Reel to reel tape machine AKAI M-9

[AdrianH]

This is on offer, it was not mine but a friend brought it to me to see if there is any interest rather than see it scrapped, it is an AKAI M-9 as pictured. I was told one of the channels went down before it was stored, other then that I can take pictures of it I have no tapes to try on it etc.

It is basically free of charge but asking for a donation to the British Heart Foundation, amount of your choosing.

It would be collection only due to size and weight, or the forum courier service.

If there is several people interested, then perhaps a hat can be run, or pm's with charity amounts if allowed. Not expecting a lot off it just wishing to see it back in use.





There is a service manual on the https://elektrotanya.com site.

Adrian

[Reelman]

A really nice gift for someone willing to take it on. However, for some reason the “M” series is often stripped just for the stereo amplifier. I don’t suppose it is particularly special but presumably can easily be removed as almost a stand alone unit.

Peter

[Reelman]

Whoops!

Just looked at the circuit and the M-9 is all transistor. It must be the M-8 and below that are valve…..

Sorry ��

Peter

[AdrianH]

Think the required amount of time has passed to allow me to Bump this.

Adrian

[AdrianH]

Last bump on this.

Adrian

[paulsherwin]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more interest in this. They are good domestic machines.

[AdrianH]

There is always the FCS and there was a possibility of the Golborne meet vefore now, but there seemed to be little interest. It is just to big to be economical for packing and delivery.

I will give it a little while, it is just sat in the garage.

Adrian

[Uncle Bulgaria]

Does it have the lid? I will be on the M6 on Monday on my way south if that helps FCS. While tempting, do I need a four track to go on the tape-deck project pile?

[AdrianH]

Yes it has a lid. The only thing that appears missing is one of the pegs that stops it being shoved against a wall. That is indicated in the second picture.



Adrian

[Uncle Bulgaria]

Is the Akai metal cam problem a general one, or is this model immune?

[joebog1]

Its NOT metal Uncle, its that horrible self disolving monkey stuff. Fitted to all the early Akai's.

Joe

[Radio Wrangler]

It is, technically, a metal, just not for very long...

David

[AdrianH]

What happens to them do they snap or wear?

Adrian

[joebog1]

They collapse into dust in effect.
Its zinc diecast and of exceptionally poor quality.
It turns into something similar to sugar in reality.

Joe

[AdrianH]

I would not know about this one as I have not even tried to switch it on. Is it something that just breaks, I am assuming it is the operating cam that moves all the parts around, lifts the tape heads, moves the idler etc?

Adrian

[Restoration73]

The cams are on the rec/ply and rew/ffw controls. Despite the foregoing, they do not
always disintegrate.
The X on the track switch indicates crossfield bias, the separate bias head is on the
front side of the tape opposite the rec/pb head. The patent was held by Tandberg which
Akai licenced from them.

[AdrianH]

I will be honest and say I know little on tape machines, I have no reels or tape that I can try on it so without them have not even powered it up. The service manual which is available suggests reasonable audio output per channel, the boards seem to be plug in.

if it helps anyone perhaps tomorrow I could open up the case to take internal pictures?

Adrian

[joebog1]

The cam in question is mounted onto the switch shaft, below the fast forward /rewind switch lever.

Its made of zinc diecast. If you look carefully you will see one of two things, IF it has failed.
One will be the centre of the cam itself will have broken away from the switch shaft, and second the cam may be split across its whole diameter. ( it usually involves the locking screw, which "shaves " most of the meat off the cam. )
It will need a careful look if its still there. Although Restoration is correct that ALL of them dont fail, I have replaced LOTS of them under warranty when I worked for Akai.

If the deck is working well, and the electronics in good form they are a very nice tape recorder indeed.
I am more familiar with the M8 which is the valve version, but the mechanism is the same unit.

Joe

[DMcMahon]

Pretty sure the M-9 is basically the same as the 4000DS and other similar machines in having 4 cams in total, the 2 small ones on the underside of the Record/Play control shaft and the Fast Forward/Rewind control shaft. The 2 larger cams are on the topside of these 2 shafts.

All can fail, I think the topside larger ones are generally more likely to give problems.

David

[joebog1]

4000D was a slightly different deck.

I might have forgotten, after all it was many many moons ago.
BUT I do know that Akai cams were horrendous.

These are the cams for 4000 series.
AND the monkey metal was far better in quality.

I cannot find a photo of the early series decks.

Joe