Aiwa AD-S950 will not erase tapes...

[ppeterso2]

I picked up an Aiwa AD-S950 (3 head, Dolby S, dual capstan, remote, calibration tones..etc..) yesterday in its original box, but it has a problem. The deck sounds perfect (like most Aiwa 3 heads do) but it will not completely erase tapes (normal, CRO2, whatever you throw at it). It seems to only cut the signal down by 50%. Funny, when I press "rec mute" the signal that i'm trying to erase gets louder?! (go figure)

I made some good recordings on it, but had to use my Teac to erase the tapes first. I also have a AD-F850 (same deck, less calibration tones and dolby S) and have never had an issue with that one.

I opened the deck up to find a plethora of Sony IC's (I read that Aiwa is a subsidiary of Sony). I cleaned the EH/RH connector but it didn't help.

Anyone had an issue like this--from an Aiwa (or a Sony) tape deck? What should I attack first?

 

[foteberg]

Keep on trying erase esp on metal tape..
If the deck had to erase since... years ago, it may recover.
I had 950 too but i gave to a friend.
I also have 850..needs some motor speed adjustment thow..

 

[ppeterso2]

Keep on trying erase esp on metal tape..
If the deck had to erase since... years ago, it may recover.
I had 950 too but i gave to a friend.
I also have 850..needs some motor speed adjustment thow..

Thanks! The deck is fixed!! As you suggested, I pulled out some old TDK MA 110 tapes that I had (very thin tapes) and entered erase mode a few times (it was getting better) and I finally heard a crunch and pulled out the tape (it was wrinkled--THAT was a sign!). I had already cleaned the heads, but Aiwa makes it hard to reach the rollers and heads. I put in a wet head cleaner for 30 seconds and VIOLA!--it now erases. Apparently, the dual capstan assembly was skewing the tape just enough to bypass the erase head and the head cleaner fixed it.

Your motor speed adjustment should be easy to do. I can't remember the Aiwa, but my Nakamichi decks have the speed adjustment right on the back of the capstan motor. Good luck and thanks for the advice!

 

[foteberg]

Any time ..enjoy 950.

 

[melofelo]

might be worth demagnetizing the heads too if the tape path hasn't been cleaned for a while...
maxell used to make a cassette demagneizer thats simple to use..
he-44 was the model number..

 

[foteberg]

might be worth demagnetizing the heads too if the tape path hasn't been cleaned for a while...
maxell used to make a cassette demagneizer thats simple to use..
he-44 was the model number..

Hi melofelo i think that demagnetizing cassette can only work at playback and record heads , not at erase head...
Allthow erase head somehow needs to be magnetized when erazing:thmbsp: