Akai 4000DS mk2 Reel to Reel problem.

[Fatsiuyau]

Hi all,
Recently purchased the Akai R2R, it looks so retro :)the unit is in really good condition and although not connected it up to my system, I tried all the controls ie play fast forward rewind functions and all seemed to be 'working'. I cleaned the heads and also the pinch roller capstan and then I tried the controls again but this time nothing working, the reels not turning at all. It is power on ok, the lights in vu meter lights up and can also hear a very faint hum noise inside the unit.

I opened up the unit and had a quick peep inside, both the capstan belt and the counter pulley belt are intact. But the motor inside just not moving..

I am total noob as regard to DIY electronics, so no idea what to look for to locate the problem. Can anyone with experience of reel to reel give some advice please.*

[HoraceW]

Make sure the tape shut off tension lever is tensioned by a tape otherwise the motor will not work. Takes me back far too many years to the one I had.

Hugh.

[TCats]

Have one in the loft must do something with it, last time I tried it one channel kept cutting out. A common problem some electric gizmo fails, spoke to a guy who refurbished them, parts are now in short supply.
Horace's suggestion seems good.
May have the handbook somewhere if you have not got a copy. Not certain if mine is a Mk2.

[DSJR]

The 4000DS was a hissy old thing, but like the similarly priced Sony 366/377, the motor could well be due for a bearing clean and re-lube. My Sony 366 used to need a few goes to get the motor running until I stripped it out and cleaned it. Perfect after that. Have fun :)

[Fatsiuyau]

Thank you all for your replies. Ok, had a quick read at the supplied manual regarding the auto shut off function and so pulled the tape up to tension up the tape against the little lever as suggested by Hugh and powered up and BINGO got the motor running! And if I bypass this auto shut off lever, motor will not turn on.. Anyway had a quick listen to what was on the tape that came with the unit thru my headphones, but all I can heard was the left channel and the speed of the recording was far too fast to distinguished the recording. I will connect it up to my system tomorrow and try make a recording and see how it turns out. Cheers..

[The Grand Wazoo]

Stop!
There are some more things to check out.
This machine will play at two speeds 3 & 3/4" per second and 7 & 1/2" per second - it sounds like the tape you have is recorded at a slower speed than the one you have set for playback.
Now, the channel problem - you need to select both of them.

Have you got a manual?
The following might help.

Playback
Playback on the 4000DS is achieved by first setting the “Track Selector” switch to “Stereo” and selecting the appropriate tape speed, usually indicated on the reel to be played. The “Tape Monitor” switch is then set to the “Tape” position and the “Record/Playback” lever to “FWD” to begin playback. If you are using an external amplifier and speakers with the 4000DS, volume and equalization are managed using the amplifier’s settings. If using headphones, the 4000DS plays back through them at a constant level — it is not adjustable.

Recording
The 4000DS can record from a variety of analog sources, including the two microphone inputs on the front. For example, you can connect a secondary tape or record player to the line inputs on the back and record their output by setting the “Record/Playback” lever to “REC” and playing the secondary device. The 4000DS can also record the input from a stereo receiver this way, making it possible to record radio broadcasts. Recording microphone input requires a slightly different procedure. The “Index Counter” must be set to “0000” and the microphone plugged into one of the jacks on the front. The microphone’s input level is then adjusted using the “Recording Level” control before setting the “Record/Playback” lever to “REC” to begin recording.

[Fatsiuyau]

Thanks for the info, yes I have a copy of the manual. I set up the Akai temporarily with a Sony DVD/CD player from the late 90's (quite top end at the time I believed), an old Yamaha CA600 amp and my Denon 'test' speakers from a micro compact system, just in case anything blows:lol:

Well, I made a fresh recording and messed about with the output levels and played it back and wow, I was surprised at the quality from such an old machine, some distortion at higher frequencies but very acceptable indeed.

One slight problem though, there was quite abit of motor noise coming from the unit, not sure exactly whether it's the motor or the fan at the back of the unit?

Anyway, will open up the unit again, and see if some oil lubrication will help. Yes, I am very chuffed that this old Akai works even if not 100%, just love thise vintage stuff!

Here are couple of pics. After taking the pics, realised I forgot to put back the front output level switches!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8565774037_78ca066290_o.jpg
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8565773995_b52f28e277_o.jpg

[Rare Bird]

The dual concentric Mic/Line knobs are missing, sure i saw some tonight on Auction!

[Fatsiuyau]

Yes they are missing in the pics, took them off to remove the front plate and forgot to put them back before taking the pics :lol:

[TCats]

Seeing your pics. gives me a strong inclination to climb into the loft and retrieve the 4000DS and see if I can breath some life back into it.
Bought from Laskys in Tottenham Court Road (remember them) in the 70's.

[Fatsiuyau]

Sure do remember Laskys. I think they still exists as an online outfit? Anyway, as a teenager still at High School back then, me and my brother used to pop into the store and drool over the gear on display. The store was pretty dark inside and the display units were all flashing blue green orange were so beautiful:lol:

I wished I have vintage gear stored in the loft! Drag the Akai out and have a tinker. Shame to leave it up there hidden away unloved:(

[Rare Bird]

Laskys used to sell so really good gear back in the 70's. So did Comet back then.

[TCats]

Well climbed into the loft retrieved the 4000DS plugged in found a tape and switched on. Played great for 15 mins then one channel cut out as I found before. Oh well! :cool:

Yes Laskys was an alandins cave and a cacophony of sound as many systems were demoed simultaneously. Happy days.:mental:

[Rare Bird]

Just post it to our house if you don't want it :eyebrows:

[TCats]

You wish, now where is that soldering iron.

[Rare Bird]

Na i don't wish i just want a Third one :lol:

[HoraceW]

If you are dropping a channel have a good look at the track selector switch and clean/operate it a few times to check before you do anything else.

Hugh

[Fatsiuyau]

I am no expert but I did managed to open up the front housing of the machine for a quick peep inside and used switch cleaner spray over some contact point in the controls. Wanted to open up the back wooden casing but just have no idea how:doh:

[TCats]

Gave all switches a good clean, thanks Hugh, still no RH Channel, machine was on its back.
Lifted it to vertical position and low and behold started to work.
2 hours on still working :)
There is music on these old tapes I had completely forgotten about.
Now listening to the Dave Brubeck which I recorded in 1973 on Scotch Tape.

[HoraceW]

Interesting about the horizontal and vertical position doing that. Probably should also check the tape/source selector switch and clean/operate a few times. Also good idea to switch between a line in signal and a tape signal to see what happens.

Hugh

[Rare Bird]

Um
Should work exactly the same verticle & laid down on it's back.

[TCats]

I did strip the machine down to give all the switches and contacts a good clean,
maybe a bit of dislodged crud fell out of a switch when I moved it.
It does also work on it's back now.
Will try to record something tomorrow.

[Fatsiuyau]

Cool you have a working machine again;) Any pics?

I am still trying to figure out how to open the wooded casing at the back of the machine:doh: There are 2 screws at the bottom end one on either side of the rubber feet, but un doing these don't seemed to do anything?

[Rare Bird]

The four feet at the back, unscrew them off & the case should slide off.