Akai GX-210D playback issues

[Rudy Williams]

Hello--

I own an Akai GX-210D reel to reel unit and am experiencing some playback
issues. I would like to know your opinion on if I need to take it in for
repair, or if this is something I can address myself. (I am fairly handy and
have some background in electronics, soldering, etc.)

During forward playback, audio is heard from the left channel only (speakers
or headphones). During reverse playback, audio is heard in the right channel
only. With alcohol, I cleaned the heads, capstan, rollers, etc. Typically I
mount the tape reel on the left spindle and the take up reel on the right
spindle. If reverse where I mount the reels, the behavior is opposite.

What are your thoughts?

Rudy

[Tim Schwartz[_2_]]

On 12/3/2010 11:00 AM, Rudy Williams wrote:
> Hello--
>
> I own an Akai GX-210D reel to reel unit and am experiencing some playback
> issues. I would like to know your opinion on if I need to take it in for
> repair, or if this is something I can address myself. (I am fairly handy and
> have some background in electronics, soldering, etc.)
>
> During forward playback, audio is heard from the left channel only (speakers
> or headphones). During reverse playback, audio is heard in the right channel
> only. With alcohol, I cleaned the heads, capstan, rollers, etc. Typically I
> mount the tape reel on the left spindle and the take up reel on the right
> spindle. If reverse where I mount the reels, the behavior is opposite.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Rudy
>
>
>
>
Hello,

Assuming that the heads are clean and undamaged, I'd have a look at the
very fragile wires that go to the back of each head. After that, I'd
look for whatever switches the heads to the electronics for forward vs.
reverse play. This could be a mechanical switch or a relay.

Having a schematic diagram so that you can follow the signal path would
be helpful, but with patience you can trace things out.

Regards,
Tim Schwartz
Bristol Electronics

[Mark Zacharias[_3_]]

"Rudy Williams" > wrote in message
t...
> Hello--
>
> I own an Akai GX-210D reel to reel unit and am experiencing some playback
> issues. I would like to know your opinion on if I need to take it in for
> repair, or if this is something I can address myself. (I am fairly handy
> and have some background in electronics, soldering, etc.)
>
> During forward playback, audio is heard from the left channel only
> (speakers or headphones). During reverse playback, audio is heard in the
> right channel only. With alcohol, I cleaned the heads, capstan, rollers,
> etc. Typically I mount the tape reel on the left spindle and the take up
> reel on the right spindle. If reverse where I mount the reels, the
> behavior is opposite.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Rudy
>
>
>
>

If as I understand it's an auto-reverse model, see if there might be a
lubrication problem involving moving the heads up/down for a particular
direction. I think a few of the old Akai's did it that way, and reversed the
channels with a relay.

Mark Z.