My Introduction and a little help. Philips N4306/15.

[Renagde]

Hello everybody. My name is Mike but have an online name of Ren@gade, (wont let me use the @ so i have to use Renagde) from my days of online battlefield gaming. Being of questionable mind and failing body I went looking on Ebay at vintage stuff. I found myself drawn to reel to reel tape recorders, and ended up buying a Philips N306. It was described as part tested in that it worked when turned on and was able to fast forward and rewind, but play was not working. I managed to buy it for £20 inc delivery. On testing it myself it does indeed fast forward and rewind but when play pressed the right hand spool doesn't spin, although the tape is pulled passed the head and begins to unwind. I have no experience with such machines but am excited to begin to learn before hopefully getting a larger more advanced machine. So to my question (at last ). Before taking any screws out and perhaps making the machine worse, does anyone know what the cause could be and offer and advice for a R2R n00bie. Many thanks in advance and i hope this will be a long and informative endeavour to vintage electronics and this excellent forum.

[AC/HL]

Hello and Welcome Mike. Could you please check the model number, should it read N4306?

[Ted Kendall]

Welcome aboard!

I'm guessing that your machine may actually be an N4306, on which most transport troubles start with the main drive belt. This usually has gone to goo by this time, which needs care in removal - it's nasty stuff. A careful shufti below decks is in order - if you can post a picture, so much the better.

[Renagde]

Yes you are right it is indeed a N4306/15. I was reading elsewhere on the forum about belts and the awful mess they make but would it be only the one belt, as the FF an REW both work OK? Is it possible to take the front off to have a look without digging in too deep? There only seem to be three or four screws.

[kevinaston1]

Service manual available from good old Electrotanya.


Kevin

[dazzlevision]

You might find reading this thread informative: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=159304

[Renagde]

Thanks guys, So i need belts . Is there anywhere in the UK to get them? The Ebay ones are all outside the UK and take over a week delivery, not long i know but want to get started as soon as:

[dazzlevision]

A chap called David Hughes used to sell belt kits with comprehensive fitting instructions on Ebay. However, he seems to have stopped this of late. He has his own website under development, but it’s only a single “home” page at the moment.

You will also need to fit new rubber “paddles” in the translucent assemblies under each turntable.

[Reelman]

I last spoke to Dave over 2 years ago now so I hope he’s still going but I said at the time....

"A full list of parts I have would go on for pages but I have parts for many common machines usually with the instructions on how to go about the repair. It includes Philips, Grundig, Akai, Sony, Tandberg, Telefunken and UHER. I also have parts for the British made machines like the Marconi, Ferguson Ultra, HMV and the BSR based decks. On the more upmarket machines I have genuine Revox parts for the reel to reel range and Teac, Tascam and Fostex parts. I also keep sundries including Pinch roller cleaner, head cleaner, splicing tape, specialist lubricants, tape and reels. I keep stocks of round, square and flat section belts so if the dimensions are known I can usually supply a suitable replacement."

He can be contacted he says as follows:

"The dhughes@iee.org address is fine or I can be contacted at sales@tapespares.co.uk"

Thought this information would be of use to other forum tape recordists.

No connection other than being a satisfied customer.

Perhaps if anyone can update his status they can let us all know.

Good luck Renagde and watch out if the belts have gone to goo, it gets everywhere and stains everything!

Peter

[hillmanie]

Originally Posted by Renagde

Thanks guys, So i need belts . Is there anywhere in the UK to get them? The Ebay ones are all outside the UK and take over a week delivery, not long i know but want to get started as soon as:

Hi all
Just got a set from ebAy, about £12-14. Italian bloke. Has a lot of belts. If you don't him pls private message me
TT

[hillmanie]

Originally Posted by Renagde

Yes you are right it is indeed a N4306/15. I was reading elsewhere on the forum about belts and the awful mess they make but would it be only the one belt, as the FF an REW both work OK? Is it possible to take the front off to have a look without digging in too deep? There only seem to be three or four screws.

You won't find a more current a/c or indeed more up to date authority on those dreadful belts - than I. Have just finished wrestling with one for the day. I am quite serious when I say that I don't know how often I've washed my hands today (washing up liquid + green scourer my choice) in spite of disposable gloves and as I sit here typing I see a few black spots I've missed. or prayed irreverently. In spite of the good warnings I got here nothing could prepare me for horrible stuff and I'm not finished yet.
It gets into all sorts of places in the machine, on the workbench, the floor the tools naturally and on your clothes. Starting with brute force scraping I've used several solvents and found that a washing up cloth with Fairy was best for the final rub.
Re the new belt, I think I see how it's routed but will know shortly. If not I'll do my usual, shout for help. This should be of interest to you too Renegade.
We should be able to trade anything useful Best of luck
TT

[hillmanie]

Originally Posted by dazzlevision

You will also need to fit new rubber “paddles” in the translucent assemblies under each turntable.

Haven't spotted those things yet. Should they be visible form the topside or underside of the deck? I've only squinted under the spool turntables with questionable orbs unfortunately
Thanks
TT

[dazzlevision]

They are directly underneath the turntables, on the top side of the deck chassis.

The photos are of an N4308, but your N4306 is very similar as far as the mechanism is concerned.

[dazzlevision]

In the N4306/EL3558 models, the turntables are white and do not have screws at the top, unlike the later N4307/N4308 models.

So, they are removed along with the spindle that projects through the chassis mounted bearing, to the underside of the deck. They are secured on the underside by either a circlip or a grip ring.

The supply turntable also drives the tape counter via a belt connected to the small plastic pulley fitted on the underside.

[ben]

From my notes:

"No Takeup - replace spool belt (have to remove TU spool carier, unclip from below with long nose pliers). Also clean and replace rubber clutch pads.

Low, distorted audio. - Replace 2x output transistors (AC128 , OC78 fitted - used matched pair of AC188) and 2x 3r3 output resistors

Speed low - shift main belt onto upper section of motor pulley under TU spooltable.
VERY POOR REWIND - Wind/rewind idler tyres rotted to liquefied state. Replace with o rings."

I can provide the belts for these but do not have the data to hand right now.
Working on these is not for the faint hearted. Apart form the goo, removing the turntables can eba bit of a chore as the c-clip is tricky to access; if you want to avoid considerable disassembly you need a steady hand and long nose pliers!

If I were you I'd put it by and get a BSR or Thorn deck to work on first, they are a much nicer introduction to this kind of servicing.

[dazzlevision]

Originally Posted by ben

Working on these is not for the faint hearted.

If I were you I'd put it by and get a BSR or Thorn deck to work on first, they are a much nicer introduction to this kind of servicing.

I couldn’t agree more!

In addition, the mains lead is soldered directly onto the copper side of the PCB and there is no protective cover/insulation over it - a real shock hazard.

[dazzlevision]

Photo of mains cable termination on PCB - top right hand corner of photo.

[Renagde]

OMG the goo, the goo, i know i was told but jeez. Makes you just wanna say NAH, no way, Top off, goo seen, top back on. Plastic overalls, rubber gloves, face mask, cover off again, Look of disgust , top back on, sit and have a cup of sweet tea for the shock. Wish me luck im going in .........

[dazzlevision]

Originally Posted by Renagde

OMG the goo, the friggin goo, i know i was told but jeez. Makes you just wanna say NAH, no way, Top off, goo seen, top back on. Plastic overalls, rubber gloves, face mask, cover off again, Look of disgust , top back on, sit and have a cup of sweet tea for the shock. Wish me luck im going in .........

There are several threads discussing how to remove the goo.

I use lolly sticks with one end cut square and then chamfered, and cotton buds to remove the bulk of the goo. I then use Acetone on cotton buds to clean the pulleys (but do not use this on most plastics, as it softens them!). I squeeze the tip of the cotton bud (before soaking it in Acetone), to get right into the "V" of pulleys. For flat surfaces, I use old rags moistened in Acetone. But wear disposable gloves throughout! I also use aerosol foaming cleanser, such as Amberclens, to clean the directional "clutch" assemblies fitted under each turntable.

Other cleaning agents include Swarfega and Jif/Cif, I believe. Search this Forum for Philips goo. Example:https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=123758

[hillmanie]

Originally Posted by Renagde

OMG the goo, the goo, i know i was told but jeez. Makes you just wanna say NAH, no way, Top off, goo seen, top back on. Plastic overalls, rubber gloves, face mask, cover off again, Look of disgust , top back on, sit and have a cup of sweet tea for the shock. Wish me luck im going in .........

Sorry to the readers for having harped on about this but now you know I didn't exaggerate. Thought I'd got it all after ages of work and installed the new belt. But no - there must have been a morsel of the B"£$%D lurking somewhere 'cos the belt got mucked up transferring the stuff to all pulleys. This time I used isopropyl alcohol for the cleaning, bit ahead of the pack.
If it's stuck to the deck a cotton bud is probably not strong without exhaustion. A small stiffish brush is better. I used the one off my electric shaver.
Rgds
TT