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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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20th Mar 2006, 1:29 pm | #1 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 4
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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 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 1,488
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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 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 4
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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 |
Heptode
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 746
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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
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21st Mar 2006, 7:36 pm | #5 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Posts: 4
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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 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,700
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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 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,843
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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
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22nd Mar 2006, 12:14 am | #8 |
Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wembley, Middlesex
Posts: 7,223
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Re: Servicing Akai 4000D Tape recorder
Charles Hyde list VID7251, but its a special order.
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22nd Mar 2006, 7:59 am | #9 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 1,488
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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 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, UK.
Posts: 1,270
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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
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