Restoring the Brilliance: Nakamichi BX-300 Restoration

Join me on a transformative journey as I restore the brilliance of the Nakamichi BX-300 in this captivating video. Witness the meticulous process of breathing new life into this iconic cassette deck, ensuring it reaches its full potential once again.
Experience the disassembly, cleaning, repair, and calibration of various components as I navigate through the intricate restoration process. Discover the attention to detail and passion poured into every step to revive the audio excellence of the Nakamichi BX-300.
Whether you're an audio enthusiast, a vintage gear collector, or simply appreciate the beauty of restoration projects, this video offers an immersive look into the art of reviving vintage audio equipment. Don't miss this rewarding journey of preserving audio history with the Nakamichi BX-300!

[@bajekanal4734]

thanks

[@davesanders4381]

From what I can see about the BX-300 tansport it has some simliarities to the some of the other BX series decks. I just got through servicing the transport on a BX-150 and re-assembled and it will not run (it did work before the service). I took out the cam motor and noted its position so I could put it back correctly. Upon application of power the capstan motor does run for a very short time. I can manual close the contacts of the cam leaf switch with the Gray wire on the cam motor and it will run a short time and then stop. I have put this transport into a BX-2 which is functional and the transport behaves exactly same. I have checked all leads/connectors and leaf switches and cannot find any “Open” connections. I believe that is a timing issue with the cam motor but I have doubled checked the cam position and it still will not run. I have tested all of the motors and they all run smothly. I have applied a external DC supply to the Cam motor and I can drive the tapes heads up and down without any problem. It is possible that the "Shut Off" circuit is casuing an issue? Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[@davidbutler8096]

I was hoping it was dead. I need a speed or bias knob. I'm missing one on my 300. Been enjoying your videos.

[@RDM-CassetteDeckRepairs]

Great construction + it uses their discrete heads but i hate those linear potentiometers..... I have one for repair + to add bias and rec level adjst per channel to it (probably in external box, haven t thinked about that yet.)

[@kravchuk007]

Hello there ! Please , if you still have BX-300 , can you tell me dimentions for Pitch Control knob ? Thank you

[@kravchuk007]

😂 Ahhh , it is same size as Bias knob😅

[@jacobcaron2280]

I am not sure if you know what could be the issue, but when I record with my bx-150 the left side is a lot quieter than the the right. It also plays quieter on the left side on some tapes that I have. Those same tapes sound fine on other players so I am confused. Ps: the bx-150 is very similar to the bx-300. The difference is the the 150 is a 2-head and not a 3-head.

[@hifirulezzz]

I would start from the cleaning tape path.

[@jacobcaron2280]

@hifirulezzz is the tape path different from the tape head, because I already cleaned the tape head with a q-tip and isopropyl alcohol. Or am I cleaning it incorrectly. Also is the volume supposed to crackle when I turn it up or down?

[@hifirulezzz]

@@jacobcaron2280 if volume pot is crackling it needs to be deoxidized, your deck needs to be serviced.

[@jacobcaron2280]

@@hifirulezzz I see, Thank you.

[@stackoverflow8260]

Hello, good work! I read on tapeheads that the FG Coil needs to be tightened. I read that it is underneath capstan, do I have to remove the mechanism to get to the FG Coil?

[@hifirulezzz]

I think you have read a wrong advise. FG coil is hold by metal ring which is sealed. There is nothing you should be tightening there. Watch my detailed disassemble video for BX 300 or Dragon. Coils are the same. Or CR-7.

[@stackoverflow8260]

@hifirulezzz hello, thanks for the response. By FG Coil do they mean the stator of the capstan motor that is attached to the motor control PCB? BTW, are you in US? If yes, where?

[@hifirulezzz]

@@stackoverflow8260 If you mean the adjustment screw to adjust the height of the flywheel over the coils - I would not recommend touching it. There is a 0.7 mm height set up in the factory and this is how it should be.

[@stackoverflow8260]

@hifirulezzz this is what I received, "retighten the FG coil under the flywheel to the bearing housing and use lock paint (basically fingernail polish) on the stellated/star washer to dampen it? That eliminates the FG whine and improves W&F."

[@hifirulezzz]

@@stackoverflow8260 you asking for a solution without providing a root cause.

[@umeshupadhyay...]

It appears that DR 2 and BX 300 mechanisms are same,if I am correct.

[@hifirulezzz]

Similar, but BX-300 has direct drive motor.

[@umeshupadhyay...]

@@hifirulezzz Thank you Sir, it meant thst there us no main drive belt in BX 300.

[@giir3211]

Sorry. May I ask you what size of belt did you use? I have Teac v-7000 and it has the same transport. I bought a belt from well known supplier and the speed is too slow. I measured the thickness and it iz 0,8mm. I have read it should be 0,5mm?

[@Johny666EU]

it might not be a belt but electronics or capstan shaft are worn.

[@giir3211]

@@Johny666EU The deck is nice condition. Capstan shafts are not worn, were also lubricated. Electronics? What do you mean?

[@hifirulezzz]

Well, this mechanics is not a quartz locked. There is a pot to adjust speed. Try it.

[@giir3211]

@@hifirulezzz Well I have not seen it. I will look again. thanks.

[@giir3211]

@@hifirulezzz Apparently Teac V-7000 is little different. It is quartz locked and does not have speed adj. pot., but thanks

[@Skydead1970]

Приветствую ! Если не затруднит, скажите пожалуйста, программная шестерня устанавливается в определенном положении, или автоматика в любом случае провернёт её как надо ? В моей CR 7, при переключении режимов программный мотор делает несколько лишних срабатываний, прежде чем включит нужный режим. Спасибо за любой ответ !

[@hifirulezzz]

Шестерня устанавливается в любом положении есть хитрость. Она поднимает каретку головок И тормоза. Убедитесь что собрано правильно. Ну и чистку контактов никто не отменял.

[@Skydead1970]

@@hifirulezzz Благодарю 🙏

[@amolaghamkar7381]

Sir, please service my Nakamichi BX 300. I'm from India

[@hifirulezzz]

Sorry, there is no way to do it for India.

[@amolaghamkar7381]

Sir, if I deliver it to your place, then will you do the service

[@amolaghamkar7381]

Can I get your email address

[@hifirulezzz]

@@amolaghamkar7381 I am making my videos to share knowledge to community and I am receiving multiple messages that my videos helps to fix decks. Take your time to watch more videos to understand the domain. There no problem to replace belt or tune up the deck.

[@amolaghamkar7381]

Sure, Sir, but we are short of tools and knowledge also with spares and can't experiment with the decks, which are precious and very hard to get now.

[@dorian-gray]

too hard to understand you:-( ... "See you soon"

[@RellapsGrandessa]

So, No recapping of Power Source, no bias pot changing, no mod motor replacement, no reel motor replacement, no BT belt replacement, no calibration. Wonderful, but quite superficial... the cleaned motors will die soon again. Capacitors in PS are prone to die, bias pot is dead if not already, soon. BT belt is almost always gone and neglicted.

[@patrickgajadhar5723]

Try to fix it.

[@dubdoodle7191]

garbage deck. Too many cheap plastic gears and parts

[@hifirulezzz]

Dude, do you a Revox lover? This transport almost don’t have any plastic parts, reel hubs are always made from plastic.