It's interesting to find this was the problem, but I wouldn't call it "amazing". It's a simple matter of Physics called the coefficient of friction. So simple in fact that it's one of the only things I remember from my college physics classes and that was over 20 years ago and I only got C's because the curve was so steep. The only other thing I remember is F=MA and that's for the fact that our shitty physics prof (also the University's chancellor) taught us that was the only formula we needed to know because we could derive all other formulas from that. To this day I have no idea if that's true, but I believe it for some reason. LOL.
Once again, these mid 1970's Akai decks were built like tanks. And sometimes, like in real tanks, some grease on a belt can cause trouble... Akai was using the counter as a simple end of tape detector, and that system also gives the cheap non electronic (no LEDs) animated movement lights. Here you won't find some computerized motor torque control, no spring loaded tension pulley with limit switches + everything looks pretty easy to access! I've also seen this kind of control on a reel to reel, malfunctioning because of a little bulb failure. In some (more recent) VCR and tape decks, a similar concept can be found in the form of some miniaturized infrared switches. Little reflective wheels, directly coupled to rotor movement, are used to sense movement, and direction. Most of these tiny detectors are generally profoundly embedded in mechanism, and need a complex procedure to access. Same sh.t as encoding mechanism switch on VCRs... One hour spent to disassemble and reassemble, to clean in a few seconds with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol...
Working on these older decks and other hifi gear is like working on a muscle car from the 50s or 60s. Lots of room to work around and easily laid out controls and connections. That's why they will be around for hundreds of years while the newer stuff is mostly forgotten when the next model comes out.
Had a similar problem on my Saba radio. I took out the entire counter, put soap on a toothbrush and cleaned the entire counter in the sink. Rinsed it in water, put some grease and it worked fine afterwards.
Love that sequential tape movement indicator. Simple painted drum like that. Not much that can go wrong vs today’s solution using an ARM processor running embedded windows to animate 5 LEDs.
Hey my name is Matt Pfeiffer and I have used a few of your videos to repair electronics that others were throwing out or selling for very cheap. I can’t find a video for my specific issue and was wondering if you could help me figure out what’s going on? I have a Pioneer CLD-V2400 that will open the tray but when it’s open makes a loud noise for a few seconds then sucks the tray back in and it won’t play discs currently. I removed to top cover and all I could diagnose by myself is that it appears as though the disc is not aligning properly when it goes to spin up it’s not centered and makes a few revolutions before stopping the spin and ejecting the disc. Other then that it seems to operate as usual. I’d love to get this machine up and running as a back up for my other CLD-V2400 or to sell it. Any help would be appreciated. Also, it sure if there is another way to contact you because I’m sure you might need to visually see what I’m talking about to help me. But any help or guidance or tips would be much appreciated! Thanks again!!!
Are you a Patreon? I was before COVID hit and he was kind enough to answer some specific repair questions in PMs on that platform. Where can you get better advice for $5?
...so it was just oil on the belt? I wish that was the problem on my Teac 4010sl reel 2 reel ... it just randomly stops where it feels like .... even after new belt and cleaned thoroughly...and I can't find any problem in the gears
@@nathen4021 Crazy isn't it. I haven't used tape in 30 years. I have a bunch of old tapes that I should do what a friend has done. Archived them all to a big hard drive and then tossed the original tapes out. I have a few of those big totes full of audio and video tapes. Archive all my old stuff and sell all my old tape decks.
Are all the solenoids operating correctly? Also, check the motor run caps. I've had Teacs that had issues with motor speed and when I tested the run cap it was out of spec. A new cap fixed that problem right up. These are big can type caps, but the modern ceiling fan brick types work great as a replacement and can be bought for a couple bucks on eBay.
Helllo I have a Sony Dcr trv330 was working fine but after play 2-4min blue screen come up and tell you eject the cassette , I have a bunch of memories I need to transfer , and now I’m stuck , can you help me , thanks
Does this happen with every tape or only a particular one? If you have the error code we may be able to help you better. It should be of the form C:31:23 but of course the numbers may be different.
Nice video work. I'd like to know if anyone has made a schematic for an analog tape counter to digital counter. I've got an Akai 4000 that I want to put on n a digital counter.. not sure about removing the counter that is there, but just adding a digital box for now to sit on top of the unit. Thx if anyone knows of a way.
Amazing that a tiny spot of grease is enough to cause the belt just to slip enough that the tape stops!
It's interesting to find this was the problem, but I wouldn't call it "amazing". It's a simple matter of Physics called the coefficient of friction. So simple in fact that it's one of the only things I remember from my college physics classes and that was over 20 years ago and I only got C's because the curve was so steep. The only other thing I remember is F=MA and that's for the fact that our shitty physics prof (also the University's chancellor) taught us that was the only formula we needed to know because we could derive all other formulas from that. To this day I have no idea if that's true, but I believe it for some reason. LOL.
Once again, these mid 1970's Akai decks were built like tanks. And sometimes, like in real tanks, some grease on a belt can cause trouble... Akai was using the counter as a simple end of tape detector, and that system also gives the cheap non electronic (no LEDs) animated movement lights. Here you won't find some computerized motor torque control, no spring loaded tension pulley with limit switches + everything looks pretty easy to access!
I've also seen this kind of control on a reel to reel, malfunctioning because of a little bulb failure.
In some (more recent) VCR and tape decks, a similar concept can be found in the form of some miniaturized infrared switches. Little reflective wheels, directly coupled to rotor movement, are used to sense movement, and direction. Most of these tiny detectors are generally profoundly embedded in mechanism, and need a complex procedure to access. Same sh.t as encoding mechanism switch on VCRs... One hour spent to disassemble and reassemble, to clean in a few seconds with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol...
Working on these older decks and other hifi gear is like working on a muscle car from the 50s or 60s. Lots of room to work around and easily laid out controls and connections. That's why they will be around for hundreds of years while the newer stuff is mostly forgotten when the next model comes out.
Had a similar problem on my Saba radio. I took out the entire counter, put soap on a toothbrush and cleaned the entire counter in the sink. Rinsed it in water, put some grease and it worked fine afterwards.
You've got to appreciate that guy from the future, overdubbing the answer, trying to tell you what's really going on.
12Volt actually records his audio on 1/4" reel to reel then he goes back and splices in the edits. LOL!
I had the same problem on a VCR with the same type of counter. Boiling the belt for 10 minutes fixed it.
A rotating patterned cylinder for what looks like a dot bargraph, very sneaky :-D
Love the real analog meters.
Great video! Very useful.
Is Isopropyl alchohol going to dry out the rubber belt?
That is one good looking player!
Love that sequential tape movement indicator. Simple painted drum like that. Not much that can go wrong vs today’s solution using an ARM processor running embedded windows to animate 5 LEDs.
LOL
Hey my name is Matt Pfeiffer and I have used a few of your videos to repair electronics that others were throwing out or selling for very cheap. I can’t find a video for my specific issue and was wondering if you could help me figure out what’s going on? I have a Pioneer CLD-V2400 that will open the tray but when it’s open makes a loud noise for a few seconds then sucks the tray back in and it won’t play discs currently. I removed to top cover and all I could diagnose by myself is that it appears as though the disc is not aligning properly when it goes to spin up it’s not centered and makes a few revolutions before stopping the spin and ejecting the disc. Other then that it seems to operate as usual. I’d love to get this machine up and running as a back up for my other CLD-V2400 or to sell it. Any help would be appreciated. Also, it sure if there is another way to contact you because I’m sure you might need to visually see what I’m talking about to help me. But any help or guidance or tips would be much appreciated! Thanks again!!!
Are you a Patreon? I was before COVID hit and he was kind enough to answer some specific repair questions in PMs on that platform. Where can you get better advice for $5?
Christopher Formulak I am not but I’d gladly pay him a little if he helped me get it working
...so it was just oil on the belt? I wish that was the problem on my Teac 4010sl reel 2 reel ... it just randomly stops where it feels like .... even after new belt and cleaned thoroughly...and I can't find any problem in the gears
Yes oil on the pulley / belt.
@@12voltvids surprised people still use these decks in 2020.
@@nathen4021
Crazy isn't it. I haven't used tape in 30 years. I have a bunch of old tapes that I should do what a friend has done. Archived them all to a big hard drive and then tossed the original tapes out. I have a few of those big totes full of audio and video tapes. Archive all my old stuff and sell all my old tape decks.
@@12voltvids Don't toss them. Do a giveaway to your patreons. Some will want them.
Are all the solenoids operating correctly? Also, check the motor run caps. I've had Teacs that had issues with motor speed and when I tested the run cap it was out of spec. A new cap fixed that problem right up. These are big can type caps, but the modern ceiling fan brick types work great as a replacement and can be bought for a couple bucks on eBay.
Helllo I have a Sony Dcr trv330 was working fine but after play 2-4min blue screen come up and tell you eject the cassette , I have a bunch of memories I need to transfer , and now I’m stuck , can you help me , thanks
Does this happen with every tape or only a particular one? If you have the error code we may be able to help you better. It should be of the form C:31:23 but of course the numbers may be different.
Nice video work. I'd like to know if anyone has made a schematic for an analog tape counter to digital counter. I've got an Akai 4000 that I want to put on n a digital counter.. not sure about removing the counter that is there, but just adding a digital box for now to sit on top of the unit. Thx if anyone knows of a way.
built to last
Another good tip.