|
Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
|
Thread Tools |
26th Oct 2018, 9:24 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
1989 Aiwa hifi. Cassette player problems.
I'm a very new member to this forum, so am chary of doing anything wrong!
I bought a hifi in 1989 with my 21st birthday money. It was an Aiwa brand, with a separate turntable. And I bought a Sharp CD player to go with it. And it was really good until 2000 when my new sister-in-law offered to sell me her JVC hifi for £20! It was too good a bargain to miss. The speakers were just so good! Anyway, I mothballed the Aiwa and Sharp until very recently when I fancied playing my vinyl again (and the CD player on the JVC packed up) and I swapped back to my original hifi. The situation now is that the 30 year old cassette mechanism seems to be kaput and I wondered if it was repairable? The rubber belts will have perished, won't they? Is it worth me buying new ones and trying to dismantle it to replace them? |
27th Oct 2018, 9:51 am | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,970
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
There's a very good chance it just needs new belts, particularly the main capstan belt. You will need to work out the belt dimensions and order a replacement from somewhere like CPC. The belts aren't expensive.
Belt changing can be anything from trivially easy to complex and difficult. Take the covers off and have a look inside. |
31st Oct 2018, 9:05 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Knutsford, Cheshire, UK.
Posts: 1,500
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
Hi Lancs lad,
Might I add that when measuring up for the belt size deduct about 8%-10% or so and buy a belt of that slightly 'reduced' diameter, (so if you measure a circumference of 100mm, get something around 92mm or so to replace it with, so it will fit the loop with some reasonable grip/tension - otherwise you'll have the same symptoms of a stretched belt!
__________________
...where on earth did that spring/screw go?? |
1st Nov 2018, 3:17 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
Post the model number of the Aiwa unit. One of us may recognize it and be able to give specific help.
__________________
Regards, Ben. |
1st Nov 2018, 2:27 pm | #5 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
Hello Whiskas and co.
Thanks for all the excellent suggestions. The Aiwa unit is labelled Stereo Component System CX-45, and the twin cassette mechanism is just a standard manual push-button type. Not a fancy logic-controlled affair like my JVC! Not sure if that makes any difference to the inside workings. Also, if I do end up taking it apart, is there anything in particular that I should avoid touching? I've heard worrying tales about 'stored voltage' (capacitors?) and I would rather not get a nasty shock if it can be avoided.
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
1st Nov 2018, 2:34 pm | #6 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,970
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
There is no risk of significant electric shocks if the unit has been unplugged from the mains for a few minutes. Transistor equipment operates from relatively low voltages.
|
1st Nov 2018, 2:48 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
Relieved to hear that, Paul. Thanks for such a swift reply.
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
1st Nov 2018, 5:48 pm | #8 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire, UK.
Posts: 729
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi question.
An update on the Aiwa saga.
Both cassette decks will now play and record very well, even on high-speed dubbing. Maybe this is because the unit has now been in a heated room for a couple of weeks (and plugged in for the same length of time) so everything has warmed up again. The problem is that both fast-forward and rewind are unresponsive - not even a hint of any movement or motor noise. Yet, as soon as I press either function keys, the auto-stop triggers and it returns to the off position. It's the only non-logic cassette deck with auto-stop on fast wind (as well as on play and record) that I've ever come across! So, does that sound like it's still a belt problem? All thoughts are very welcome!
__________________
Best Regards, Peter. |
3rd Nov 2018, 9:02 am | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Olympia, Washington, USA.
Posts: 664
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi. Cassette player problems.
Not familiar with that unit per se:
Could be a belt, drive idler, clutch, sensor- some used magnetic reed switches and the switches were failure prone on the U.S. models. It's really hard to tell for me, without looking the unit over. The FF/rewind mech could be gummed up too. |
3rd Nov 2018, 11:47 am | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
|
Re: 1989 Aiwa hifi. Cassette player problems.
Having looked at pics of similar models online, this is a simple mech, I would not be surprised if one motor handled both transports. The usual scenario is that a thinner belt which connects the fast wind idler to the capstan or even motor itself has failed.
__________________
Regards, Ben. |