Using a MICROSCOPE to fix a £1.4k Nakamichi CR-3E Cassette Deck

[@dean6816]

Pleased we have people like yourself keeping these relics alive!!

[@MrPitatom]

Excellent troubleshooting, right down to the component level. Respect!

[@London-Nic]

You have really raised the bar when it comes to repairs. Awesome video Paul!

[@pwrestoration]

Thanks 👍

[@N.A._McBee]

Well done! As long as there are gentlemen like you who are willing and able to repair such devices, there's still hope. I had one of these Nakamichi's, wonderful machines, the pinnacle of cassette technology. I'm impressed by your work!

[@markstewart1807]

So happy for you,you must have been so happy that worked out 😊

[@adaboy4z]

Great job!! Love seeing extreme repairs succeed.

[@Terry.W]

Wow really working hard ..well done..

[@Sierra747]

Excellent repair!!

[@pwrestoration]

Thanks!

[@Stuartrusty]

That's an excellent repair job with proper diagnosis, kudos to you for some really fine work. I have a Nak 670 ZX with a suspiciously similar recording problem. I'll have to dive deep on this. Thanks for a useful and very informative repair.

[@pwrestoration]

Wish you the best of luck buddy, if you have the same oscillator module soldered in, give it a whirl. I had no ability to record or erase.

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

was expecting to see some of the soldering on the oscillator wires...glad you were able to repair this one

[@pwrestoration]

Sorry, it was hard enough to solder it without filming

[@gxdjoeybaby07]

@@pwrestoration fair enough =)

[@richardwells1684]

Fantastic detective job and intricate repair work there Paul! Hopefully the testing goes well and I'll look forward to getting it back. 🙂

[@pwrestoration]

Just emailed you there Richard! I'll carry out some absolutely stringent testing and get right back to you.

[@paulb4uk]

Superb work should be very helpful for those that have these decks .

[@Stephen.C.]

What an impressive and satisfying repair 😃

[@pwrestoration]

Thanks! I swore at it off camera, daily!

[@Stephen.C.]

@@pwrestoration now thats a video I would like to have seen 👌😂

[@shaunfaesolar]

really nice job

[@cassettedeck-walkman-repair]

well done ! , good repair

[@marcusharmon8389]

If yours hasn't actually got to this state it's a good idea to coat in a bit of hot melt to stop oxidation I've found this worked for quite a few things

[@alanmangroo3656]

Nice work!

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

good work!

[@bobsoft]

Good to know. I have owned one of these machines since new.

[@pwrestoration]

Also clean your leaf switches!

[@bobsoft]

@@pwrestoration Thanks. Just did that on my Denon DVD-3800. It was doing the constant open/close.

[@Warpedsmac]

I'd be willing to send you my Akai CS-F11 cassette deck from Australia...very difficult to get a repair here. Cheers!

[@pwrestoration]

To be honest for the price the postage would be here and back.. you could buy two new ones! 😅👍

[@stoptheirlies]

"Depending what the herts gives out"! is that technical code for depending what the frequency is?

[@pwrestoration]

Precisely

[@nicksmith4507]

Nice work. I have some tiny boards from DAT decks that I can't repair because I don't have a microscope or any other tools other than some strong hand lenses. Do you have any recommendations for equipment that a hobbyist (ie not stupidly expensive) should have?

[@pwrestoration]

Honestly the microscope hardly ever comes out. The best tools I have is a set of picks, I use them constantly. UNITEDLUX 4-Piece Precision Pick & Hook Set, Car Auto Oil Seal O-Ring Seal Gasket Pick Mini Precision Hooks Professional Puller Remover Mechanic Tool amzn.eu/d/eLbONZ9

[@55rimshot]

I wish I had a nakamichi!

[@pwrestoration]

Make sure you get one that works, if you can!

[@dorian-gray]

The microscope view is very impressive! Only the volume of your video is a bit too low.

[@pwrestoration]

Thanks I'll keep an eye on that!

[@coley1skipton]

👏👏👏👏

[@mickeythompson9537]

Even an engineer who knows why it stopped working, and the various failure modes, says "it stopped working for no reason whatsoever."

[@bobsbits5357]

hi in a tascam 38 i have had this burned out it was a easy change over as it on a pcb you just pull out note on the pro side i do see alot playing around with the play back pot's to get to deck tune to there mixer decks seen alot over the years my otari mtr 12 has a bad one the khz it's putting out is to high well over what the meter range is i have to make a video well out of what i know ok with soundcraft 760 and brenell mini 8 decks

[@stevenphillips1311]

£ 350 at most not 1.4k

[@pwrestoration]

1988, £550. Inflation calculator says equivalent value in 2024 is £1.4k!

[@qatica]

why is this a £1.4k? Seems pretty basic, I see nothing extra, all plastic.

[@pwrestoration]

Equivalent to the original price. Was £550 in 1988. It's one of the higher end decks available.

[@qatica]

@@pwrestoration thx for the info

[@shaunfaesolar]

3 head system and a very nice transport amongst other things spec wise was high end

[@Mikexception]

Watching inside it looks simliar to my Telefunken which I prize for hard manual control which after 44 tears works perfect (if only user fingers are capable to push strong 😄) .I prize soft control but not in so old machine because now it could brake and with soft plastic gear teeths may be more delicate. Anoher advantage in my Tefunken is money I paid in 2020 - about 25 USD😁. What is missing? Of course third head. But only a little because main advantage of third recording head for me is that it's azimuth can be never turned while play head is alowed for adjusting to recorded in past tapes. In my case I had to buy second the same telefunken and by keeping constans azimuth I designated it only for actual recordings. Sadly Telefunken I found good enough for my taste and that it does not let me for further hunt for the better and it is somehow disappointing. I listened for over 20 years to Onkyo which also had only 2 heads but in reward was auto reverse and full remote controlled (MPX, Bias, Dolby B/C) . - in Sindpoarore I paid about 280 USD. Later got B&O also reverse and fully RC ( MPX, Dolby B) - I replaced both for that simple easy to operate two Telefunkens. .