The Official Elcaset thread!
- Thread starter Bigerik
- Start date
Bunty2
Active Member
Too bad the tape case was too big.
TonyTannoy
New Member
Somebody had mentioned there was an Elcaset aficionado in Canada...would anyone happen to have their contact info?
Also...reason I ask is I have an EL-D8 that I have decided to sell. If any one is interested, they can message me for more info.
Thanks and cheers
Also...reason I ask is I have an EL-D8 that I have decided to sell. If any one is interested, they can message me for more info.
Thanks and cheers
Donnnie
New Member
Hello Tony
Though I am not a Canadian aficionado, I am an Elcaset fan and would love an opportunity to own the El-D8 . Please let me know the particulars ,
Cheers!
Don
Ralfie225
New Member
Hi, After buying Elaset tapes (mostly used), I was looking into stickers that would replace the existing ones. Since most stickers are used/written on I decided to go ahead and have a cut-out version made. This means I would be able to reprint existing ones with my own text, but also (since by design they are going to be blank) come up with my own design. If anybody is interested you can send me a message. The stickers would have the correct cut outs and fit nicely.
Flaxmill19
Active Member
Hi Ralfie225,
Sounds interesting, could you do the FeCr LC-90 & the SLH LC-60 & 90?
Tony
Sounds interesting, could you do the FeCr LC-90 & the SLH LC-60 & 90?
Tony
Ralfie225
New Member
I believe so. I just need the original stickers. I will try and buy sealed original tapes, so I can get them. If anybody can provide a good HD scan, it would be appreciated as well.
Hi, I picked up an El-4 with a pile of tapes last weekend. The owner said it worked the last he used it, which was many years ago, but he had to push the tape down as the fingers or something were not picking up well. I am not sure if that makes sense, but it appears that it was reasonably operable. It also sat with the glass door off so there is some dust gathered and my guess is that it has sat for a at least 10 years and lately in a musty environment.
I cleaned it up from the front with q-tips and compressed air and put the door on, then tried a tape in it but the capstan's didn't turn at all. It did power up without a problem. Would this likely be because the belts are likely deteriorated? Is it pretty straight forward to take the cover off and check the belts, and is changing the belts very tricky? I am likely going to bring it in to a pro to have it cleaned, lubed and calibrated.
I have the service manual, but not the operating manual. If someone has an operating manual I would appreciate getting a copy. I intend to scan and upload the service manual to the HiFi Engine database.
Any other advice or pointers on how to proceed would be appreciated as this is new to me.
I cleaned it up from the front with q-tips and compressed air and put the door on, then tried a tape in it but the capstan's didn't turn at all. It did power up without a problem. Would this likely be because the belts are likely deteriorated? Is it pretty straight forward to take the cover off and check the belts, and is changing the belts very tricky? I am likely going to bring it in to a pro to have it cleaned, lubed and calibrated.
I have the service manual, but not the operating manual. If someone has an operating manual I would appreciate getting a copy. I intend to scan and upload the service manual to the HiFi Engine database.
Any other advice or pointers on how to proceed would be appreciated as this is new to me.
Ralfie225
New Member
Hi Spensar,
We all buy stuff, that was put in the closet "working" lol. If you capstan is not turning it is either the belt / motor / switch. I would investigate this before bringing it to someone professional. Remove the cover and peek inside. The belts are really easy to replace.
If you are lucky it just snapped and replacing would bring it back to life. The belts can be ordered on ebay. I would recommend sending it to tinman in Los Angeles. He did my EL-7 and has the knowledge.
We all buy stuff, that was put in the closet "working" lol. If you capstan is not turning it is either the belt / motor / switch. I would investigate this before bringing it to someone professional. Remove the cover and peek inside. The belts are really easy to replace.
If you are lucky it just snapped and replacing would bring it back to life. The belts can be ordered on ebay. I would recommend sending it to tinman in Los Angeles. He did my EL-7 and has the knowledge.
Great, I will pop the lid and take a look. I have mucked about with turntables but not a tape deck before. I know that when turntable belts deteriorate they can get gummy and leave quite a mess behind. Here's a picture of the stuff.
Attachments
Flaxmill19
Active Member
Hi Spensar,
Nice collection of gear and tapes, I am not familiar with the EL-4, but as Ralfie225 says the problem may well be belts, also gummed up grease that needs to be cleaned out and replaced. Good luck with you restoration, these are great machines when they are up and running.
Tony
Nice collection of gear and tapes, I am not familiar with the EL-4, but as Ralfie225 says the problem may well be belts, also gummed up grease that needs to be cleaned out and replaced. Good luck with you restoration, these are great machines when they are up and running.
Tony
From the service manual info, it looks like the EL-4 and EL-5 are the same except for the controls. It says "The mechanism section of this set is the same as ... the EL-5. EL-5 uses logically controlled feather-touch function buttons. However, this set uses five function switches and they select appropriate solenoid from four solenoids equipped and operate the motor according to the mode selected."
I popped the lid and the belts are actually in very good shape so it looks like the playback switch or lever is not engaging.
I popped the lid and the belts are actually in very good shape so it looks like the playback switch or lever is not engaging.
Flaxmill19
Active Member
Hi Spensar,
Can you lift by hand and they drop quickly the pinch roller and the two tape lifter pins? If they don't drop immediately they are likely to have gummed up grease in the mechanisms and will need to be pulled apart, cleaned and regreased.
Regarding the belts, even if they look good, I would still replace belts that are 35+ years old and have no doubt spent a lot of time stationary, they may look Ok to the eye, but they may have lost their elasticity and therefore will not perform to their best.
Tony
Can you lift by hand and they drop quickly the pinch roller and the two tape lifter pins? If they don't drop immediately they are likely to have gummed up grease in the mechanisms and will need to be pulled apart, cleaned and regreased.
Regarding the belts, even if they look good, I would still replace belts that are 35+ years old and have no doubt spent a lot of time stationary, they may look Ok to the eye, but they may have lost their elasticity and therefore will not perform to their best.
Tony
With the door off, I was able to get the capstans turning when I manually pushed down on the switch on the bottom right. There are two switches - one on the far right and one a bit left of that. When I push down the latter one the dolby and tape selection lights come on and when I pushed the play button the capstans turn. This switch does not get activated when the tape is put in. I am assuming that this is the cassette detecting switch referred to in the service manual (same as the EL-5) and there is an adjustment for it. I took the lid off and was able to activate the switch from inside with a cassette in and did get playback through headphones (very exciting) until the tape started to spool off the cassette (wrong kind of exciting).
New belts are on their way from ebay so I will try checking it out when they come in. This may be a simple tweak for someone with experience so I will likely bring it in to have a pro look at it and also to set up the calibration.
Quick question about the wood side panels. When looking at pictures of EL-5s and EL-7s, some have the side wood panels and some don't. Was this an option, or did they all ship with the wood panels but people taken them off to make the foorprint smaller or because they are damaged?
New belts are on their way from ebay so I will try checking it out when they come in. This may be a simple tweak for someone with experience so I will likely bring it in to have a pro look at it and also to set up the calibration.
Quick question about the wood side panels. When looking at pictures of EL-5s and EL-7s, some have the side wood panels and some don't. Was this an option, or did they all ship with the wood panels but people taken them off to make the foorprint smaller or because they are damaged?
Chrome Elcaset Tape
Well not quite, I bought a 7" spool of TDK EE SA type tape, my intention is to wind this into an Elcaset case and for the first time try out the chrome setting on the elcaset
I know I will only get about 30 mins a side due to the tape being 35 microns thick, but no worry
It will be a huge pity if it works really well, as far as I know TDK did not make 18 or 25 micron thick version of this tape.
So will be stuck with at best 60 minute tapes.
I am not disappointed with the two tape types at all in some ways I prefer the LH ferric tape for some music and Ferrichrome for other types, you get to such a high level of performance with this system that you can become picky about what tape suits different music best.
Anyway I shall let you know how I get on but it will be a while, because I am into other fiddlings at present
Garyt
Did you get this done? how did it sound?
Ralfie225
New Member
Hi Elcaset lovers.
The Project "Elcaset Sticker" has come to life. I have reproduceds them. 4 Stickers on a normal 8x11 Inch stickers, including the cutouts. They can be printed on any Inkjet or laset printer.
Here is the link to ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/302130561694?
The Project "Elcaset Sticker" has come to life. I have reproduceds them. 4 Stickers on a normal 8x11 Inch stickers, including the cutouts. They can be printed on any Inkjet or laset printer.
Here is the link to ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/302130561694?
