Nakamichi BX-1 Cassette Deck Repair

[losteden]

my k7 player on sony rx88 mini hifi stop working. any advice? thanks

[force311999]

the head looks wore bad ?????

[BillieJean900]

my bx2 wont play or forward or rewind :s

[antonmjor]

I did the same thing on my BX-2 today.

It worked like a charm for about 10 secs, then something elecrical broke :(

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@antonmjor

Darn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thatmuse76]

That idler tire between the take up and supply reels are a pain to replace. I have a BX-300 and my idler wheel snapped off. I had to buy a parts BX-125 to get the part off of. I just need to get around to doing the repair. A real common problem, so you were very lucky. Nice circa 1977-79 TDK SA tape by the way.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks thatmuse76

I am happy to have found this Nakamichi, it is a very nice unit. I'm amazed how well the TDK SA cassette tape has held up over the years. I have a TDK SA tape that has been in my cars since I recorded it in the early 1980s, I listened to it today. Great quality tape!

[Antoniopang]

Very good!

Just to share, I have done some same repair jobs to BX-1/BX-2/BX-300, well may be 10 years ago... to replace the same rubber ring as in the video. Just take away the casette door, unscrew 2 srews on the plate, one will see the rubber parts , and the repairing replacing job can be done within 10 minutes, piece of cake!!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Antoniopang 

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Must likely the motor or motor and belt/s that control the heads, could be the play switch. It is hard to say without looking at it.

[Trulylatino]

Thanks for sharing your repair experience with your Nakamichi BX-1 Cassette Deck Player. It was fun watching your You Tube video. I like you commenting on the parts of the cassette deck. I was looking on the Internet for information on a shop to repair my cassette deck player that is not recognizing my cassette tapes (model: TC-WR690); when I came across your You Tube video. I also want to convert my analog tapes in to digital. Thanks again for sharing your skills.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

THANKS!

[ampheat]

You can still get the technical manuals for theswe machines. the pich roller tire you replaced could be brougth back to life with some rubber renew products. You may try that first before changing the rubber tire. Also you needen't remove the entire tape transport to do this. enjoy tge music

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I have seen some manuals on eBay.

[ampheat]

there is also EBAMAN where you can download manuals for free. i don t know if they still exist but i got a few manuals from them.

[afw7964]

You brought back such memories! I had purchased a BX-1 back in '83 for $235.00! I loved it until I had to order a new capstan motor.Those Nak's had very low intermodulation distortion and very flat frequency response. It was the first cassette deck I could record FM tuner white noise and have it play back without coloration! This is an EXCELLENT DECK for record and playback. Congratulations!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks,

I am going to be able to get all the quality from my cassette recording that they have to offer. The digital recordings I can make are very good. I am not sure yet if I can tell the difference between the original and the digital. And yes I am delighted that I found a high quality machine for this project.

[audubon5425]

I think the name of that episode was "The Royal Street Affair" or something like that, 1955 maybe. One of two Johnny Dollars that took place in N.O. Incidentally, nobody really sounds like that here!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Certainly close enough. It was The Royal Street Matter 11/25/56. I doubt that the writer had ever been to N.O. I just ignore the Hollywood. Thanks.

[umajunkcollector]

There's something aobut that OTR show that reminded me of Firesign Theatre's Nick Danger. Could be that they were spoofin this show. I should do likewise, I have some Arthur Godfrey and other OTR cassetts, that I have not heard in a long time. I did do this with some of my old 78s and Spike Jones.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Oh yes Nick Danger Third Eye. They also spoofed Jack Web a lot some of his early programs had some creative dialog. I have tapes of one broadcast day of a radio station and Arthur Godfrey is one of the shows, live. It is very interesting.

[Ronbob59]

Very nice, Rick. Your projects are always a treat.

Thanks Ron

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Ron.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Oh yes Tandberg made great audio equipment. I would like to find one of those also. I know that they are smooth operating machines and are built to last. Thanks.

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

Omg, a Naka for $18? What a Steal and wow an easy repair job too! I need to get a full-logic cassette deck for my Pioneer someday. I have a Pioneer full-logic front-loading turntable I need to get going someday.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I was hoping that the people at the checkout didn't see my double-take and my month drop to the floor when I first was it. lol. The record levels could use a tune-up, I think some one messed with it. It plays great and I'll use it to make some high quality digital conversions. That Pioneer of yours sound interesting. Hope you do a vid on it. Thanks.

[tubeie07]

Beautiful deck - a Nak @ $18-, what a find. Yes, it's funny how most well built quality vintage audio only have 'understandable' faults with them that just require simple fixes! Oh anbd I see you use TDK SA (super avilyn) tapes, I swore by them in the 80's, great tapes that still hold up today! Great vid Rick.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. I still have a number of TDK SA (super avilyn) tapes and they are ALL just like the day I recorded them in the 80s. I have had the same tape in my car/s since 1983 (Steely Dan of course) and it still plays perfect. I played it today in the car. It has gone through winters in Chicago and summers in Dallas and here in North Carolina, and it still plays perfect. That TDK tape is superb quality.

[joernone]

Rick,

Only $18.00 for that tape deck makes my stomach hurt. You lucky dog!

Tell you what...when you're all done converting your tapes I'll give you $20.50 for it. And you can even put the old belt back on.

Would you happen to know where I can pick up a good $18.00 am/fm stereo amplifier?

Excellent vid.

Thanks,

John

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey John,

Lol, Pepto-Bismol, lol, well there was tax too, lol. It is going to be fun using it to convert the tapes. The JD clip quality was really good. If I find and am/fm stereo amp I'll email. Thanks.

Rick.

[DrCassette]

That's a really nice cassette deck!

My father used to have this cassette deck, but in the early 90s when I was a baby I used to play with his cassette deck and I finally ruined the buttons so he threw it away... Today I would be really happy if we still had it :(

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Lol. I wish I had a dollar for every time I had done something like that! Maybe you will find another one some day. Thanks.

[Organgrinder010]

Nice Nak! I just got my paws on a Pioneer CT-F900 yesterday. And it has the exact same problem as this. I took out the transport and replaced the belts, but it still has trouble in the take-up reels. This video definitely helps!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. That Pioneer CT-F900 is a very nice deck, hope you get it working like new!

[clydesight]

Nice a machine and a clever fix. I use the same technique. What a bargain! I like the old radio program too!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

When I first saw it, I just could not believe it. It was in a stack of electronic stuff in a Raleigh thrift shop. Amazing!! It is going to be fun using it to make a digital archive of my OTR programs. Thanks.

[mariopica]

Nakamish in Brazil was a legend.

Extremely expensive. We all "knew" it

is was the best but I have never seen one

"in person". Your video showing it inside is fantastic. You job on in it is great. The video is super. Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Mario.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Mario.

[BadEditPro]

That is a fine tape deck! You really got a steal on that one. Some say that Nakmichis were the finest cassette decks ever built.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. The quality is really good and the operation is so smooth and elegant. And it is rugged also. I'm so happy I found it!!

[rlewis1946]

Hi Rick,

I think you have the Midas Touch when it comes to finding jems like this at antique stores! Simple fix for a pro like you and great value to. Another fine video from the Master!!

RL Atlanta, GA

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey RL,

I was so amazed to find a Nakamichi anywhere and in a thrift shop! I'm going to enjoy digitalizing all my OTR from cassette. I was delighted with the sound quality of the Johnny Dollar clip. I'm going to have a nice digital achieve. Thanks.