coolcatdaddy
New member
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2006
- Messages
- 6
I'm debating on what I should do with an Akai GX-280D-SS quadraphonic reel to reel deck that recently showed up on my doorstep.
I don't really have any money in the thing, but it's currently inoperable. I carefully took it out of the case and removed the covers and did a few tests. Here's what it's doing if you trip the arms to think there's a tape in place:
-When you press 'play', the green light on the button comes on, but nothing happens (no relay 'click'); you let go, the light goes off
-Pressing the 'reverse' button, nothing happens
-Press 'fast forward' or 'rewind' and the proper take up reel spins; however, the brakes around the opposite reel don't release
-The audio inputs and record seem to be fine in 2 channel or four channel mode
-The heads look good and the unit's very clean
-The mechanical parts probably need a little lube - they seem a little tight
I talked about it over the phone with a friend who used to repair electronics; he suggested that some part(s) of the power supply have blown or that some solinoid or relays might have gone bad. He suggested it's not tough to fix with a service manual if you know what you're doing.
First off, do you think it's worth repairing? Is this more of a candidate for parting out for someone? (Again, sort of like Paul's grandfather in "A Hard Day's Night", it's very clean.) What do you think?
I currently only collect Quad LP's and don't see myself collecting prerecorded Quad tapes (they're a little too much for my wallet). I would find a reel to reel deck useful to transfer a couple of boxes of tapes recorded by my uncle in Vietnam and to generally play around with as part of my stereo system - I could be tempted by stereo tapes more in my price range, particularly of classical stuff.
I'm not sure if I could find someone to repair it locally (I'm in the Triad/Triangle area of NC); it would cost a small fortune to ship this thing somewhere - it weighs just a little less than my two piece late 1940s Lear combo wire recorder/phonograph/am radio home entertainment system.
http://www.coolcatdaddy.com/rand/wires.html
I don't really have any money in the thing, but it's currently inoperable. I carefully took it out of the case and removed the covers and did a few tests. Here's what it's doing if you trip the arms to think there's a tape in place:
-When you press 'play', the green light on the button comes on, but nothing happens (no relay 'click'); you let go, the light goes off
-Pressing the 'reverse' button, nothing happens
-Press 'fast forward' or 'rewind' and the proper take up reel spins; however, the brakes around the opposite reel don't release
-The audio inputs and record seem to be fine in 2 channel or four channel mode
-The heads look good and the unit's very clean
-The mechanical parts probably need a little lube - they seem a little tight
I talked about it over the phone with a friend who used to repair electronics; he suggested that some part(s) of the power supply have blown or that some solinoid or relays might have gone bad. He suggested it's not tough to fix with a service manual if you know what you're doing.
First off, do you think it's worth repairing? Is this more of a candidate for parting out for someone? (Again, sort of like Paul's grandfather in "A Hard Day's Night", it's very clean.) What do you think?
I currently only collect Quad LP's and don't see myself collecting prerecorded Quad tapes (they're a little too much for my wallet). I would find a reel to reel deck useful to transfer a couple of boxes of tapes recorded by my uncle in Vietnam and to generally play around with as part of my stereo system - I could be tempted by stereo tapes more in my price range, particularly of classical stuff.
I'm not sure if I could find someone to repair it locally (I'm in the Triad/Triangle area of NC); it would cost a small fortune to ship this thing somewhere - it weighs just a little less than my two piece late 1940s Lear combo wire recorder/phonograph/am radio home entertainment system.
http://www.coolcatdaddy.com/rand/wires.html