Akai GX-266D (reel to reel) transport problem

S

Sam Lloyd

Guest
I posted this at the Yahoo reeltoreel group, but no answers so far, so I
thought I'd try here.

Just picked up my first reel to reel- an Akai GX-266D.
It's in very good cosmetic condition, but the transport doesn't work,
at least not properly. While the capstan motor(?)appears to be working
fine, pressing the play or fast-forward/reverse buttons does nothing.

I can get the motors to turn the reels by manually engaging the
solenoid(s), so I know the motors work. Probing the relay coil I see
that there is no signal to the relays when pressing any of the
buttons. Actually, I measure 24VDC on one of the relay coils, but when
pressing transport buttons neither side goes to ground as I would expect.

I found a dead transistor (TR4: D361 90V NPN), and replacing it
yielded a temporary semi-functional response. IOW, one of the play
LEDs was lit upon power-up, and pressing the play button actually
resulted in reel rotation! Unfortunately, it stopped working whenI
pressed the stop button, and I couldn't get it to work again until I
touched up the solder joints on the replaced transistor. After that it
temporarily worked again for a few button presses, then quit.

Any advice (or a schematic!) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam Lloyd
 
Can't say if this relates to yours, but many old Akai's required a dummy
plug or a remote control be plugged into that octal plug at the rear.

Mark Z.

--
Please reply only to Group. I regret this is necessary. Viruses and spam
have rendered my regular e-mail address useless.


"Sam Lloyd" <slloyd@usit.net> wrote in message
news:407B3A17.9020100@usit.net...
I posted this at the Yahoo reeltoreel group, but no answers so far, so I
thought I'd try here.

Just picked up my first reel to reel- an Akai GX-266D.
It's in very good cosmetic condition, but the transport doesn't work,
at least not properly. While the capstan motor(?)appears to be working
fine, pressing the play or fast-forward/reverse buttons does nothing.

I can get the motors to turn the reels by manually engaging the
solenoid(s), so I know the motors work. Probing the relay coil I see
that there is no signal to the relays when pressing any of the
buttons. Actually, I measure 24VDC on one of the relay coils, but when
pressing transport buttons neither side goes to ground as I would expect.

I found a dead transistor (TR4: D361 90V NPN), and replacing it
yielded a temporary semi-functional response. IOW, one of the play
LEDs was lit upon power-up, and pressing the play button actually
resulted in reel rotation! Unfortunately, it stopped working whenI
pressed the stop button, and I couldn't get it to work again until I
touched up the solder joints on the replaced transistor. After that it
temporarily worked again for a few button presses, then quit.

Any advice (or a schematic!) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam Lloyd
Click to expand...
 
Mark,

Thanks for the reply. Mine doesn't have the remote jack, so that can't
be it, unfortunately.

Sam



Mark D. Zacharias wrote:
Can't say if this relates to yours, but many old Akai's required a dummy
plug or a remote control be plugged into that octal plug at the rear.

Mark Z.
Click to expand...
 
"Sam Lloyd" <slloyd@usit.net> wrote in message
news:407B3A17.9020100@usit.net...
I posted this at the Yahoo reeltoreel group, but no answers so far, so I
thought I'd try here.

Just picked up my first reel to reel- an Akai GX-266D.
It's in very good cosmetic condition, but the transport doesn't work,
at least not properly. While the capstan motor(?)appears to be working
fine, pressing the play or fast-forward/reverse buttons does nothing.

I can get the motors to turn the reels by manually engaging the
solenoid(s), so I know the motors work. Probing the relay coil I see
that there is no signal to the relays when pressing any of the
buttons. Actually, I measure 24VDC on one of the relay coils, but when
pressing transport buttons neither side goes to ground as I would expect.

I found a dead transistor (TR4: D361 90V NPN), and replacing it
yielded a temporary semi-functional response. IOW, one of the play
LEDs was lit upon power-up, and pressing the play button actually
resulted in reel rotation! Unfortunately, it stopped working whenI
pressed the stop button, and I couldn't get it to work again until I
touched up the solder joints on the replaced transistor. After that it
temporarily worked again for a few button presses, then quit.

Any advice (or a schematic!) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam Lloyd
Click to expand...


I've never seen the model you have, but I used to own a model X-255D
reel-to-reel deck, which may be close to yours in design.. Intermittent
relay contacts were a constant source of problem, as were the PCB
receptacles that interfaced with all of the circuit boards in the unit. The
receptacles spread apart on the sides, resulting in very intermittent
contact with the PCB contacts. After many years, I finally got tired of
disassembling that monster and trashed it.

Cheers!!!
--
Dave M

Good judgement comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad
judgement.
 
Thanks, Dave. It turned out to be a few bad transistors and diodes.
Actually, it's still not working quite right- the tape won't change
directions properly- it will play fine in one direction, but I have to
cycle power for it to play in the opposite direction. It's quite
possible that this a relay problem, although I haven't quite deciphered
all the details of what's involved in changing direction.

Thanks,
Sam



Tweetldee wrote:
"Sam Lloyd" <slloyd@usit.net> wrote in message
news:407B3A17.9020100@usit.net...

I posted this at the Yahoo reeltoreel group, but no answers so far, so I
thought I'd try here.

Just picked up my first reel to reel- an Akai GX-266D.
It's in very good cosmetic condition, but the transport doesn't work,
at least not properly. While the capstan motor(?)appears to be working
fine, pressing the play or fast-forward/reverse buttons does nothing.

I can get the motors to turn the reels by manually engaging the
solenoid(s), so I know the motors work. Probing the relay coil I see
that there is no signal to the relays when pressing any of the
buttons. Actually, I measure 24VDC on one of the relay coils, but when
pressing transport buttons neither side goes to ground as I would expect.

I found a dead transistor (TR4: D361 90V NPN), and replacing it
yielded a temporary semi-functional response. IOW, one of the play
LEDs was lit upon power-up, and pressing the play button actually
resulted in reel rotation! Unfortunately, it stopped working whenI
pressed the stop button, and I couldn't get it to work again until I
touched up the solder joints on the replaced transistor. After that it
temporarily worked again for a few button presses, then quit.

Any advice (or a schematic!) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sam Lloyd




I've never seen the model you have, but I used to own a model X-255D
reel-to-reel deck, which may be close to yours in design.. Intermittent
relay contacts were a constant source of problem, as were the PCB
receptacles that interfaced with all of the circuit boards in the unit. The
receptacles spread apart on the sides, resulting in very intermittent
contact with the PCB contacts. After many years, I finally got tired of
disassembling that monster and trashed it.

Cheers!!!
Click to expand...
 
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