500 Subscriber Special - Nakamichi BX-150 Cassette Deck Repair

[@rafacq]

I recently bought my first Nakamichi, a BX-300 (3 head), and am super impressed with it. After several days playing and recording, I have noticed a short slip when pressing rewind, about 1/2 to a second. Then it works fine. I suspect the idler tire needs replacing. I removed the cassette plate and used Rubber Renue and it helped. Much less slips now. Still I went ahead and ordered a set of replacement belts and tire. Hopefully that will resolve the slip problem. In case you are wondering, I paid $330, Fedex shipping included! Coming from Houston to Dallas, it arrived overnight! My other favorite 3 head deck is my Kenwood KX-1100HX. Until I can buy a better Nakamichi, I plan to continue using the Kenwood KX-1100HX to record, as the KX-1100HX has individual Bias/level calibration for the left and right channels. Will now use the BX-300 for Playback. The combination sounds amazing. And yes, the BX-300 has a Bias Tune knob, but Nakamichi suggests using your ears, no meter calibration assistance. One could connect the deck to a PC, I then use the NAK-T100 app to do a FR sweep and have a visual representation of the bias tune adjustment. No changes on a metal TDK MA90 but on a type II TDK SA90 the bias tune knob needs to be set at 9 o’clock position.

[@Yoda8945]

The transfer and idler wheels can be accessed from the front of the machine without removing the transport. It involves removing the screws on the left side of the cassette holder and then removing the two screws that hold the cover over the Idler assembly. I don't know if the parts are still available, but there were geared assemblies for the tape transport mechanism. I reposed about 30 of those.

[@eleanorschrag4759]

Wow! What an amazing sound!

[@thomasmiller3115]

Great video. Loved it. For the desoldering you might get yourself some solder wick. That should save you some time and heartache getting PTH parts off the board.

[@wanazami7667]

Best bang for the buck 2 head deck. Ditto it’s predecessor BX2. When fully serviced and calibrated it can rival and even beat quite a few 3 head decks in both playback and recording.

[@Oklawolf]

I tried to talk myself into selling it since I did this video. Can't do it. It's too good. It's been archiving all my old mixtapes from the 80s and is brilliant for that kind of work.

[@wanazami7667]

@@Oklawolf just finished servicing one. Dead spot cam motor, deck jammed at play position. Refurbed the transport fully, replaced one dead 6800uf 16v cap. Re-set tape speed 3khz, azimuth 15khz, output volume 400hz. Then recalibrate for recording using TDK AD, SA & MA. 2 head decks a pain to calibrate as scope readings cannot be monitored on the fly 😅

[@donwest5387]

congratulations! I got a used "300" in Canada for $403 with warranty. Had to jump on it.

[@velisusi1]

Same relay issue on my BX125.. and idler rubber also. Anyway it plays pretty-recorded tapes surprisingly well 👍👌

[@ccscomments757]

What a coincidence. My first stereo tape deck, the Sony (though mine had yellow dolby buttons, silver slider background silver case silver center button section) and my second stereo tape deck (well, OK, mine was the Nakamichi BX-100). I never had a three head deck. However my Sony Betamax was stereo and would record audio from my stereo system.

[@DarthMaul41]

You should use solder wick instead of that dental tool... I use a dremel with the right drill whenever I want to enlarge the pin holes on the pcb. Congrats on your Nakamichi :) I have a BX-300 which is a beast as well, with 3 discrete heads and direct drive double capstan.

[@camper234]

What's the story with the relay? I haven't felt the need to change mine 🤞

[@Oklawolf]

This type of relay develops dirty contacts over time, especially when the deck isn't used for recording that often. They were a big problem in my Sony TC-FX5C, so I decided to change it preventatively in this machine.

[@camper234]

@@Oklawolf thank you

[@igorgrits6697]

can you please list a spec for that relay?

[@Oklawolf]

It's the 12V version of this: omronfs.omron.com/en_US/ecb/products/pdf/en-g5v2.pdf

[@БогданДУМИК]

За такую замену реле надо руки отрывать.