Akai 4000 DS cam removal

[Swordfamile]

Hello everyone

I'm attempting to replace a cam on the above machine to get to another cam which has disintegrated on these notoriously machines. There's a hole on the side of the cam but I don't get any grip with either screwdriver or allen key.

Any advice much appreciated.

Tony

[Station X]

It should be held by a radial screw at about 3 or 9 'o' clock in your picture which contacts the flat on the shaft. Looks like said screw is missing or sheared off though. Look for the hole. Is that blue looking stuff adhesive?

BE VERY CAREFUL AND ONLY REMOVE THE CAM IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. THEY HAVE A HABIT OF BREAKING UP.

IN FACT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A CRACK DEVELOPING AT 9 'o' CLOCK.

[Swordfamile]

Hi Graham

I think you're right. The screw must be missing and the blue stuff is probably adhesive. So, I need to find a way to get it off and find a screw.

Thanks for you're input.

Tony

[Station X]

If there is a crack I reckon putting a screw in will destroy the cam. The back is hollow.

[Swordfamile]

You're right again; on closer inspection there is a crack running from the screw hole. Unfortunately I think I need to remove it to replace another cam which had disintegrated and was rattling around in the case when i found the machine. I do have replacements for all the cams so I guess its not the end of the world if it does break, however, if i can get it off without breaking it I could glue the crack.

[Swordfamile]

Got it off! Good old white vinegar saves the day again. This one's not hollow at the back but is crazing quite badly as the photo shows. I wonder which would be best: super glue or araldite to fill the cracks?

[camtechman]

I doubt if any adhesive or filler will hold it together for long as there's a great deal of spring pressure on the operating cams.

Whilst it's still in one piece I suggest you make a dimensional drawing of it and other cams with all measurements, in case you have to end up making one from Duralumin (hardened aluminium). As I did with two of my machines where all the cams had degraded (see example pics below)


Duralumin:

"Before a final heat treatment the alloy is ductile and malleable; after heat treatment a reaction between the aluminium and magnesium produces increased hardness and tensile strength. Because of its lightness and other desirable physical properties, duralumin is widely used in the aircraft industry"

P.S. It's ruddy arduous & difficult to file !!

[monaro0162]

There is someone on ebay at the moment "swanvestas0" (no connection here) selling new (recast) cam sets. Getting new cams manufactured was often discussed, this is the first time I've actually seen any.

[camtechman]

monaro0162,

Tried a search on Ebay for the seller......"not found"

But under Akai Cams......Success!..... seller is " swanvestas0" (with a 0 (zero) at the end)

Thanks for the heads up though and the price seems reasonable.

[Swordfamile]

That's who I got my replacement set from (all four cams). I found this machine in the street near to where I live last week, so £25 for a cosmetically good machine seems like a bargain.