Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

OldWood · 20th Mar 2006, 1:29 pm

Hello there - I'm a new member.

My Akai 4000D has sat in the attic for more years than I should admit to ! Does any one have any information on taking it to pieces as it powers up OK and works, but there is a regular knocking sound that does disappear with time. In general before I use it in anger I would like to oil the bearings, etc as they will all have dried out somewhat, plus of course get rid of the knocking sound.

I've got as far as getting the top panels off but can't see how to get the guts of the thing out.

Rob

DOFFERY · 20th Mar 2006, 7:11 pm

Hi Rob, to take the chassis out, remove the four feet & usually two , sometimes four screws from bottom of cabinet.

Then you have access to most items, the knocking, might well be the belt having lost it's shape due to lack of use, should change it anyway,

Cheers.

Doffery

OldWood · 21st Mar 2006, 9:12 am

Many thanks Doffery - inevitably having made the post I discovered the way in later in the day.

I also guessed that the knocking sound is the belt, particularly as it reduces as it is used and presumably warms up slightly, but does come back again when cold.

Where can I get a replacement belt from ? I've had the motor off - my goodness how heavily they built things then - and have cleaned up the pulley surfaces so putting a new belt on is no problem.

Many thanks

Rob

reelguy · 21st Mar 2006, 11:16 am

Rob, Re knocking noise. You could also check the rubber pinch wheel as these harden with age and sometimes crack causing a similar knock. Just a thought. Peter Reelguy

OldWood · 21st Mar 2006, 7:36 pm

OK I'm making progress - the belt is definitely mishapen after years in one position.

I've measured it's current diameter which is 115 mm (nominally) - it's flat about 7mm across and 1mm thick. The new question(s) now is/are that assuming I cannot get the actual right component and Cricklewood for example don't stock 115mm dia. flat belts, what do I replace it with? How far out will the 115mm be - do I look for something a few mm less and use several square or round belts ?

Rob

Kat Manton · 21st Mar 2006, 8:51 pm

Hi,

You could try the old dodge of boiling it; if you're thinking of replacing the belt anyway and it's not started to enter a "goo phase" then it's worth a try.

A full description of my version of the process was covered in an earlier post here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?p=28985

Regards, Kat

Nickthedentist · 21st Mar 2006, 10:30 pm

CPC do a 108mm x 5.2mm one, code AVBELT13 @0.95. Not ideal, but might do at a pinch

Michael Maurice · 22nd Mar 2006, 12:14 am

Charles Hyde list VID7251, but its a special order.

DOFFERY · 22nd Mar 2006, 7:59 am

I have the belts for the 4000 range, care to PM me?

Doffery

Top Cap · 29th Mar 2006, 12:31 am

I had a regular knocking sound due to a dent in the pinch wheel, often caused by either the tape getting trapped at the end of the supply reel or the machine auto stop. The latter simply turns off the motor but keeps the capstan pressed against the pinch wheel. I had not then discovered this excellent forum and after fruitless searching found a great guy in the States called Terry Witt. He re-builds any rubber rollers and did a fantasic job on my 4000D pinch roller. His web site is www.TerrysRubberRollers.com

20th Mar 2006, 1:29 pm	#1
OldWood Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 4	Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Hello there - I'm a new member. My Akai 4000D has sat in the attic for more years than I should admit to ! Does any one have any information on taking it to pieces as it powers up OK and works, but there is a regular knocking sound that does disappear with time. In general before I use it in anger I would like to oil the bearings, etc as they will all have dried out somewhat, plus of course get rid of the knocking sound. I've got as far as getting the top panels off but can't see how to get the guts of the thing out. Rob

20th Mar 2006, 7:11 pm	#2
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Hi Rob, to take the chassis out, remove the four feet & usually two , sometimes four screws from bottom of cabinet. Then you have access to most items, the knocking, might well be the belt having lost it's shape due to lack of use, should change it anyway, Cheers. Doffery

21st Mar 2006, 9:12 am	#3
OldWood Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 4	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Many thanks Doffery - inevitably having made the post I discovered the way in later in the day. I also guessed that the knocking sound is the belt, particularly as it reduces as it is used and presumably warms up slightly, but does come back again when cold. Where can I get a replacement belt from ? I've had the motor off - my goodness how heavily they built things then - and have cleaned up the pulley surfaces so putting a new belt on is no problem. Many thanks Rob

21st Mar 2006, 11:16 am	#4
reelguy Heptode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, UK. Posts: 746	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Rob, Re knocking noise. You could also check the rubber pinch wheel as these harden with age and sometimes crack causing a similar knock. Just a thought. Peter Reelguy

21st Mar 2006, 7:36 pm	#5
OldWood Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 4	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder OK I'm making progress - the belt is definitely mishapen after years in one position. I've measured it's current diameter which is 115 mm (nominally) - it's flat about 7mm across and 1mm thick. The new question(s) now is/are that assuming I cannot get the actual right component and Cricklewood for example don't stock 115mm dia. flat belts, what do I replace it with? How far out will the 115mm be - do I look for something a few mm less and use several square or round belts ? Rob

21st Mar 2006, 8:51 pm	#6
Kat Manton Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,700	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Hi, You could try the old dodge of boiling it; if you're thinking of replacing the belt anyway and it's not started to enter a "goo phase" then it's worth a try. A full description of my version of the process was covered in an earlier post here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?p=28985 Regards, Kat

21st Mar 2006, 10:30 pm	#7
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,841	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder CPC do a 108mm x 5.2mm one, code AVBELT13 @0.95. Not ideal, but might do at a pinch

22nd Mar 2006, 12:14 am	#8
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,222	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder Charles Hyde list VID7251, but its a special order.

22nd Mar 2006, 7:59 am	#9
DOFFERY Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 1,488	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder I have the belts for the 4000 range, care to PM me? Doffery

29th Mar 2006, 12:31 am	#10
Top Cap Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,270	Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder I had a regular knocking sound due to a dent in the pinch wheel, often caused by either the tape getting trapped at the end of the supply reel or the machine auto stop. The latter simply turns off the motor but keeps the capstan pressed against the pinch wheel. I had not then discovered this excellent forum and after fruitless searching found a great guy in the States called Terry Witt. He re-builds any rubber rollers and did a fantasic job on my 4000D pinch roller. His web site is www.TerrysRubberRollers.com