Open Reel Repair – Skywave Tape Deck Repair

Looking For Tape Deck Technician !

I have to say that after all these years you would think I could catch up but since 2010 when getting into this repair business full time or more, I have only gotten a larger and larger back log. It is time to add to staff even if I have to train you. Having some Electronics training in the past is a plus but is not absolutely necessary. Some Mechanical skill is also a plus and the ability to lift 80 pound units- not all are that size but some are.

I am not hiring employees but as I have done with other trainees, the training is done which then allows you to work on your own if you don’t want to work with me. I can tell you as I have with others how to make your own business out of this venture. A space to set up a bench at your location will be needed and then the investment in some equipment and test tapes if you do not have them. We work mostly on Open Reel and Cassette decks here. Occasionally other stuff. The investment can be $1200-$1500. That is not money paid to me but in buying alignment tapes and test equipment like a scope, AC Millivolt meter and a Wow and Flutter meter. Some investment in a parts cabinets and capacitor stock. There is terrific demand for this now and it is growing- I need driven and consistent people to help me in this massive back log I have here. The pay can be from $80 to $100/Hr for those who are at the ready level- the training and learning does not stop but goes on as we see new things. I am still learning after 45 years in this business. Contact me at skywavebe@sbcglobal.net or call me at 708-334-2260 if you want to get started. The best way to train is in person one on one. I am in the Chicago area SW or O’Hare Airport.

Fake MRL Tapes from E bay

There are sites that are now offering MRL and Teac tapes that use their name but in reality they are duplicating their own signals on tape from who knows what kind of machines. This is one example-https://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-1-4-7-5-in-s-MRL-Four-Frequency-Calibration-Tape/392363532341?hash=item5b5ab06035:g:XaEAAOSwUPxdQc2f

These are fake and also not accurate and basically they are rip off artist that use reputable names to sell their garbage. Since when does Teac operate an alignment tape facility in Germany? It is all junk waiting to steal your money. Get MRL tape from good dealers like JRF Magnetics or MRL themselves and don’t buy the 4 tone cheaped out tape as this will not be as good as the real thing. I have been using MRL tapes from the late 80’s.

The Finest of ALL Service Manuals

I know I can be negative at times but when I find a supplier that goes beyond the call of duty I mention that too.

That is Stereomanuals.com

Well the deed has been done. If you need a Tascam 58OB manual contact Rick at Stereomanuals.com as I just got my two copies and they are outstanding in quality and clarity.
Every page straight and without marks you get from other places plus you can read all the boards and schematics.
This is the only place to get correct and well made manuals.
http://www.stereomanuals.com/man/rep/tascam/index.htm

Buyers Be Aware- Sellers Are Ripping You Off And You Don’t Know It

I am in communication with certain people who are often E bay sellers and sellers of Reel Decks on other sites. One guy told me that 99% of reel to reel users do not know the machine they are buying is bad and so that gives him the go ahead to not adjust them correctly. Another guy who I asked what do you check the speed with as in test tape and measuring device? He answered it sounds good to me!

People are buying decks at higher prices and getting equipment with the most minimum of service done to them as well as them being off speed and who knows what they calibrate them to. All these people would be classified as Hacks by the good Technicians that exist out there. These are the Knuckleheads that you are being ripped off by as the decks are not even close to correct. I am writing this to make you aware of this prevailing mindset in the used equipment sales of Reel to Reel and Cassette decks. I never knew it was this bad and I do not intend to overlook the stuff I see. You can also tell how well the machine is worked on by asking what length warranty they have if any.

TEAC X2000R Owners: New S301 Part Available That Works

For those who own this machine there is a weak part in it called S301 which is the solenoid ALPs direction switch. Once this starts to go bad you can try and spray it with Deoxit but that might not even work given the tiny and poorly made switch design. The correct answer is to put a properly designed switch in by Kurt Jacobs which is sold on E bay. This fellow has done some homework and has made a correctly made part that should have been put in the deck of this price in the first place. Ebay Item# 153025190388

I, as a past Teac Lead Technician recommend this part!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Teac-X-2000R-replacement-reel-tape-direction-switch-S301-replaces-P-N-5302102500/153068294998?hash=item23a394d356:g:CwQAAOSw5cNYiptN

I have been told that if you need this part contact Kurt directly and ask him about it- he is the only source for it. kurtsjacobs@gmail.com

Pioneer RT909 Repairs at Local and Bad Shops

Recently I have been working on some decks here that have been badly butchered by local shops or so called Tecnicians that should really be called idiots because of what they do to these machines-

What has been observed are things like-

Broken off screws due to a drill being used to screw them in, stripped screws, Push on Pinch Roller rubber when they should be going to Terry for new rubber put on correctly. Cut wires all over the place, wrong belt sizes put on, power supply work that looked like a grade school person did it and I can go on and on. These people do more damage than good and then charge you for it. One service guy said to the client that he could not repair the deck- what was wrong with the deck? A shorted Zener Diode. How hard can that be to detect? A first year Electronic college student would be able to find this.

If you have a nice deck like this be careful where you have it serviced as a typical $300 repair can easily get into the $800 range when we have to take off motor plate stand offs and install new ones and repair all kinds of other destruction caused by the service person.

To add to this- I have just spent some time on the phone with a client who has had his unit repaired and recapped by this guy on E bay for $750. Now as he sends the unit back for the 4th time it still is not working. The client tells me he has a 3 year warranty. Talking about sticking your neck out far, I though I was doing that with 6 month warranty. Regardless of stated warranties and this is the second 3 year warranty I have heard of, these shops need to be able to fix the unit right the first time not the 4th or 5th time. In both cases of these places having 3 year warranties, I have had their clients tell me they had to send it back 4 to 5 times and in the previous case after 5 times the client gave up. I don’t blame him. Do you? If you ask me if they can not fix a unit after two attempts that tells me they can not fix it in the first place. Just be warned.

Anyone advertising on E bay for work can not be very good and this is the second proof I have found besides that guy in NM.

Known GOOD Service Facilities

For a time there has been a lack of good service facilities for the repair of tape decks but in time some of them have come out of the woodwork to make themselves know. This is a list of the ones I know do good work.

Not everyone is perfect and I even get complaints due to wait time. But on a whole these places 99% of the time will fix your unit well.

In The Pacific Northwest: Curt Palme http://reeltoreeltech.com/ Email: info@reeltoreeltech.com 604-514-1751

Sound Solutions Inc #344-19567 Fraser Hwy Surrey BC V3S9A4

New Jersey Factory Service, Inc.

Mays Landing NJ 08033

609-625-2598

DROP-OFF BY APPT ONLY !!
www.njfactoryservice.com
Analog/Digital Audio Repair

Tom Brucker

Hi Tech Service
2934 Nolensville Pk.
Nashville, TN 37211
615-331-9241

Crown repairs ,Chuck Ziska Ocala,Fl. 352-861-1052 ocalazman@embarqmail.com

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In Florida we have a new high level Technician-

Vintage Stereo Repair and Restoration
Repairing and restoring analog audio components
Teac, NAD, dbx, Revox, B&O, Pioneer
Gerhard@TheVintageAudio.com
772-713-1506

For those in Italy-

Giovambattista Currado
mob. +39 3334463179
currado@email.it
www.facebook.com/GBCLab
www.revoxa77.com

Teac X7R and other X7 models Fast Wind Speed Fix Modification

One of the most aggravating things is to fast wind a X7R and have to wait the 2.5 to 3 minutes to have it finish a 1800 foot roll of tape. Ha! Teac knew there was a problem and released technical bulletins to make some corrections. Well I use a different approach in application of the 30Vdc supply to the motors only in fast wind mode. Does this work you might say? Well both fast winds with my modification finished the same roll of tape at 58 seconds. I have taken a signal out of the logic that signals the reel motor drive that it is doing fast wind mode. This then goes through some resistors and transistors to invert the signal to drive a TIP107 transistor that then sends the higher voltage to the motors. There is a diode that maintains the 14Vdc supply at play mode on those motors and that prevents the feed of the 30 Vdc supply back to the 14Vdc supply. I have tested this deck and it is going through more tests but if you want to get your deck corrected for this problem, contact me.

Well the first of my mods is out there and only time will tell if the client likes it. I have a feeling that anyone who has sat through the slow wind speeds will fine this less than a minute speed much better. I have obtained some further parts to build these kits. I just have to do the schematic and instructions. I think the idea will be well received once people find out how well these decks can work.

Damping Silicone in 8ml bottles

This product is used to dampen the movement of left tension arms in Teac and other tape decks. Its Viscosity is 300,000 cSt. The 8mL sized bottle should be enough to do 3-5 tension arms per bottle. As you probably already know this product is not easy to find. The product name is Dimethyl Polysiloxane. I offer this as a service to my fellow Service Technicians who can not afford to buy a Gallon of it for over $400.

I have used it successfully on a number of decks already. It does work.

Cost is $8.00 plus $8.30 shipping.

Contact me at skywavebe@sbcglobal.net to order one or a couple bottles.

They are in limited numbers. Silicone 8ml-2

They are clear after the bubbles rise. Probably can service 10-20 machines from one bottle.

Items For Sale

People have trouble buying good decks from E bay mostly because the equipment there is old and has had very little maintenance and some of it has been tampered with by amateurs. Well here is a place you can get a deck that has been checked out, calibrated and tested for correct function. They also have a 6 month warranty.

I will be offering Teac, Tascam, Nakamichi, Pioneer and other brands that have passed our testing procedure. There are units ready now I just have to get the pictures ready.

I have had units ready to sell but some of them sold before I could even take a picture of them to list here. It seems I can not get them ready fast enough.

Recently there was a repair that was done and the customer refused the unit so it is for sale here with a new capstan motor and belts plus all the alignment and calibration and a 6 month warranty. $185 The model is the DR-M14HX. Specs as measured can be sent to prospective buyers by E mail. Questions can be answered or further pictures sent as well.

THIS ITEM SOLD

630-616-0932 Office, skywavebe@sbcglobal.net E mail.

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People who have walkmans of the WM-D6C type continue to ask me if I have an AC adapter for it. Well I did a little research and came up with a limited number of these that can take in 100Vac to 240Vac and put out 6Vdc with a negative center post. These are made for these Walkmans and I have tested them with WM-D6C units. They are going for $12 each and have a 1 year warranty. It also comes with a smaller adapter that can work with other walkmans provided they are 6Vdc and negative center. 6Vdc at 1Amp.

These are switch type adpaters- Postage around $7.20 Priority mail.