This is the first taperecorder repair video, I have seen, where I got the feeling of "yeah, maybe I could do that too". Great video and happy to see the machine working again. Thanks.

With the help of your video I was able to repair my X-1800SD. The detailed description as you were disassembling and cleaning gave me the confidence to tackle changing the belts, cleaning the capstan for the 8track player, replacing one of the cams and most importantly, replacing the capacitor motor. Thank you so much for posting this!

I have this exact same machine I got it from the original owner that bought it in 1968 , that is still in excellent working condition and from my own experience with this machine and also a Sony Machine the VU meters are much more active during Recording , when recording to Tape , Crank the Volume Knobs up until the VU meters are running right around 0 and you will get a very "Hot" recording that will actually not play back at 0 on the Vu meters , these are a VERY nice Machine I have used Mine A lot in the last couple years , knowing what i know about the cams breaking I use mine VERY gently , Mine still has the original belts

I found the remains of a mouse in mine. He got in,,, and didn't get out! I had to replace some bare wiring. Unit was in the basement. Your video really has helped me slog through my X-1800 SD!!

Great video. I just pick up an x 1800SD and this was helpful in learning how to service it. Works great now!

Thank you ... Your patience is blessing ... I have had similar setbacks with stripped screws and belts ... Part of the problem is always getting to the part that needs servicing and finding replacements and or putting it all back together ... You are exellent in relating your difficulties across to us mere mortals ... Keeps it real for people like me ... Thank you ... One note ... When you used the word catastrophe i almost fainted from laughter ...i have experienced that a few times and could not find the right term ... Please continue to bless us with your projects ... Ps ... Your closeups and visual clarity is superior ... Much love and respect ...

This was certainly an extraordinary amount of time to do both the video shots and disassembly/assembly. I will be replacing the cams on an Akai machine soon and I will know exactly what to do now. Thank you so much.

Thanks for the great video. I am checking mine out for sale after sitting for more than 10 years. I remember how popular these were when i was stationed in S. Korea in early '69. I bought mine used many years later and it was like new. I acquired the accessory kit with 15 IPS capstan and wheel, 7" take up reel and blank reel, new felt tape pads, and it came with a new operator's manual; the kit cost $232 in 1970 as I have the customs declaration for the purchaser. It also has the electrical schematic from Akai! Also in the kit were 2 microphones with stands. The 8-track capstan was very dirty and after cleaning it is now playing a tape. I am an old man and downsizing hence the sale.

Thank you for uploading this and going into detail about it's repair!, Your video inspired me to go out and buy my Very own 1800SD, My machine's cam's haven broke yet fortunately and it's managed to come with it's 15IPS Adapter and after owning this machine for a bit now It's one of the best ones I've owned looks and sound wise.

That device arrived to work today and you're saving me so much time, thanks a lot ! Hope I'll fix it successfully 😃

Fantastic video,an your back ground music is perfect,in process of buying that deck today.Thank's !

I have a Teac 7300 on my bench, I stripped out all the boards (12) to clean it up but when I re-assembled it - it was dead! After weeks of many different parts and much arse scratching I looked at the schematics (Again) and discovered that an edge connectors pin numbers were in Reverse of the boards connection! I had returned it so it matched hence it crapped out! Great vid! Electrotanya are a great site for Service Manual downloads! All free and up to 5 a day.

Thank you soo much , I have a akai mod 9 which is virtually the same as yours . My cams have disintegrated, thanks to you I feel I can tackle the repairs now . A fellow Rush fan as well 😁

I know the feeling, I just purchased a gx4000d . Cleaned tape heads and path. Put a tape on turned to play, nothing so I took back off to check belts they were dry but not broken, so I wondered what was wrong. Dumb me forgot to feed tape under auto stop lever lifted lever up an yes…… it worked besides scratchy pots everything works. I was so happy…. Now I can listen to my tapes

Excellent!

Very good video about Akai X 1800SD👍, mine is broken, I am trying to fix it now, this video Will Help a lot, thank you 🙏

I just bought a beautiful X-1800SD and it sounds great! The motor is noisy though, and while listening to 8-track tapes it got to track 4 and slowed down. When I pushed the track selector button to get back to track 1 the button just went into the unit with no resistance and no track change. It may be one of these cams. I found 2 groups on FB and joined them. I just need to know where to get the printed cams. I hope they'll hold up as well as the previous cams did. I can't thank you enough for this video! Having seen it, I know now that I can do this and bring my deck back to life again. I've subbed your channel and will download this video for my library! 😎👍 All the best. Luther

저희 집에 동일한 모델이 있어서 관심있게 보았습니다. 감사합니다

You have any idea what kind of light bulbs are the ones that the akai use?

Hi very nice video, I have an Akai X-330D speed selection issue. The 3-3/4 IPS and 1-7/8 IPS speeds are fine, but the 7-1/2 IPS does not spin. Is this a case of bad run capacitor?

Can anybody help me with more information as to what the cams actually do? I've got an akai 4000db which appears to be fully functional yet when I took the back off to clean the unit, part of the c-2 or middle flipper cam fell out. I've since ordered a replacement set, but the unit plays, rewinds, records, and fast forwards normally.

Great sound the akai's

Using this now. Thanks. At 18:35, I believe you’re inserting the cartridge upside-down.

isopropanol works wonders on cleaning gunk off of capstans.

Doesn't it feel great? Nothing like getting a piece of gear working again; it's a great rush. No pun intended. This was just what I needed to see, as I'm staring at our GX-230D that's showing all the signs of needing the reel motor caps replaced. Not terribly hard unless you're visually-impaired. Then it takes longer... ;-)

Does anyone know where to get these 3D printed cams from Tyree? I've done a google search but no luck so far... Thanks - Luther

Im struggling with an Akai X-201D with has a problem with one channel that keeps falling back. I might open it.

Hey, do you have a link to where you ordered the cams? I have the exact same model and am looking to replace mine. Thanks

i have Sony tc-270 i bought in early 90s its still works good

Can you share where you ordered the cams from? I am struggling to find replacements

Great 😮🎵

Saludos , buen trabajo

hi there is a 1800ss i have worked on 2 of them quad model 2 ic's were bad in the deck runs super now

Around 1990, I was eyeing a reel-to-reel in my relatives' house. "Hey, I want that," I thought to my own self. Upon them moving to Las Vegas, they gave it to me. However, the pinch roller was bad for the many years of use. Oh, well.

Hi just saw your video on replacing the belts and cams on Akai X-1900SD..i have to do the same can you tell me where you found the cams. I've looked over and nothing.

Where did you get the cam parts from?

Nice repair. I’ve never owned the Akai 1800D, because the cam switches is started to deteriorates overtime since it was made of pot metal and starts to break according to what “12voltvids” says. The Sony and Panasonic are much better than the Akai and Roberts tape recorders.

Any chance you could take a picture of the power connector block?

Thanks for the vid. What is the length of the capstan belt?(replacement TRR6 13.250") What is the length of the counter belt? (replacement = 14.250" RR7)< Wrong for mine. wax string shows 13.875" I have to stop till I verify the measurements. :(

Where can I order the belt and cam kit? That you Mr, master Tech. Thanks from Amarillo, Texas, Date Jan 2024.

Oh man.. I literally need to do the exact same job on my x-1800sd the cams for mine were all brittle and just broke apart.. do you think you can post a link to all the items you bought for this job?? I would greatly appreciate it.

Maybe you did this off camera but I didnt see you inspect , clean or replace any of the following items which I certainly I would have done if I had the machine as far apart as you did. The items you seem to have overlooked are the heads, pinch roller, capstan, idler wheels, and no lube of anything. If you didnt give these items any attention Id say you got lucky it played tapes , but you may be redoing this repair down the road in a short while.

where can i find the cam kit? i have looked and look ugh thanks anyone :)

Is there any way I could send my Akai reel to reel for you to fix it for me. I've looked and can't find anyone to fix it. One guy said to send it to Dallas and there's a place that would fix it. But it would cost more than it's worth. HELP!!

That bar looks like is the one that keeps the flywheel in place.

I hope u see this question but I’ve this one exact same machine but everything works (well not everything) my reels goes in reverse and forward but it will not play when i turn it on play, can u give me any advice on my problem ?

What is your feedback about this AKAI?

CAPTAIN!!

where did you buy the replacement parts ?

Captain!!!!!

Where did you buy the new belt?

Hi friend, my name is Leonardo, I'm from Peru, I have a reel to reel the same, I want to give it life, I already got the girdles and others but I can't get that spare part you showed, in my country there is none, but I saw your video and It gave me a lot of hope of bringing it back to life, which would make me very happy, I would like if it were possible to provide me with that spare part and get in touch. I am very grateful in advance, have a nice day.

Hi, Where do you get the belts and cams? I also have a power supply problem,but I am looking into that now. Peace to you and yours. Paul...

Oh! so real gud!! Very professionally mechanism how to put it back showing! Would you show me the tape upper heads and lower head how working when tape passing throgh the way. Thanx a heap! From South Korea 🇰🇷 Incheon

Just Got Rid Of My Fathers Akai X-1800SD Today... It Was Finished So I Destroyed It & Got Rid Of It In Pieces. Everything Was Wrong With It. It Was Not Even Fixable. It Couldn't Rewind, The Playback Was Horrible Cause The Heads Were Shot (Could Hear The Other Side Of The Tape Playing), And The Pinch Wheel Rubber Dried Out & The Rubber Was Falling Apart In Dust Form. My Father Had His Akai For 53 Years. I Just Made A Video A Few Nights Ago & I Posted It Today On My Channel. I Am Heart Broken That I Never Got To Finish My Recording Project With Transferring The Reels To Digital. I Got A CD Recorder & I Was Recording Some Of The 8 Tracks That My Father Has & I Was Copying Some Of The Reels As Well. Some Stuff He Taped Off Of Records So I Just Made A Copy Of The Records Using The CD Recorder. These Things Were The I-PODS Of The 1960's & 70's! My Father Had 33 Reels With ALOT OF MUSIC On Them! CRAZY!!!!!! I Did Watched This Video A Few Months Ago On How To Take This Thing Apart. Like I Said, I Destroyed It And Took It Apart In Pieces. I Even Cut All Of the Wires Off Of It. The Mechanical Part WAS VERY HEAVY INDEED!!!! It Was Built To Last For Sure! My Fathers Unit Didn't Run Too Well Anymore After 1987 when it was just 17 years old. But I Kept Using It Til 2021 When the Pinch Wheel Went. That Is When I Said This Thing Is Done For. Thanks You For Making This Video! It Did Helped Me Get It Taken Apart In No Time! -Greg Jurgs KZfaq Channel.

Crumbled cams? Mine work again after super gluing all the crumbles back together. Then draining the rest of the glue into the cracks and crevices.

Hi there, thanks for the excellent video. I have the same machine. But It want play. forward and revese are working great. but when I try to play a tape it want work. Any idea's. thabk from the netherlands.

I have this model. What are the symptoms of the failing cams? Mine seems to function mechanically but the belt seems to be slipping. I have never gotten an 8-track to work. The unit will pull the tape out of one. Electrically, the amplifier doesn’t work but I can use the line out jacks. Recently, I have had interest in servicing it and I think your video will help tremendously. Thanks for posting it!

Please please please tell me how to get the operators manual!!!! I looked all over the internet and couldn’t find one in English. HELP!

how can I buy the parts from you?thank you

That 8 track just makes it harder to work on the rtr.

Does anyone could send me the manual?

Aceton to remove nail polish on screw heads first. Next time. Use some creeping oil. And try to unscrew. If not use very thin drill bit and put in center of screw! Drill in, and reverse . And the screw comes out most of the time. If not just drill it out, like drill screw fysically to nothing. Then, or srew came out but you have damaged treads anyway. Just retread. It's so bulky metal. You can't really scr w it up!

Thx for showing this. Nice Relayer 8track. Where did you get the 3d cams just in case I ever need them? Did you research how to get those motor screws off? Is your VU light working?

Electronic Bach?

The content of this was great, just lose the noise

Pumping iron power i see.

Can you repair mine ?

Please can you repair mine,, Please

need belts

Many will come in my name, says The Lord , ....yet... But only one way to The Father...Shema!!!

v-meter not fund............

How about some links to the parts and manual, we don't need links to the distracting music.

Your kilograms was off. 😊

Garbage oil and wrong alcohol so not a seasoned one who works on this. If he can do it you can probably too.

The background music is very distracting, can you NOT use it