How to Replace Akai Reel to Reel Belt, Replacing Motor Belts 4000ds, 4000db, 4000 wow and flutter

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Michael that is a very enjoyable video with very clear instructions. Those old Japanese tape decks where really build well. We sadly don't see this kind of engineering anymore today.

[@davegregg118]

I've just replaced the belt! Mine is a 4000DS MkII and I found it unnecessary to remove the flywheel and desolder anything. This MkII has a connector to the motor that can be separated. Be careful of any shims when removing the three screws holding the motor. Video was very helpful. Cheers

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for the info Dave

[@davegregg118]

Nice one! Couldn’t be clearer. Thanks, Michael

[@bobsbits5357]

hi mike us older ones never pay real money for any decks 12 voltvids is very like you stills is a super plan go alot of work on at this time the lady asked me to check over 2 x 1210 dj decks they are jammed up been sitting around for a long time bob

[@markmalasics3413]

I had a 1730DSS and I just opened it and replaced the belt. Easy as pie.

[@flufycat2748]

Akai, marvel of this planet.

[@raceingdemon6464]

Great Video Michael I Have 2 4000Ds And 1 4000DB Fixed My DB By Replaceing One Of The 4 Sanyo LD3141 I.C.s And Fixed The Other 2 By Replaceing The Belts Looks Lovely On Top Of My Sansui 101 Did Not Have To Desolder The Wires Going To The Micro Switch Just Subbed To Your Channel Michael Regards mike

[@girishkukadia9916]

Great video, many thanks.

[@Electrotat]

Thank you, just bought one of these machines.

[@michaelbyrne2619]

Great video, cheers

[@JuanJoseCandelario]

Excellent!

[@rabone1968]

thanks for doing a top class video to help every on out thanks from ron

[@MichaelYates]

Only pleased that it might have helped. Thanks

[@bob-s-bit-s]

hi mike the job pad said i have to use G MAIL to get a round the red tape

[@MichaelYates]

Seems most things need you to have a GMAIL or Microsoft account otherwise you cannot procced

[@davidnguyen5028]

Hi very nice video, I have an Akai X-330D speed selection issue. The 3-3/4 IPS and 1-7/8 IPS speeds are fine, but the 7-1/2 IPS does not spin. Is this a case of bad run capacitor?

[@MichaelYates]

Looks a nice machine, TBH I dont know this model, but Cleaning speed control switch, Motor Relay, Replacing Motor Capacitor and even Capstan Motor, this is according to the service manual that can be downloaded here file:///C:/Users/DELL/Downloads/hfe_akai_x-330_330d_service_en_alt_scan.pdf,, You may have to join but its free

[@zackmorris3664]

I've got one of these and the motor bit where the tape reel on the left is recessed and rubs the reel against the front of the machine. Not sure how to fix it really, any ideas?

[@MichaelYates]

Both reel sitting areas should be raised a little above aluminium front panel so reel rubbing should not happen, if they both are raised above aluminium then sorry I have no idea

[@sc0or]

Good day, sir. Disregarding to this video, but regarding to your experience, do you know is this possible to install E/R/P2-100 heads into gx-4000D baby-Akai somehow? As I can see gx-4000D has some space for thicker heads. I'm trying to find some reason to purchase a 4-tracker without an autoreverse, and I can not. So, my thoughts is to use 2-track heads at least... Because I really like the design and its size. Does it make any sense to you?

[@MichaelYates]

Hi and sorry I cannot help you as I do not know if its possible to install the E/R/P2-100 heads into the GX4000D and TBH would not be how to hazzard a guess.

[@sc0or]

@@MichaelYates Thank you sir. When Internet was young, it was possible to find any answer. Now everything is only about prices there (

[@amj]

Great video Michael, greetings from Brazil.

[@MichaelYates]

Thank you, thanks for watching in Brazil

[@jamesbarba3561]

I have a troubling problem that I encountered while replacing a diode on my Akai 1800D-SS1800. While moving the board to gain access to the diode, I noticed a wire connection that must have been pulled from its normal connection point. I have searched and searched and cannot locate that connection point. I can provide photos of the wire and its location. HELP!!!!

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Michael, I have an additional question regarding the Akai GS4000DB. I have noticed on pictures that there is no Dolby on/off button. Am I missing something or does it mean that Dolby is permanently on?

[@MichaelYates]

Hi Hugo, the Dolby switch is on the rear of the machine, would have been more sense having it on the front maybe

[@hugobloemers4425]

@@MichaelYates That explains it, thanks. Yes indeed that would have made more sense but I guess it was too expressive to make a whole new front plate and modify the frame for one extra button at the tail end of that model. Vintage audio is so much more interesting.

[@MichaelYates]

@@hugobloemers4425 Off course did not think of that.

[@bogdanisandu]

Great video. Can you give me the dimensions for the belt for the 4000db? Thank you

[@MichaelYates]

I did have a quick measure when doing the video and if memory serves me right the belt was about 11cm in diameter and 5 or 6 mm wide. When I get time I will whip it out and have another measure

[@bogdanisandu]

@@MichaelYates thank you, Sir

[@MichaelYates]

@@bogdanisandu I pull the unit open today, while its hard to have the belt in a full circle to measure the diameter, I did try again and came to the conclusion the belt is approx. 105mm in diameter, then I laid it flat and measured inside the belt from end to end and its 165mm with a width of 7mm and thickness of just over 1mm

[@bob-s-bit-s]

hi just got to find the right pic's for the chaneel that are not to big in data size bob

[@MichaelYates]

Yes Bob setting up KZbin you need some wierd size pictures as I can remember.

[@bobsbits5357]

hi making alot of work for youself big time one thing good to show the inside for you watchers dry solder in some places on the audio i had this great fun video's love the star wars blake's 7 audio books / tv show star trek is more of my game

[@bobsbits5357]

hi used to buy alot if this model still have 14 left somewhere used to pick them up from carboot sale's and nottinghill music shop in the 90's i had 40 of them about belt's and bad ic's were all ways going i have a rig i put the decks on so there was no need to take back of rubber stops on a board left no marks on the front panel yes the cam's in side were bad till kits turned up they are a right pain very slow rew ff why i had alot if them they don't sell well on ebay so i keep hold of them in the end gone over to the betacam sp decks to use as audio recorders as there's alot of used tapes around i have working sony 701 es decks 1/4 inch tape price's are silly now i have alot of zonal 1/2- 1 inch tapes rack and racks of them

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks BoB, You are into reel 2 reel in a big way, dont think I would have the room for 14 let alone 40. Yes seems the audio amp ic's are a common problem on these decks, but they are 50 years old now and some still going strong. For a entry level budget deck they are a nice and still affordable unit to have

[@bobsbits5357]

hi you find as video's go on you get more emails about hi-fi gear no one done the fostex E8 1/4 tape deck there's A8 A4 fostex i would say there a line home and pro decks i see you been on here 2011 did you post video's back in the day or you just got in to in there's men spend 40 hours making one video you could do a video about what you do to make a video as time is all over the place you could say mum helped me alot big time with a pad to keep the gear having a wife makes it hard to get gear i have a big cat pepper i will say putting a cat in video's makes the hit's go up big time i tryed it once more than 50% recording her purr in the audio bob

[@laverne506]

Can you hook up a reel to reel recorder to a interface

[@MichaelYates]

What kind of Interface did you mean?

[@LenovoLenovo-g2f]

Hi. My Gx4000d run slow. I change capacitor 2.5uf but run the same. Belt is ok. Please help me.

[@MichaelYates]

I would say it might need all the old grease removed from all moving parts and re greased as it can become sticky. Could also be bearings on motor etc

[@LenovoLenovo-g2f]

@@MichaelYates Tanks, I'll do it.

[@LenovoLenovo-g2f]

​​@@MichaelYates How can I oiling motor? Capacitor from micro switch can be the problem of the low speed?

[@G8YTZ]

Hi! Actually (at least on the 4000DS Mk2) you can carry out this job without removing the motor by using a paper clip to hook the belt trough from the motor pulley top side. HEALTH AND SAFETY WARNING: Many tape machines and record turntables from this era use a cadmium coating on the steel mechanism to prevent rust/corrosion. Be very careful not to touch your mouth and do wash you hands thoroughly after working on these machines,

[@MichaelYates]

Thank you for the extra information, very much appricated

[@bobsbits5357]

hi mike i opened my place where they are CORR i have alot of them big time betamax hifi decks are in the same place pallet buying beware audio fans i used to do this eu one at a time when some old somebody dies and leaves gear behide you don't get this alot any more

[@bobsbits5357]

hi that cassette man the come back one is no longer making video's he posted one this week CASSETTES ARE NOT COMING BACK some places in the eu have try to make them come back has not worked out

[@MichaelYates]

Which one is that ?

[@bobsbits5357]

hi fox masters i am not far of i have had test ones there are many makes of new cassette old new sealed i had a new sealed box of betacam sp come today price of reel to reel i now silly and if you lot can get them they have to be baked and tape has to be moved to the pro reels when baking at 55c i had alot of makes of tapes over the time

[@montyzumazoom1337]

BTW, Them grommets are grub screws😉

[@MichaelYates]

Thank You

[@bob-s-bit-s]

i can't use my name only first name yes what a pain

[@bobsbits5357]

hi have interviews with the job people next week so i can make video's with ad's if you are over 67 years you can as i am 55 and can't get work be cause the hobbie's can be a pain with looking for work so they as i can work for me why i can't make video's with a income i have the gear that's never been seen one super new i will talk to 100% of the emails when running no lies at all if i don't get the info in the voice right i can re make the video i am getting pissed of about all of the lies on here who love way you done your video's RED TAPE IS THE ONLY THING i have a over head cam on my fixing pad so i will be looking for feedback from my watchers why 1 video a month test video's i have run on brothers site show i may have a hit bob

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks Bob, I am really looking forward to any of your videos, I hope you managed to get some filmed and uploaded to, I think you will bring a lot to KZbin

[@bobsbits5357]

hi lot are made the computer main pcb is very ill i get alot of not re resonding as the ddr bars are not working it's the data bus is not right hard drive cloning will not work rigth and editing video is ok saving and rend i will not work right i have alot of hrs recorded 100 plus i am using my brothers bike stand with a boom with a cam on it and mic so all can see right planning time line take time my mate lee's in some hear on the top lip man bob

[@raceingdemon6464]

Great Video Michael I Have 2 4000Ds And 1 4000DB Fixed My DB By Replaceing One Of The 4 Sanyo LD3141 I.C.s And Fixed The Other 2 By Replaceing The Belts Looks Lovely On Top Of My Sansui 101 Did Not Have To Desolder The Wires Going To The Micro Switch Just Subbed To Your Channel Michael Regards mike

[@MichaelYates]

Thanks for the sub Mike, I also had to replace the LD3141 in the DS as the left channel was very intermittent, I used the DB as the donor as its not got the highs as the DS has, think it may need a new playback head.

[@raceingdemon6464]

@@MichaelYates I Have a Spare Head Block With The 3 Heads On It Michael Taken Of a Broken DS Machine

[@MichaelYates]

​@@raceingdemon6464 Thanks, I was going to keep the other deck as a donor, but if you was selling the spare head block at a reasonable price I would be interested in trying to get the other deck sounding good again.

[@raceingdemon6464]

@@MichaelYates Yes Michael Will Have To Find It Its Wrapped in Bubblewrap Need To Check The Condition And Make Sure The Heads Ohm Out All Right You Can Have It For Nothing As It Was Among The Spare Parts I Bought Regards mike.

[@MichaelYates]

@@raceingdemon6464 Thanks that is very good of you , if you do find them and they are ok then just give me a shout here and Ile message an email address to arranged sending you the postage and my address.