport cam problem on the 4000DS and I believe on other mechanically operated Akai machines too.

I contacted a company in Montana USA (Reel Pro Sound Guys)

who were at that time supplying them but had some problem with mailing them to the UK - no doubt they're sold out by now. Could I ask if anyone who has an interest in this issue has made any headway with this before I consign my otherwise perfectly sound machine to the scrap heap. I have to be absolutely sure that all hope of restoring it to functionality is gone. I'm afraid I am one of those people that can't bear to throw anything away!

Any advice would be gratefully received.

FERNSEH · 9th Mar 2012, 7:53 pm

Here's picture of the offending part. As you can see it's well and truly broken up.

DFWB.

mrmagnetophon · 9th Mar 2012, 9:53 pm

Hello Guys, if i could possibly find someone with a set of the cams, or get some out of a reel to reel, i would be happy to make them out of solid aluminum which i would think would hold up.

-Chris

FERNSEH · 9th Mar 2012, 11:16 pm

Hi Cris, The Akai is a beautifully made piece of equipment, it would be a shame to dump it just because a simple part has failed.
A cam made out of alumunium would be last for ever. The gentleman who owns the machine is aware of the problem. I spoke to him this evening and he told me that the original part was made from a "white metal" which is an alloy of lead, antimony, bismuth and other substances.
Many thanks for your offer to make the parts.

DFWB.

mrmagnetophon · 10th Mar 2012, 12:24 am

Hello, I bought a roberts reel to reel, same as the akai- its a 770x if it has the cams fully intact i can copy them and make a few sets for you guys. I don't mind UK or worldwide mailing.

-Chris

Michael Maurice · 10th Mar 2012, 9:15 am

AFAIK The cams differed from deck to deck so your 770 might be different from a 4000DS.

I think there were differences between the 3000D, 4000D and 4000DS

mrmagnetophon · 10th Mar 2012, 9:16 am

Hmm, well if anyone has a pair to send to me, to copy I would happily do so, until then I'll try my best to find info.
-Chris

DOFFERY · 10th Mar 2012, 9:45 am

If you wish to become involved in the past confusing threads on Akai cams , just type in "cams" in the search panel.

Colin.

tommy6206 · 10th Mar 2012, 12:08 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

Here's picture of the offending part. As you can see it's well and truly broken up.

My 2nd Akai deck had the same cam go but I managed to pick one up of ebay in the states.I have still yet to fit it as its my 2nd 4000ds there's no rush .You need to look on there every week.

DOFFERY · 13th Mar 2012, 2:30 pm

I have a few cams left for the 4000 series, including one as illustrated above , any interest pm me.

Colin.

abcdefg1 · 14th Mar 2012, 7:44 pm

Hi Colin, Could you say if you have any cams left and how much you want in terms of payment. I need to know now whether or not it is going to be cost effective to effect the repair. I want to restore the 4000DS but not at any cost obviously. I guess the fewer you have left the more valuable they will be!! Thanks for taking the trouble to post your response by the way.

Chris D

DOFFERY · 15th Mar 2012, 9:26 am

Chris D,
email sent.

Colin.

abcdefg1 · 16th Mar 2012, 12:42 am

Hi Colin, sorry to be a nuisance - Have hunted high and low for your email but am now not sure where to look for it. Its not in my usual inbox and I can't see it in the private messages on this forum. I have located and purchased the fast forward and rewind cam (right hand lever) so just need the record/play cam (left hand lever) to complete the repair. If you can help I would be ecstatic!!

Chris D.

DOFFERY · 16th Mar 2012, 8:39 am

Chris , have sent you another email, if not received email me. Yes I have the cam you require.

Colin.

abcdefg1 · 16th Mar 2012, 12:57 pm

Colin, its just dawned on me that your emails may be getting delivered to my work email address at Bath Spa University. I'm at home at present and my email address is: email-removed@forum.rules.com

I'm really sorry for the confusion if this is what's happened.

Chris D.

abcdefg1 · 24th Mar 2012, 11:00 pm

I would just like to say a big thank you to all who contributed to this thread. As a result of the advice I have been able to obtain the parts I need - one from the USA and one (and a few other parts) from the UK. Brilliant! (Thanks DOFFERY and tommy6206 particularly but also appreciated is the interest of mrmagnetophon, Michael Maurice and FERNSEH)

DOFFERY · 27th Mar 2012, 9:31 am

How nice & what a change to find a thank you from a forum member, all too often much time & effort is made to offer support to queries, but many long threads just "end", with no result mentioned.

Colin.

RBoucher111 · 25th Jun 2012, 4:24 pm

Greetings Colin,

Im looking for a play/record cam for the 4000DS. Might you still have one left? Ill send a PM as well.

thx.

Bobby

DOFFERY · 26th Jun 2012, 1:31 pm

Sorry Bobby out of stock at present, hoping to obtain new supply in the near future, will keep you in mind.

Colin.

RBoucher111 · 26th Jun 2012, 2:24 pm

Please do... thanks!

7th Mar 2012, 3:19 pm	#1
abcdefg1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 5	Akai 4000DS cam set Some time ago I read that one of the contributors to this forum was planning to come up with a solution to the perennial shattered Akai tape transport cam problem on the 4000DS and I believe on other mechanically operated Akai machines too. I contacted a company in Montana USA (Reel Pro Sound Guys) who were at that time supplying them but had some problem with mailing them to the UK - no doubt they're sold out by now. Could I ask if anyone who has an interest in this issue has made any headway with this before I consign my otherwise perfectly sound machine to the scrap heap. I have to be absolutely sure that all hope of restoring it to functionality is gone. I'm afraid I am one of those people that can't bear to throw anything away! Any advice would be gratefully received.

9th Mar 2012, 7:53 pm	#2
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Here's picture of the offending part. As you can see it's well and truly broken up. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

9th Mar 2012, 9:53 pm	#3
mrmagnetophon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ohio, USA. Posts: 757	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hello Guys, if i could possibly find someone with a set of the cams, or get some out of a reel to reel, i would be happy to make them out of solid aluminum which i would think would hold up. -Chris

9th Mar 2012, 11:16 pm	#4
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hi Cris, The Akai is a beautifully made piece of equipment, it would be a shame to dump it just because a simple part has failed. A cam made out of alumunium would be last for ever. The gentleman who owns the machine is aware of the problem. I spoke to him this evening and he told me that the original part was made from a "white metal" which is an alloy of lead, antimony, bismuth and other substances. Many thanks for your offer to make the parts. DFWB.

10th Mar 2012, 12:24 am	#5
mrmagnetophon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ohio, USA. Posts: 757	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hello, I bought a roberts reel to reel, same as the akai- its a 770x if it has the cams fully intact i can copy them and make a few sets for you guys. I don't mind UK or worldwide mailing. -Chris

10th Mar 2012, 9:15 am	#6
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,225	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set AFAIK The cams differed from deck to deck so your 770 might be different from a 4000DS. I think there were differences between the 3000D, 4000D and 4000DS __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

10th Mar 2012, 9:16 am	#7
mrmagnetophon Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ohio, USA. Posts: 757	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hmm, well if anyone has a pair to send to me, to copy I would happily do so, until then I'll try my best to find info. -Chris

10th Mar 2012, 9:45 am	#8
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set If you wish to become involved in the past confusing threads on Akai cams , just type in "cams" in the search panel. Colin.

13th Mar 2012, 2:30 pm	#10
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set I have a few cams left for the 4000 series, including one as illustrated above , any interest pm me. Colin.

14th Mar 2012, 7:44 pm	#11
abcdefg1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hi Colin, Could you say if you have any cams left and how much you want in terms of payment. I need to know now whether or not it is going to be cost effective to effect the repair. I want to restore the 4000DS but not at any cost obviously. I guess the fewer you have left the more valuable they will be!! Thanks for taking the trouble to post your response by the way. Chris D

15th Mar 2012, 9:26 am	#12
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Chris D, email sent. Colin.

16th Mar 2012, 12:42 am	#13
abcdefg1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Hi Colin, sorry to be a nuisance - Have hunted high and low for your email but am now not sure where to look for it. Its not in my usual inbox and I can't see it in the private messages on this forum. I have located and purchased the fast forward and rewind cam (right hand lever) so just need the record/play cam (left hand lever) to complete the repair. If you can help I would be ecstatic!! Chris D.

16th Mar 2012, 8:39 am	#14
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Chris , have sent you another email, if not received email me. Yes I have the cam you require. Colin.

16th Mar 2012, 12:57 pm	#15
abcdefg1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Colin, its just dawned on me that your emails may be getting delivered to my work email address at Bath Spa University. I'm at home at present and my email address is: email-removed@forum.rules.com I'm really sorry for the confusion if this is what's happened. Chris D.

24th Mar 2012, 11:00 pm	#16
abcdefg1 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 5	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set I would just like to say a big thank you to all who contributed to this thread. As a result of the advice I have been able to obtain the parts I need - one from the USA and one (and a few other parts) from the UK. Brilliant! (Thanks DOFFERY and tommy6206 particularly but also appreciated is the interest of mrmagnetophon, Michael Maurice and FERNSEH)

27th Mar 2012, 9:31 am	#17
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set How nice & what a change to find a thank you from a forum member, all too often much time & effort is made to offer support to queries, but many long threads just "end", with no result mentioned. Colin.

25th Jun 2012, 4:24 pm	#18
RBoucher111 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Overland Park, Kansas, USA. Posts: 2	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Greetings Colin, Im looking for a play/record cam for the 4000DS. Might you still have one left? Ill send a PM as well. thx. Bobby

26th Jun 2012, 1:31 pm	#19
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Sorry Bobby out of stock at present, hoping to obtain new supply in the near future, will keep you in mind. Colin.

26th Jun 2012, 2:24 pm	#20
RBoucher111 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Overland Park, Kansas, USA. Posts: 2	Re: Akai 4000DS cam set Please do... thanks!