Man I can't explain why, but watching you fix this stuff is not only educational, but it does something to relax me. I'm a freaking weirdo, but such is life. The point is I've been enjoying this channel quite a bit. Thanks
For being from the mid 80s it surprises me how easy to service this still is. My experience is that decks of that age usually are quite hard to work on, the mechanism is buried deep down inside with all the wires way too short to even move the mechanism a little bit for better access, there is no removable underside so you can't work on the electronics very well and so on. This TEAC doesn't have those problems, I guess I'd have some fun working on it, too. The melted belts sure are a pain, usually what I do is I scrape off as much of the melted rubber as I can and then I remove the remains using lighter fluid.
It's becoming nearly impossible to get pinch rollers and belts for tape systems. And forget it if a head is worn and can't be lapped any further. I made a tiny lathe just to mill a few sets of pinch rollers for my reel and cassette decks, just so I could digitize recordings I can't otherwise replace, then sell the decks. There's no point "collecting" gear that deteriorates so quickly. And, every time one listens to analog media, that media degrades a bit. Magnetic, vinyl, or especially old wax drums. I'm keeping the vinyl: there's a ritual to playing a record. Micro-SD cards can't compare to it.
The golden age was awesome...products will never be made the same in our current state of economy. I call today "The disposable age" to describe the way things are made today. No more repairs...something breaks...goes in the trash...and is swiftly replaced with another cheap alternative. What happened to our pride and free market economy standards???? This is an outrage the way things are made today. Companies should be EMBARASSED by what is leaving their assembly lines...not that human hands ever touch anything anymore to warrant a second thought or look anyway.......from the late 60's to very early 80's saw the most dedication from companies in proudly building their products to sky-high standards and specs. Cheap shortcuts were not tolerated and a distant glint on the horizon. Even looking at the device in this video...I can already see the start of the decline of audio components. I can tell. This one was probably one of the last ones made at the VERY end of the golden age...or shortly thereafter. The decline is evident on "SOME" aspects of this particular deck, I can see them. Not going to get super involved but a few things to mention are: The beginning of the single capstan on upper-end decks, the chassis, the front faceplate and body composition materials, the circuit soldering, and the switches and relays (or lack there-of). I'm certainly not saying that this was not a good deck...in fact it probably was great!!! Just noting that I can see the beginning of the end, even in this example. Did you get the same impression while working on this?
+kona702 You are correct. This is not a horrible deck, it is quite a good deck, but it was the beginning of the end for sure. My RSM275, which is a 2 head machine is built much better than this one, and actually sounds better despite it being 2 head vs a 3 head. I have an older technics 3 head deck from the late 70's which is all mechanical and bullet proof. I won't part with these units because they were built so good. I had a hard time parting with my Sansui 3300, but when guy showed up with a stack of cash it was time to send that unit on to someone that will appreciate the build quality. I enjoy overhauling vintage equipment because it is so serviceable, unlike the crap that is made today. But as you put it, we are in that disposable era.
you are right, just because a deck has 3 heads doesnt mean it will sound better, my 2 head pioneer sounds 10 times better than my 3 head technics, 1979 - 1985 were defo the hifi golden years
I disagree. Audio gear (speaker systems aside) from the 80's can't compete with the audio quality of most modern cheap-o-matic ("Chinesium") digital gear. The old stuff (it isn't old at all) looks cooler, but comparing a modern, direct 24-bit digital recording to anything made before 1998 is just embarrassing from a technical perspective. Yeah, I have SE tube amps, tube preamps, tube tuners, and even old console radios from the 30's, but that's because they're pretty. Not because they're better at what they do. As far as people throwing out broken toys, and ignoring the dearth of electronic repair shops nowadays: there have always been those who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing. Those folks have always made it easy for the clever person to own last year's flagship equipment for the 3-4 dollars it costs to fix them.
I have a Teac V-750. The tape mechanism is identical to yours. I replaced both belts and cleaned the pinch roller and the rubber roller in between the spools with fedron. It now ejects the tape and fast forwards and reverses with no problem. Except when I press play nothing happens. I did what you did and fooled it into thinking there was a tape in the mechanism and noticed when I hit play, the heads come up but the rubber roller in between the spools doesn't move over and make contact with the take up reel on the right like yours does in this video at 25:23 and doesn't start spooling the tape and it shuts off. What could cause that?
These decks will make a type 1 tape sound Exelant , Perfect . New channel just started ( Cassette Comeback ) in the UK . This channel sells all the tapes that TDK Maxell Sony EXE remade & selling out fast . The guy running this channel will prove all tape myths to be garbage . I never thought that this lost Tech would come back as it was due to the crappy Tech they sell us now . This is a practical channel , unlike the rest that are just talking heads .
Yes I know how good this deck is. The auto bias will make any tape sound great. Almost as good as that dragon he uses. It was expensive in its day too. I think I paid 900 for that deck.
@@12voltvids Nice to no you visited his channel . I think he lives in Staffordshire , thats were I live . I have been abusing tapes myself till I saw these vids . 3 Head decks are rear enough as it is .
@@shaun9107 My 850 is actually one that I occasionally use to listen to my old mix tapes I recorded back in the 80's before I transitioned to DAT. I used to have 2 turntables and 2 CD players with a mixer and spin records and discs to make mix tapes for parties and listen in the car. All recorded with DBX, so the 850 comes in handy to play those tapes. I don't record any cassettes these days but I do have a bunch of mixed tapes I like to play from time to time, and the 850 does as good a job of this as any deck I have heard.
It seems like analog music is coming back. I see more cassette decks being sold for big money and turntables as well. They are now making records again. I saw records in Fred Meyer, but no CD's go figure. I fixed my linear tracking turntable so I can use it again. I love both tapes and records. I also like CD's, but the sound is a bit tinny if you ask me.
does it have a a.c. primary line fuse I put one in if it doesn't you can see in my videos but consult a authorized service center before doing ii showed a authorized service tech the ones I put in he said its a good idea
Dude both wheels army spouse to move at the same time. When you play the right wheel moves the left gets pulled by the tape moving. When you reverse same thing just the opposite side. They don't both move at the same time
I have owned several cassette decks, and of the lot, the least troublesome ones were the Akai brand....always seemed that the belts were good and if the motors were OK, the rest of the unit was also good.
Akai always made great tape recorders. Their reel to reel are among the best of the consumer ones you can get. I have 3 Akai reel to reel recorders. Roberts were the same, just a different name.
@@12voltvids lreally ike you vids, retired now, so I am dabbling in fixing vintage stereo as hobby. I bought my Akai set in '79 and repaired the amp and the tape deck. still works great. Also repaired many other pieces which I put onto Ebay.
Love the vids, 12volt. Are you using a Tuner to set motor speed? I noticed you use something that looks like a musical tuner on a couple videos. Thanks and great work!
I've thought for a long time teac deserves more credit. See there used stuff all the time selling cheap. I think if they would have sold receivers and amps in the 70s and 80s people would recognize them more now. Even now they build some solid tanks.
Teac has made some nice stuff in the past. This tape deck is an example. They also had their professional division, Tascam which was very good. Many recording studios had DA30 and DA40 DAT decks used to master the mix down from multi track for the CD replicators.
i like 70 80 stereos the date might be on the back of the motor i put a line fuse in ac primary many units dont have overcurrent protection from he factory
Actually they do, in the form of a thermal cutout built into the transformer. The problem with that is when the transformer gets hot enough to open the cut out the transformer is toast as you usually can not replace it.
Just opened up my late 80s Teac duel deck and both belts had turned to tar. Hope I can get it up and running again. Went on eBay and for only $8 ordered a 30 pack of various size belts.
Yeah Sony from 90s have crappy belts, even the more expensive ones. Interesting that even el-cheapo decks from 80s have been made from much better parts. MARS sells really good Japanese made belts, a few other people.
More cassette deck videos please m8, although these things are rarely used today they do bring back wonderful memories for me. I tell you what dave, modern teac decks are biblically bad, these late 80s machines run rings around them, tascam cant even get licencing for dolby now, none of the moden teac machines have any noise reduction whatsoever, to my ears the TEAC Z-5000 sounds better than the nakamichi dragon no joke.
I own a Teac V-770. It has been out of use for years. Any tip when the idler wheel is slipping and the FWD and RWD does not work? I have ordered just the wheel (or the rubber part) an hope I am able to just replace that.
By the way, have you ever opened up one of those old Panasonic cassette players from the late 60s, or early 70s and find that the belts are still good and not melted? They must have made them of a better quality rubber or something. To think that to save 2 or 3 cents, the manufacturers in the 80s went for crappy low quality belts makes me pissed off.
I have a full set of factory alignment tapes a sony beta, an RCA vhs set and a set of cassette alignment tapes. I use these to verify my record deck and then use that deck to make my own set of alignment apes that go on unknown quality equipment on the test bench. My factory tapes have only gone in the gear I use to make my work tapes on.
Man I can't explain why, but watching you fix this stuff is not only educational, but it does something to relax me. I'm a freaking weirdo, but such is life. The point is I've been enjoying this channel quite a bit. Thanks
For being from the mid 80s it surprises me how easy to service this still is. My experience is that decks of that age usually are quite hard to work on, the mechanism is buried deep down inside with all the wires way too short to even move the mechanism a little bit for better access, there is no removable underside so you can't work on the electronics very well and so on. This TEAC doesn't have those problems, I guess I'd have some fun working on it, too.
The melted belts sure are a pain, usually what I do is I scrape off as much of the melted rubber as I can and then I remove the remains using lighter fluid.
Great job! Amazing how those belts melt like that! I've seen the same thing happen to rubber feet on some old games consoles.
Thank you Dave, this gives me insight for my 1983 Teac V 35.
Still works May have to replace something on the rewind maybe a belt.
You get a thumbs up for not breaking the fly wheel when dropping it.
It's becoming nearly impossible to get pinch rollers and belts for tape systems. And forget it if a head is worn and can't be lapped any further. I made a tiny lathe just to mill a few sets of pinch rollers for my reel and cassette decks, just so I could digitize recordings I can't otherwise replace, then sell the decks. There's no point "collecting" gear that deteriorates so quickly. And, every time one listens to analog media, that media degrades a bit. Magnetic, vinyl, or especially old wax drums. I'm keeping the vinyl: there's a ritual to playing a record. Micro-SD cards can't compare to it.
The golden age was awesome...products will never be made the same in our current state of economy. I call today "The disposable age" to describe the way things are made today. No more repairs...something breaks...goes in the trash...and is swiftly replaced with another cheap alternative. What happened to our pride and free market economy standards???? This is an outrage the way things are made today. Companies should be EMBARASSED by what is leaving their assembly lines...not that human hands ever touch anything anymore to warrant a second thought or look anyway.......from the late 60's to very early 80's saw the most dedication from companies in proudly building their products to sky-high standards and specs. Cheap shortcuts were not tolerated and a distant glint on the horizon. Even looking at the device in this video...I can already see the start of the decline of audio components. I can tell. This one was probably one of the last ones made at the VERY end of the golden age...or shortly thereafter. The decline is evident on "SOME" aspects of this particular deck, I can see them. Not going to get super involved but a few things to mention are: The beginning of the single capstan on upper-end decks, the chassis, the front faceplate and body composition materials, the circuit soldering, and the switches and relays (or lack there-of). I'm certainly not saying that this was not a good deck...in fact it probably was great!!! Just noting that I can see the beginning of the end, even in this example. Did you get the same impression while working on this?
+kona702 You are correct. This is not a horrible deck, it is quite a good deck, but it was the beginning of the end for sure. My RSM275, which is a 2 head machine is built much better than this one, and actually sounds better despite it being 2 head vs a 3 head. I have an older technics 3 head deck from the late 70's which is all mechanical and bullet proof. I won't part with these units because they were built so good. I had a hard time parting with my Sansui 3300, but when guy showed up with a stack of cash it was time to send that unit on to someone that will appreciate the build quality. I enjoy overhauling vintage equipment because it is so serviceable, unlike the crap that is made today. But as you put it, we are in that disposable era.
you are right, just because a deck has 3 heads doesnt mean it will sound better, my 2 head pioneer sounds 10 times better than my 3 head technics, 1979 - 1985 were defo the hifi golden years
I disagree. Audio gear (speaker systems aside) from the 80's can't compete with the audio quality of most modern cheap-o-matic ("Chinesium") digital gear. The old stuff (it isn't old at all) looks cooler, but comparing a modern, direct 24-bit digital recording to anything made before 1998 is just embarrassing from a technical perspective. Yeah, I have SE tube amps, tube preamps, tube tuners, and even old console radios from the 30's, but that's because they're pretty. Not because they're better at what they do. As far as people throwing out broken toys, and ignoring the dearth of electronic repair shops nowadays: there have always been those who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing. Those folks have always made it easy for the clever person to own last year's flagship equipment for the 3-4 dollars it costs to fix them.
I have a Teac V-750. The tape mechanism is identical to yours. I replaced both belts and cleaned the pinch roller and the rubber roller in between the spools with fedron. It now ejects the tape and fast forwards and reverses with no problem. Except when I press play nothing happens. I did what you did and fooled it into thinking there was a tape in the mechanism and noticed when I hit play, the heads come up but the rubber roller in between the spools doesn't move over and make contact with the take up reel on the right like yours does in this video at 25:23 and doesn't start spooling the tape and it shuts off. What could cause that?
These decks will make a type 1 tape sound Exelant , Perfect .
New channel just started ( Cassette Comeback ) in the UK .
This channel sells all the tapes that TDK Maxell Sony EXE remade & selling out fast .
The guy running this channel will prove all tape myths to be garbage .
I never thought that this lost Tech would come back as it was due to the crappy Tech they sell us now .
This is a practical channel , unlike the rest that are just talking heads .
Yes I know how good this deck is. The auto bias will make any tape sound great. Almost as good as that dragon he uses. It was expensive in its day too. I think I paid 900 for that deck.
@@12voltvids Nice to no you visited his channel .
I think he lives in Staffordshire , thats were I live .
I have been abusing tapes myself till I saw these vids .
3 Head decks are rear enough as it is .
@@shaun9107
I have 2 3 head cassette decks, 3 3 head reel to reel and a 6 head reel to reel
@@12voltvids Not used I take it .
Pass em here & have done with .
@@shaun9107 My 850 is actually one that I occasionally use to listen to my old mix tapes I recorded back in the 80's before I transitioned to DAT.
I used to have 2 turntables and 2 CD players with a mixer and spin records and discs to make mix tapes for parties and listen in the car. All recorded with DBX, so the 850 comes in handy to play those tapes. I don't record any cassettes these days but I do have a bunch of mixed tapes I like to play from time to time, and the 850 does as good a job of this as any deck I have heard.
It seems like analog music is coming back. I see more cassette decks being sold for big money and turntables as well. They are now making records again. I saw records in Fred Meyer, but no CD's go figure. I fixed my linear tracking turntable so I can use it again. I love both tapes and records. I also like CD's, but the sound is a bit tinny if you ask me.
Yup... those vintage decks were built like tanks... awesome sets.
That was a really expensive tape deck. I paid probably close to 1,000 or more for it when it was new.
you channel needs more views well worth the watch
I would have unplugged the wires from the tape mechanism for better access!
does it have a a.c. primary line fuse I put one in if it doesn't you can see in my videos but consult a authorized service center before doing ii showed a authorized service tech the ones I put in he said its a good idea
Dude both wheels army spouse to move at the same time. When you play the right wheel moves the left gets pulled by the tape moving. When you reverse same thing just the opposite side. They don't both move at the same time
?
I have owned several cassette decks, and of the lot, the least troublesome ones were the Akai brand....always seemed that the belts were good and if the motors were OK, the rest of the unit was also good.
Akai always made great tape recorders. Their reel to reel are among the best of the consumer ones you can get. I have 3 Akai reel to reel recorders. Roberts were the same, just a different name.
@@12voltvids lreally ike you vids, retired now, so I am dabbling in fixing vintage stereo as hobby. I bought my Akai set in '79 and repaired the amp and the tape deck. still works great. Also repaired many other pieces which I put onto Ebay.
And they even seem to have made the main transformer in house.
I have often done that with the broken belt. That's a dirty job because the rubber was bad quality at that time
Tell me about it. When the belts turn to goo it is always a messy job.
Love the vids, 12volt. Are you using a Tuner to set motor speed? I noticed you use something that looks like a musical tuner on a couple videos. Thanks and great work!
+PrinceEnki2112 Yes it is a guitar tuner. I use a 440Hz tone tape which as any musician would know, is "A".
Hello currently I'm trying to fix my Teac V9000 deck but its reel motor doesn't run or move ...any clue or guide line?
Thanks
I've thought for a long time teac deserves more credit. See there used stuff all the time selling cheap. I think if they would have sold receivers and amps in the 70s and 80s people would recognize them more now. Even now they build some solid tanks.
Teac has made some nice stuff in the past. This tape deck is an example. They also had their professional division, Tascam which was very good. Many recording studios had DA30 and DA40 DAT decks used to master the mix down from multi track for the CD replicators.
i like 70 80 stereos the date might be on the back of the motor i put a line fuse in ac primary many units dont have overcurrent protection from he factory
Actually they do, in the form of a thermal cutout built into the transformer. The problem with that is when the transformer gets hot enough to open the cut out the transformer is toast as you usually can not replace it.
I hate it when I find a melted belt. So very messy and they usually drip over lots of stuff which takes a lot of cleaning.
Melted belts are the worst. Especially with 90's Sony decks, which almost always have a black gooey surprise when you open it up.
Real rubber belts melted. Synthetic didn't as a rule. I have some synthetic belts in gear that are 30 years old and still fine.
Just opened up my late 80s Teac duel deck and both belts had turned to tar. Hope I can get it up and running again. Went on eBay and for only $8 ordered a 30 pack of various size belts.
Yeah Sony from 90s have crappy belts, even the more expensive ones. Interesting that even el-cheapo decks from 80s have been made from much better parts. MARS sells really good Japanese made belts, a few other people.
More cassette deck videos please m8, although these things are rarely used today they do bring back wonderful memories for me. I tell you what dave, modern teac decks are biblically bad, these late 80s machines run rings around them, tascam cant even get licencing for dolby now, none of the moden teac machines have any noise reduction whatsoever, to my ears the TEAC Z-5000 sounds better than the nakamichi dragon no joke.
I own a Teac V-770. It has been out of use for years. Any tip when the idler wheel is slipping and the FWD and RWD does not work? I have ordered just the wheel (or the rubber part) an hope I am able to just replace that.
When the tire is slipping, if you can get a new one great. If not you can try soaking it in rubber renew.
By the way, have you ever opened up one of those old Panasonic cassette players from the late 60s, or early 70s and find that the belts are still good and not melted? They must have made them of a better quality rubber or something. To think that to save 2 or 3 cents, the manufacturers in the 80s went for crappy low quality belts makes me pissed off.
After years and years of use the belts turn to goo that they were made from.
Great work.
You have the tape test, to calibrate the deck?
Yes I have a calibration tape I made on my reference Technics deck that I use for testing.
Do you have an azimuth adjustment tape too? I made one Beta tape with a 6 KHz tone to align the audio head on my Sony betamax.
I have a full set of factory alignment tapes a sony beta, an RCA vhs set and a set of cassette alignment tapes. I use these to verify my record deck and then use that deck to make my own set of alignment apes that go on unknown quality equipment on the test bench. My factory tapes have only gone in the gear I use to make my work tapes on.
Thats the worst i've seen. what a mess!
I used carb cleaner once on a similar issue.
Paid jobs are much better!! as long as they do PAY