Akai HX R44 Cassette Deck Full Service

[@Codeeze]

Best feeling in the world when after you do all of that work, you put the tape in - hit play, and it works. Good job there.

[@litzdog911]

What a coincidence! I just posted a video on my KZbin channel repairing my Teac V-770 cassette deck with a very similar symptom. I thought it was belts, but turned out to be a cam switch that needed cleaning. This Teac uses a cam switch to control the play, rewind, FF, etc, and that switch was gunked up. Your videos inspired me to try fixing it myself, and I succeeded! Thanks!

[@marciliomenezes891]

Is very difficult to replace the belts in this dack. Thanks for this video.Good job. Respect from Brazil 4 You.

[@lesrogers7310]

I must be one of very few people in the UK that would bother to attempt this. I've done many similar jobs but not on this particular machine. Great job sir....

[@gustavocane6346]

Hi there. The video is very good, thanks for sharing it. By any chance will you have the measurements of the straps of this deck? Thanks

[@slt7139]

Man I commend you on the work that be put in on your repairs

[@revup67]

Thanks much for this video - most informative. I've a wonderful AKAI GX-R66 with a volume output slider on the front panel that consistently cuts out. In addition, when pressing the Play function, I've got to give the heads a gentle finger push (upward) for the heads to engage (front door is off the unit). The rewind usually (not always) doesn't function. Infrequently, the recorded music is played in reverse which I suspect is the recording on the other side of the cassette. Any suggestions at all would be most appreciated including where I can acquire the 3 belts. USA resident.

[@glenngoodale1709]

I commend you on the work that you put in on your repairs...

[@victorcoss2600]

I could never figure out them wire connectors, it's like rocket science to me but you make it look so easy. Even after I lift the tab up, I feel like I have to take a tiny flat head screw driver to get the wires lose. Mine are really "pinched" in there and if I pull hard I feel I would damage the cable and connector. What are these connectors called?

[@12voltvids]

Victor Coss I have no idea what the name is. A type of zif connector because there is no force required to seat the wires but a fair bit of resistance to remove.

[@nickfatsis9607]

I love that deck, nice big hefty flywheels, mid 80's looks, beautiful!

[@Oldgamingfart]

Seen those bare wire type connectors in a lot of Philips equipment. Often the other end is hard-soldered to the mainboard, so you can't simply unplug them at the other end and even if you could it would get kinda messy real quick! Taking photos and numbering them with permanent marker like you did here is good advice. Very fiddly, and there's always the potential to get them the wrong way round! :0

[@bassblaster505]

30:45 What’s the name of that full song?

[@jasejj]

So a mid-range Japanese deck, most likely ended up a "Richer Sounds Special" after 18 months at 70% off and now worth no more than $20 on eBay on a good day, greatly outperforms that modern $500 Tascam reviewed yesterday on another channel. Here's the reason no-one should bother with modern decks. Lovely piece of engineering given its humble position in the market at the time.

[@zx8401ztv]

That's a smashing tape deck, they put a lot of clever ideas into it :-D I've always found electronic control decks to be very interesting, and the way they acheaved the functions were really neat. Even my old motor assisted Pioneer CT-200 tape deck was novel at the time.

[@rafamezengax]

Good evening dear friend very good this video of your hxr 44 deck straps replacement... you do a great job, great service from you... I went to change the straps of my hxr 44, everything worked out, however it was time to close it the top of the liquid crystal where the digital counter has disappeared... and the deck's traction motors don't work ..do you have any tips for me?? in advance thank you for your attention beautiful video of yours.

[@LuxmanPD272]

Have to do belts on a GX R55 which has an almost identical transport mech. There is also a small belt behind the tape compartment cover which operates the gear mechanism.

[@lnkvt]

Have. a similar problem with an HX-M7R, ffwd and rev works but play/revplay won't, and the tape mechanism looks pretty much the same, so I feel I am going to have to go the same route but with less experience :)

[@d.logic1]

@26:10 im always tempted to remove the connector and solder the cable in place when i see those type of connections.

[@craggercragger8989]

Cool looking deck, that. Seems like an ok to work on transport, too. the closed loop dual capstan one Sony used was a nightmare and the first one I ever changed belts on. Argh!!

[@12voltvids]

Craig McLellan Technics rsm275 worse still.

[@carvinblack]

I have one of those cool Denon slide out try cassette players I got at a thrift store for 10 bucks. Plays well, for a while(sometimes as long as 30 minutes), and then starts screeching. I push stop. Then play again and it goes away for a while. I am going to replace the belts, but do you think it could be the bearings too? I don't think it's the bearings because the fly wheels spin like ice, but maybe they get warm and expand when playing the tape for a while? And what tool do I need to pull the bearings? Thanks.

[@JN-of7mf]

I have the same AKAI, mode# HX-R44. After 12 years, I turned on the cassette deck, and noticed the start button keeps trying to start, but it keeps turning itself off. After watching your video, I can only guess that the bands are not good anymore. Can you post the link to the Ebay seller that I can buy the 3 bands for this AKAI cassette deck ? Thank you!

[@12voltvids]

No because I don't know where you can buy the rubbers. I measure and order by diameter, not model.

[@redmetalicsatsuma3761]

I have an Akai cs m-02 from 1980 81 is it a good Deck ?

[@Delorean29]

32:16 Artist & music tittle???

[@davewilliams5932]

Can a speed calibration be done on a cassette tape deck without the use of any equipment?.

[@12voltvids]

Sure you can play a song on CD and the same one on cassette recorded on a known good machine and tune by ear. If you have a tone tape and you have perfect pitch you can tune by ear.

[@davewilliams5932]

@@12voltvids I don’t have a tone tape but I have very good hearing lol.

[@svenschwingel8632]

AKAI can be a pain in the backside. I recently rebelted my GX-95 and oh boy ... what an odyssey that was.

[@rafiqkarim3274]

Excellent job sir! This video is veri helpful. But im still cant get how to use the scope to adjust the azimut, playback speed , tape sensitivy level and bias level. Hope you can help me 🤝

[@ChevyNovaRestoration]

Very helpful. My HX-R44 was not playing in one direction and no auto reverse. This was a great guide to replace the belts. Now everything works. An now I remember why I hate cassettes.

[@michaelwong9840]

3 belt , 2xflywheel impressive overhaul! I have a Teac V900X in need of a belt change !

[@68pishta68]

It looked like you may have been able to snake those belts in without taking the transport apart? Maybe with a few dental picks/hooks? I would like to see you use the scope to align the azimuth : showing us the circle or whatever pattern the O-scope shows when the 2 channels are perfectly parallel? I wonder why more of these didnt use a cogged belt and a tensioner. They would last forever. Most Sony belts turn to jelly after about 10 years. I never had a Technics or a Teac that had a melted belt.

[@12voltvids]

Sure a cogged belt, that would be good for wow and flutter..... NOT! I do use silly scope to do azimuth adjustment but this one didn't need it because nobody has been in screwdrivering it. Incidentally you don't want an "O" you want a "/" as an "O" is 90' out of phase. That would sound great.... NOT!

[@georgethomas9436]

Great work on the service. But since it is apart, full service would be to clean all the belt path parts and oil the fly wheel capstan assembly.

[@12voltvids]

George Thomas The capstan shafts were lubricated but like the first shot where I tested it the file was unreadable. This camera is giving me headaches. I am loosing files. It says record and after I stop and start the next file it goes away. File number is skipped. I don't know if it is the SD card or a fault in the csmers.

[@5argetech337]

What about demagnetize.. did ya do that?

[@infinitecanadian]

Those connectorless ribbon cables are a pain in the arse, ain't they? Is it too much trouble to at least make a connector so that servicemen don't have trouble with it?

[@NunYa953]

where do you source belts from? I bought a bag of assorted cheap ones on eBay and about 6 of them were useful and the rest are sizes I have not come across. Another website called "Encompass" claimed to have some Kenwood deck belts I needed in stock and after they got my money claim they are on backorder, then a week later they send 1 and not the other.

[@12voltvids]

Ebay fleaby. That's where I got some. Many odd sizes true.

[@NunYa953]

@@12voltvids I started selling on eBay in August. Ive earned some decent money flipping stiff but I literally hate them more and more every day.

[@jleelibrahimjleelibrahim5647]

I have Sony dvd and video caste recorder slv d983p it's not working on remote control please tell me what I do ?/// I'm repairiman ☺☺☺

[@12voltvids]

Check the ceramic crystal in the remote.

[@5argetech337]

I have a Akai CS-F12 I just need to replace the belts. Head is still in good condition. Made a homemade tape head demagnetizer too!

[@videosrecordacoes7757]

O HOMEM AJUDANTE OBRIGADO !!

[@faithless8888]

Hey have you cleaned the heads? Na Nah just joking :-). Nice work with this one!! As always really great fun watching you're video's!!

[@sigmundblank7403]

Yes, he cleaned them ;) but did he demagnetize them ? ;) (nice work again Dave)

[@MrPitatom]

Like your work. I'm not a fan of auto-reverse decks that have the swinging head. The only auto-reverse deck that mastered auto-reverse was the Nakamichi RX range decks, and the Akai reverse-o-matic machines. Flip the tape over and leave the head fixed - no potential for azimuth to go bad.

[@12voltvids]

MrPitatom Right but potential for all the other mechanical parts to give trouble.

[@amazoidal]

I guess the infamous AKAI "Glass Heads" were limited to the Reel to Reel decks.

[@12voltvids]

No they were on cassette decks too.

[@herbmyers805]

I have an HX1 that was bent up in shipping I paid 9 dollars and shipper place newspaper and shipped box was damaged but I got no response to email and so low value the effort was not worth 9 dollars. I still have for parts.

[@umajunkcollector]

Akai made pretty good cassette decks, but like so many, itsa PITA to change belts.

[@MiguelPerez-uw4jv]

Can anyone help me get in touch with Dr cassette I would appreciate it very much Mike and thank you

[@Delorean29]

I like your videos!! :D

[@MrTwisted1977]

What's that intro music u got on there it's enough to vaporize the subwoofers off a gorillas testicles

[@geirendre]

Somebody buy this guy a decent side cutter, so he doesn't have to use his scissor cut the wire strips.

[@adiasbrtvsony1050]

this guy is the best!!!!

[@Sharmila-y1o]

I want akai electronic company address

[@crigeorge9549]

it's just a jewel

[@bharatsinhrathod8800]

Very nice

[@shadabhusain8142]

I am from india i have sony deck TC-K2A and had some mechanism problem Could you pls upload some thing about TC-K2A pls

[@bones007able]

I swear... some of these manufacturers build these things so it is almost impossible to change the belts ... like they expected them to last forever or get thrown away when they quit working...

[@sltechgeeks8326]

Very good

[@THEtechknight]

oooooo... Purty VFDs. Just how I like them ;-)

[@HDXFH]

Hate those wire connectors always does my head in

[@12voltvids]

HDXFH Well now you know. That right there should be worth a buck a month patreon subscription.

[@FiveFishAudio]

Did you demagnetize the head? :) JK . Great walkthrough video. I'm a new subscriber, btw.

[@12voltvids]

FiveFish Audio Yes of course using my home made demagnetizer

[@deedinky1]

Ah, that's what is wrong, my memory is digital!

[@bobjerome5390]

hi my es girl mate gave me this deck funny i still have 15 years later never powered it up all this time

[@shaun9107]

I remember this deck , good sound , not many about , I got rid of it becouse it did not match the rest of the system . We were stupid back the n taking everything for granted .

[@ElectoneGuy]

I owned one of those - bought in new back in the mid 80s. Pretty average sound - definitely not anywhere close to the "GX" series.

[@12voltvids]

Electone_Guy Right the frequency response is only good to 17khz on metal tape which isn't that great. As you put it average.

[@crigeorge9549]

mabuchi motor :)

[@12voltvids]

Of course. The made most of those little motors in tape decks.