Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

sobby100 · 17th Jan 2018, 12:27 am

Hi all

new here! I have recently received an Akai GX4000D for christmas. I was very excited as it was my first reel machine but one of the spindle heads was bent as the packaging was pitiful with no bubble wrap whatsoever.

I want to replace the broken spindle and found a few on ebay but was wondering: do any of the spindle heads for the other similar models (GX4000DS for example) fit on the GX4000D? also has anyone tried this job? is it quite straight forward?

Thanks!

Boater Sam · 17th Jan 2018, 9:49 am

Now help us out here. Not being difficult but give us a clue and you will get lots of help.
Spindle head? Do you mean a spindle on a control? If so which? Is it on a switch, a potentiometer or something else? Does it have a knob on it?

1 Good photo saves a thousand words.

AC/HL · 17th Jan 2018, 12:15 pm

Spindle table gets a couple of hits on eBay, but only for the DS.

mickyfinn · 18th Jan 2018, 8:16 am

Would guess he means reel table.
Mick

TIMTAPE · 19th Jan 2018, 4:57 am

Probably. They often get bent or broken on many types of reel to reel machine, especially carrying the machine through a doorway. Akai ones can sometimes be carefully straightened as the metal in the inner pin is not that hard. Not straightened perfectly but enough to make them useable again.

Radio Wrangler · 19th Jan 2018, 6:19 am

The much more common 4000D and 4000DS aren't any help because they were different and used those snap-on rubber cups.

David

hsbhachu3d · 29th Jan 2018, 12:57 am

I have repaired Akai reel to reels for say 10 years now and the spindles can be UNSCREWED by holding them from the tip tightly with a pliers. It will unscrew the thin metal shaft from the 3 spoke centre of the table. You can replace that with virtually any Akai one. The tables and spindles of the 1720/1/2 series, 4000D mkii, gx4000d, x150d, x1800sd, X2000sd, x5000w were all interchangeable. Only the rubber on the tables had a different or fancy pattern. These decks were one motor decks and implemented variants of the same chassis. If your spindle is broken off, you'll have to drill it out carefully as the threaded bit just won't come out or replace the table altogether which will be the better option.

17th Jan 2018, 12:27 am	#1
sobby100 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: London, UK. Posts: 1	Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement Hi all new here! I have recently received an Akai GX4000D for christmas. I was very excited as it was my first reel machine but one of the spindle heads was bent as the packaging was pitiful with no bubble wrap whatsoever. I want to replace the broken spindle and found a few on ebay but was wondering: do any of the spindle heads for the other similar models (GX4000DS for example) fit on the GX4000D? also has anyone tried this job? is it quite straight forward? Thanks!

17th Jan 2018, 9:49 am	#2
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement Now help us out here. Not being difficult but give us a clue and you will get lots of help. Spindle head? Do you mean a spindle on a control? If so which? Is it on a switch, a potentiometer or something else? Does it have a knob on it? 1 Good photo saves a thousand words.

17th Jan 2018, 12:15 pm	#3
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement Spindle table gets a couple of hits on eBay, but only for the DS.

18th Jan 2018, 8:16 am	#4
mickyfinn Hexode Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 473	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement Would guess he means reel table. Mick

19th Jan 2018, 4:57 am	#5
TIMTAPE Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,969	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement Probably. They often get bent or broken on many types of reel to reel machine, especially carrying the machine through a doorway. Akai ones can sometimes be carefully straightened as the metal in the inner pin is not that hard. Not straightened perfectly but enough to make them useable again.

19th Jan 2018, 6:19 am	#6
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,875	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement The much more common 4000D and 4000DS aren't any help because they were different and used those snap-on rubber cups. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

29th Jan 2018, 12:57 am	#7
hsbhachu3d Pentode Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Coventry, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 199	Re: Akai GX4000D broken spindle replacement I have repaired Akai reel to reels for say 10 years now and the spindles can be UNSCREWED by holding them from the tip tightly with a pliers. It will unscrew the thin metal shaft from the 3 spoke centre of the table. You can replace that with virtually any Akai one. The tables and spindles of the 1720/1/2 series, 4000D mkii, gx4000d, x150d, x1800sd, X2000sd, x5000w were all interchangeable. Only the rubber on the tables had a different or fancy pattern. These decks were one motor decks and implemented variants of the same chassis. If your spindle is broken off, you'll have to drill it out carefully as the threaded bit just won't come out or replace the table altogether which will be the better option.