Akai GX912 Professional Cassette Deck Jammed tape repair

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  • Опубліковано 25 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 93

  • @its-all-happening2172
    @its-all-happening2172 2 роки тому +1

    I had to service my collection of cassette decks myself because nobody can repair these old machines in my area anymore. We appreciate you sharing your knowledge and posting these vids, so thank you.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  2 роки тому +3

      That's the same everywhere. Everyone has left the business

  • @phillanassa759
    @phillanassa759 Рік тому

    Direct drive as well, with great electronics and transport. I bought NOS , in the box, from an owner who had 2 living on the left coast about 5 years ago. It had melted belts plus bad caps in the output preamplifier, causing severe high frequency roll-off, but not on the headphone jack, just the main outputs.. play a tape recorded on it on any another deck the sound quality was perfect.
    I replaced all the audio caps in the preamp, new belts full lube, transport disassembly, calibration and setup for all 3 tape types.
    As close as any consumer machine I've owned to the midline Nakamichi decks in terms of speed control, clarity and response, without the exceptional NAAC azimuth system. If it had that it would have been a worth contender for all but a few Nac's.
    A close runner up to the GX-912 is my Yamaha KX-1200U that also sits in the box but bought 3rd hand. One day I'll rotate them into playback status, as both deserve it. At the moment I am running a sweet Sony TC-K555ESJ I bought new in '94, plus a Teac V-1RX I picked up as a teenager; my first real cassette deck paid for from a summer job cutting lawns in 1983.
    One day I'll own a Willy Herman Nak Dragon, maybe I need another summer job cutting lawns at night to9 fund it.. Well, I can dream anyway damn it, and in the mean time enjoy some sweet analog cassette goodness in the car and at home. Yes, I still make mix tapes.. and record from vinyl to cassette and open reel.
    Thanks for sharing this one Dave, as meaningful informative of these are few and far between, as are these decks themselves, many now used up residing in landfills at this point.
    Peace
    PS the transport needs a full lube, mine did the same thing as the head stack would not return to bottom of its travel, causing the tape to become stuck on the head stack, holding the door stuck shut and eating tape every time you hit Eject. A full disassembly and lube followed by careful setup, alignment and reassembly are critical to ensure the motorized door opens and shuts without any need to help it with a push or pull.
    The Direct Drive coil driven transport with multiple transport motors is as sexy as any high end deck made, except the highest end Nakamichi's and Technics, perhaps the odd Alpine/Alpage decks as well.
    Yes the retail markup on retail high end audio of the 70-s thru the 'mid 90's was insane and many the buyer paid way more for something way less capable and in many cases last years models all at exorbitant '80 priced,. Especially the Dragon, the 600 and 1000 series Naks.
    There was insane markup on entry to mid level gear, the worst of the profit margins that gave many the salesman or shop owner some serious coin and bonus checks, till the bottom fell out of the hobby in the 90's. Circuit $hitty and Worst Buy did as much damage as any to the industry already present, muddying waters further and confusing consumers so bad many walked away from the hobby altogether, never to return.
    The digital format and surround sound hardware war ( CD, DVD/A, Blu-ray, SACD, Dolby Digital, ,Pro Logic, DTS, etc.) insanity with many units already obsolescent before they left the factory, as well as a shift from manufacturing in Japan (high quality) to Taiwan and China (lowest quality of the low) Ebay and Amazon online sales, sealed the industries fate and did all but a few manufacturers in.

  • @WW-uw1dv
    @WW-uw1dv 4 роки тому +1

    Hello!
    I had exactly the same situation on Akai gx 9.
    From time to time, grease thickened on the rubbing units and the pressure rollers stopped dropping down and the cassette cover did not open. I had to remove the old grease and re-lubricate the friction units. Conclusion: this mechanism must be periodically put into operation.
    Success to you in your work!
    Здравствуйте!
    У меня была точно такая ситуация на Akai gx 9.
    От времени на трущихся узлах загустела смазка и перестали опускаться вниз прижимные ролики и крышка кассеты не открывалась. Пришлось убирать старую смазку и по новому смазывать узлы трения. Вывод: этот механизм необходимо периодически запускать в работу.
    Вам успеха в работе!

  • @boriscat1999
    @boriscat1999 3 роки тому

    Thanks for making this vid. I'm in the process of repairing a similar problem on a 4 track (Yamaha MT100) with a stuck tape and a head that doesn't retract all the way. It's a different mechanism, but also uses a loading motor plus a solenoid to unlatch a cam.
    Came to your vid to double check that I'm on the right track before I start dropping oil on on the part that I think is not sliding as it should. ;)

  • @TheMagicStar80
    @TheMagicStar80 4 роки тому +1

    that was an easy fix! glad you were able to troubleshoot the mechanical issue right the way!

  • @alexispieltin9379
    @alexispieltin9379 4 роки тому +2

    This one is quite easy, nice and efficient job, and an interesting Akaï deck.
    This professional format deck certainly shares many of the mid range classic decks characteristics, but Akaï also produced masterpieces like GX75 and top GX95 models, certainly with better components and mechanism, with somewhat less messy wiring, and more electronics (and a larger budget?).
    When they come to the bench, many of these high end three heads, double capstan decks have similar structure, and somewhat similar troubles: sticky grease, aging belts, noisy potentiometers... In this one, belts look fine!
    Of course, mechanisms are different, but you can generally service a Denon, a Sony, a Nakamichi, a TEAC or Tascam the same way you did, with patience, observation and q-tips.
    I generally end deck servicing with a general cleaning and the use of a de-magnetizer tool. Of course, you could also need other tools like miniature gauges, torque meters, special tapes for further procedures, but as you said, if you don't need that, don't mess with alignment if you want to spare time!

  • @Masterj3712
    @Masterj3712 5 місяців тому +1

    I always hankered for a Tascam 122. Studio Standard in my earlier yrs. also. 😊

  • @bilhep
    @bilhep 4 роки тому +1

    That was amazing. I can't count the number of 2-head decks I've tossed because it was just too complicated to even try and understand what I was seeing in there! I'm a sewing machine tech, also so I suspect there was an element of resignation, thinking that, even if I COULD work on it, I'd probably find something I'd need hopeless factory support for. I would love to have one of those decks to add to my studio environment, for those times when that one-in-a-hundred person comes in with a cassette issue. Right now it's almost impossible to find a good cassette deck. I think Sony made a 3-head too.

  • @Stelios.Posantzis
    @Stelios.Posantzis 4 роки тому

    Ha! When I was younger I didn't even know about this deck. I let a couple pass me buy earlier this year (when I still did not know about this deck!) - I've been regretting this since!!
    The front mounted rca jacks can make it look like a cheap VHS vcr but they can be so handy!

  • @svenschwingel8632
    @svenschwingel8632 4 роки тому +13

    Looks like the supply pinch roller assembly needs a new retracting spring. If the supply pinch roller pressure is off, all kinds of stuff will happen.
    I have a GX-95 which is based off that very same mechanism. It's a great-sounding machine if it works but there are quite a few quirks on that thing. The proper head alignment (especially head height since the GX head doesn't have a tape guide on it so the alignment gauge is pretty much useless for the head) is a freakin' nightmare if you don't own the AKAI test tape. And having to put the unit on its side to access the underside (!) trimmers for electrical adjustments like Dolby Level and Bias is a pretty stupid design as well when there is a reference test tape playing at the same time.
    Also, my unit injects some noise into the playback circuit before the Dolby circuitry that seems to originate in the FL display section (turning it off makes the noise go away, as does turning on Dolby NR during recording). And what freaks me out is that the problem seems to be intermittent and also depending on unit temperature. Well, at least it's a very beautiful deck 🤷🏼‍♂️
    And by the way: I consider motorized cassette doors to be the most stupid invention ever for cassette decks.

  • @DioDreamer
    @DioDreamer 3 роки тому +1

    after 14:00 you can see the felt pad for back tension is almost gone...this mechanism will destroy many tapes without proper back tension

  • @JasonHalversonjaydog
    @JasonHalversonjaydog 4 роки тому

    fortunately we were treated well by our power company. they were trimming tree branches and one hit the lines, knocking them together making big sparks fly! they told us to check our house and electronics for damage and they'd be covered but we were lucky and it didn't damage anything

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому

      If they or a contractor damages anything they pay. If s foreign worker (crane operator for construction company) car accident, act of God or animal / bird getting into transmission lines then you are screwed if anything happens.

  • @nickfrench7372
    @nickfrench7372 4 роки тому

    Never really had seen a direct drive capstan motor on a stereo tape deck b4.
    First I thought the machine was auto reverse,,,until I saw both capstans going in the same direction,,,,and thought the belt was on wrong,,,until I see the direct drive motor,,,very interesting design.
    I like the drive wheels,,,they look like fans,,,and the door button,,,,to open and close the door electronically.
    Out of all 8 stereo tape deck models I have,,,,few logical soft touch models,,,not one machine has that,,,open and close door button.
    Wish I had one of those old akai machines.

  • @matambale
    @matambale 4 роки тому

    Around these parts, power outages are mostly from squirrels climbing up a transformer-in-a-can on a power pole, standing on the lid, and touching the line coming out of the top. They're just exactly tall enough to reach that wire, past the insulator. Boom! Squirrel is cooked, and a big fuse pops.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому

      The transformers here all have squirrel cages on them to get vermin and birds from standing on the can and touching the lead. This good flew into the 3 phase primary and blew the complete circuit knocking out power to 2750 homes. Hmmm, 2750, that sounds like a number I heard about how many tons of AN bent boom in Beirut

  • @BoB4jjjjs
    @BoB4jjjjs 4 роки тому +1

    Nice operating cassette mechanism. Shame I didn't have that one the one I had. It is very rare you see a cassette machine here now.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +2

      I have a direct loading sansui deck of my own to service soon then it will be up for sale.

  • @shashank5525
    @shashank5525 2 роки тому

    Great job.. My Philips V355 cassette deck is not ejecting. As it’s all closed mechanism I’m unable to find what the problem is without opening the cabinet. Any thoughts sir?

  • @EmilioGarcia-fr5po
    @EmilioGarcia-fr5po 4 роки тому

    You should do a video of all the audio you have collected over the years! That would be fun

  • @spooktasticaparanormal
    @spooktasticaparanormal 4 роки тому +2

    Hello my friend, I really enjoyed this video. Love the cat too. I have family in Canada, I know that accent very well. Thanks for sharing, also I just subscribed. Kind regards. Paul.

  • @hmdwn
    @hmdwn 2 роки тому

    Please help... repair shops (fellas like you) are all gone!
    I have a Marantz DL-3507 Century Edition Cassette Deck (1990) I just put an old tape in and now it won't eject it.
    I haven't used the cassette player in years.
    The reversible direction play head rotated a few times but now it's jammed-up and the eject button feels like it won't depress to open the door.
    Any advice as to how to get the tape-out would be greatly appreciated.

  • @GREENTICKETRO
    @GREENTICKETRO 2 роки тому

    i bought few days ago the same model,looks excellent,working but i have one issue.I did some recordings with different type formulation,brand new cassette tape and i have difference betwween source-tape,on tape sounds muddy!I have few more 3 head ,i recorded the same tape but the sounds is identical as a source.Any advice please?

  • @andre_deboer
    @andre_deboer 4 роки тому

    The intro music is awesome. Good show, man. Thxs for the content

  • @keithfraser5009
    @keithfraser5009 4 роки тому

    Brilliant vid as some of the later GX's have this tape mechanism. The only issue I have is an H&S one and its your left hand with your wrist watch hovering over and appears to be resting on the mains transformer.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +1

      Not even close to mains.

    • @keithfraser5009
      @keithfraser5009 4 роки тому

      @@12voltvids Fair enough its just how it appears

  • @alx21i10
    @alx21i10 2 роки тому

    I have the same model,the only problem i have is on record mode there is a difference between source-tape...i used several formulation,NOS cassette tape but the the problem is the same....azymuth,pb etc are ok.Any advice how i can solve this issue?Thanks!

  • @vic-op1wm
    @vic-op1wm 3 роки тому

    Hi, I've disassembled the Akai gx 75 gear. The program gear is lubricated. It's old and I had to clean it up. But unfortunately I can't find a new lubricant that could be a replacement. Could you give us some advice? What kind of lubricant should I use? Or what kind of lubricant you use, If possible, then give a link to the sample.

  • @tacofortgens3471
    @tacofortgens3471 2 роки тому

    Pretty high end design

  • @ingenfestbrems
    @ingenfestbrems 4 роки тому +1

    Why do high end decks have capstan that’s always running?

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +1

      Because it is direct drive and takes time to spin up, also these were used in radio stations where instant start cueing is needed. Notice that in stop mode the head is raised ready to drop the pinch rollers quickly as soon as play is hit.

    • @ingenfestbrems
      @ingenfestbrems 4 роки тому

      12voltvids i can understand that
      My 3rd 3head dual capstan i have (direct drive) doing the same.
      Confusing as the direct drive turntables is known for high torque/quick startup

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +1

      @@ingenfestbrems
      A durect drive turntable is also a 3 phase traction (generally 6, 9 or 12 coils)motor that runs very slowly. This one has only 4. Just 2 phases needed as it spins much faster and uses the rotor as a flywheel. So it takes longer to get to speed.

    • @ingenfestbrems
      @ingenfestbrems 4 роки тому

      12voltvids looks like it has 6 but i may be wrong?

  • @HaiTran-eb3ce
    @HaiTran-eb3ce 4 роки тому

    I have Technics SL-1300 MkII, I have the same problem like this video, the automatic not pick up. how much will cost me to fix that problem? I am living in Texas. thanks

  • @reyuchannel7232
    @reyuchannel7232 4 роки тому

    exciting to see how the service👍

  • @potassiumchloride6968
    @potassiumchloride6968 2 роки тому

    Can anyone explain the difference between Normal tape head and Diamond tape head!?

  • @grass519
    @grass519 3 роки тому +1

    sorry wasnt able to comment on your video. youtube deletes it right away.

  • @audiomez
    @audiomez 3 роки тому

    HAVE 3 OF THESE IN MY STUDIO. GX HEADS RULE ANALOG.

  • @johnb5519
    @johnb5519 4 роки тому

    Maybe you can show why the prerecorded tapes from the record stores from the old days get so much friction in them that they overcome the belt friction, and won't work. All my better quality tapes that I recorded things on, work fine. I'm thinking of taking the tape out of the cheap ones and putting it into the better cassettes.

  • @theannoyedmrfloyd3998
    @theannoyedmrfloyd3998 4 роки тому

    The springs powering the movement need more pull if they exert force in such a manner.

  • @angelodagnolo984
    @angelodagnolo984 3 роки тому

    love your moggies 😻😹

  • @slapandtick1e
    @slapandtick1e 4 роки тому

    Excellent videos love the watch ! Subscribed

  • @HuntersMoon78
    @HuntersMoon78 4 роки тому

    What was the music at 24:24

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому

      The song was moonlight serenade but I don't know who it was. The version I have is the original by the Glenn Miller orchestra.

  • @RYANSMITH-ys1em
    @RYANSMITH-ys1em 3 роки тому +1

    I like your job

  • @zx8401ztv
    @zx8401ztv 4 роки тому

    Quality bit of kit, well worth repairing :-D
    Companys are shitbags for running away from responsibility, but they are always happy to take your money.

  • @dynotec1
    @dynotec1 4 роки тому

    Can someone tell me if Rubber Renue can safely be used on pinch rollers?

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +1

      Yes I have used it on an old reel to reel roller that was in bad shape and it made it usable.

  • @891gennyop
    @891gennyop 5 днів тому

    HVAC MUCH?

  • @JacGoudsmit
    @JacGoudsmit 4 роки тому +1

    Canada Goose is now known as Canada Fuse

  • @vfletes1
    @vfletes1 4 роки тому

    I've been binge watching your videos and would love to send you what i have see if you can get it going and do a video about it ofcourse.
    I got an Onkyo deck that plays tapes very slow and a couple of VCRs that just can't get them to play.

  • @grass519
    @grass519 3 роки тому +1

    my insurance company replaced my macbook pro after a surge 😝

  • @armenhelen
    @armenhelen 4 роки тому

    It is the same mechanism like GX-75 and GX-95.

  • @brianwood5220
    @brianwood5220 4 роки тому

    Lovely Job once again

  • @ronniepirtlejr2606
    @ronniepirtlejr2606 4 роки тому +1

    They have pretty cheap surge protectors we can get nowadays at Walmart only $10.00 for 2 of them. They claim (in big bold words) they will cover up to $25,000 in damage, if an electronic component is damaged while plugged in their device & it was correctly grounded. Now if that's just BS, I don't know? I can see someone trying to make a claim with the company in China & somone answering the phone not being able to speak English, claiming that they're no longer in business Etc! I guess you would have to go after Walmart for selling the surge protector with those bold words attached to it?

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому

      Good luck with that claim.

  • @nickh9735
    @nickh9735 4 роки тому

    Such A Beauty!!!!

  • @salermo42
    @salermo42 4 роки тому

    prnt.sc/u02iur
    Before servicing on that part of the mechanism, make sure that the markings match.

  • @Synthematix
    @Synthematix 4 роки тому +1

    If that was a pro deck it would not allow itself to jam up with tape, tapes bloody horrible things they were, they were a notch up from 8 track, for me that puts them at notch 1

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +2

      A real pro deck would have seperate motors for the take up and supply.

    • @Synthematix
      @Synthematix 4 роки тому +1

      @@12voltvids Dual capstans in my opinion were a very bad idea, you literally have to babysit the damn things to keep them working, im a musician dave and akai "professional" is a gimmick with synthesizers, akai has gone so far downhill now i doubt they contain a single metal part lol. what you are doing the with tape transplanting i had to do in the 80s to get my atari 65XE games to load.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +3

      @@Synthematix I know all about dual capstan garbage. It was started by one company and everyone else jumped on the bandwagon claiming it lowered W/F. Bullshit, all it accomplishes is stretched tapes, and another pinchroller to chew up tapes. I was always a teac and Tascam fan myself.

    • @video99couk
      @video99couk 4 роки тому

      @@12voltvids My three Aiwa decks are all dual capstan. I did have a certain amount of grief with one of them for a while (AD-F770), but the the cheaper AD-F880 and the stunningly expensive XK-007 (new motor recently installed) have been excellent.

    • @svenschwingel8632
      @svenschwingel8632 4 роки тому +1

      @@Synthematix Dual Capstans need a lot of attention to keep them running smoothly. Which means a good cleaning every 10 hours of operation like most user manuals stated. If the supply capstan/pinch roller is dirty, you are literally asking for trouble. And I am not saying that this couldn't happen on single capstans either if there was too much back-tension through torque on the supply reel.
      The problem is that most manufacturers weren't really transparent about the added complexity and its consequences. Kinda like car manufacturers these days, offering up all kinds of high tech stuff yet failing to inform customers about the high repair and maintenance cost.

  • @rajeevsiriwardena3936
    @rajeevsiriwardena3936 3 роки тому

    Thanks friend !

  • @lemmingsbeest
    @lemmingsbeest 4 роки тому

    The mechanic looks like a normal Akai GX-75 with a potentiometer as mode switch....

    • @svenschwingel8632
      @svenschwingel8632 4 роки тому +1

      All better-quality AKAI mechanisms are based off the very same mechanism family.

  • @silviogiampaolo3043
    @silviogiampaolo3043 Рік тому

    Excelente!!!!!

  • @TractorandAgriculture33
    @TractorandAgriculture33 4 роки тому

    I like your video. From-india.

  • @ebow7964
    @ebow7964 4 роки тому

    I had a lovely Nakamichi Cassette deck still think they are the best
    Sorry 😬📼🎥🇬🇧🇺🇸

    • @BavarianM
      @BavarianM 4 роки тому

      They are famous but just that

  • @therestorationofdrwho1865
    @therestorationofdrwho1865 4 роки тому

    Ur vids are new but the intro is like 90’s or early 2000’s. Lol

  • @fadhlematrook1248
    @fadhlematrook1248 4 роки тому

    i like this

  • @solarr2
    @solarr2 4 роки тому

    👍😎🤓👍🤘

  • @ingenfestbrems
    @ingenfestbrems 4 роки тому

    That lamp.. just saying

  • @cupitza
    @cupitza 4 роки тому

    It looks like a superficial repair. The mechanism should have been dismantled, old grease cleaned, new grease applied, idler replaced .... etc. I would not give my device to someone who "repairs" in this way.

    • @12voltvids
      @12voltvids  4 роки тому +2

      I am given a price the client is prepared to pay. To take mechanism apart and lubricate would run about 4x what I was limited to repair. I do many repairs for ebay sellers and they want to keep their costs down to a minimum. I do these videos to show what goes wrong and how to fix them. I don't do this for a living. Nobody can make a living repairing electronics these days because nobody in their right mind will spend hundreds repairing old tape recorders. Also many of these units are my own, and have been donated. I fix these units and sell them myself, but I don't sell for ridicules prices on eBay. Most stuff I give away or sell very cheap just to get rid of it. On those cases I am also not going to spend any more time other than to get the unit running.
      Its easy to be a troll and say you would never send me anything. Thats great because I would never accept your crap anyway. I have enough regular clients that bring me all their stuff and are more than happy with my work and what I charge them. I don't rip off my customers and don't pad the bill doing unnecessary work. That's why I have repeat customers. That's why when I left the business in 2003 I had people looking me up at home to get their equipment. Because I know what I am doing and people know I won't charge them extra for stuff they don't need. In case you haven't figured it out by now, I suck at sales. I am also not gullible. Nobody is pulling a fast one on me. I am the same if I need some work done I instruct the person to do a specific thing and if they try to upsell me, well they just aren't getting the job.