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Akai GX 365 Speed issue

teebomus

teebomus

Active Member
Picked this up for $20 and have it playing and recording after lots of cleaning. The comp-u-matic recording was hard to figure out at first but works fine now. But...it has a speed issue. It will play fine for a while at all speeds, 30 minutes or so, then when I rewind the tape, it plays it back slow. The next day I crank it up and it plays fine for a while and does it again.
When playing too slow, the machine even sounds slower, if that makes sense. When playing at highest speed it normally has an obvious sound of the fan/ motor spinning. When it is playing slow that sound is quieter, which to me rules out belt slippage. true?
Ideas? Thoughts? thanks.
 
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This is a known motor capactor problem. You should do a search on this site.
The solution is to change the motor capacitor but be wary of the value and a higher voltage cap is always recommended.

You should start with the capstan drive motor.

Good luck to ya!
 
Where would you find these caps. I have an akai r tor with the same problem. The cap is 3 x 3if 250 volt as.
 
Very often on that deck the resistor-caps on the Spark Quencher board (RD 150B) will be bad and will cause speed problems. You will see some of them bulging. Replace all. They are a combo cap & resistor.
 
Got into it and right off the bat saw this silver cap ooozed all over the board. Anyone know if it's the motor play cap?
Did not see anymore leakers or bulgers. This one is .47uf 250v correct?
thanks.
 

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Always state the cap ID number. Like "C104"

That cap is one of the motor run caps. There are two more (one for 60 hz and one for 50 hz) Designated C5. You need to disconnect the wires from them and measure the capacitance (to see if they are good).

So all of the spark quencher caps (CR2>CR9) test good? You have to remove and test them with an ohm meter. So they all look good?
 
Thanks all. I have a replacement cap ordered. I'll let you know how it goes. I appreciate the heads up on how to refer to the caps. While I'm handy with a solder gun. Im still on the early portion of the learning curve regarding schematics, etc.
Yes, All the other caps "look" good. Yet to test them.
 
There is a small board with something like 5-9 orange spark quencher caps on it and it is buried under the deck, I think you'll find this to be your speed problem. The cap in your picture may be a secondary issue. Keep looking, If I remember right, the board is close to the speed control buttons but under the main panel.
 
Swapped out the .47. Obviously was secondary because still slow speed after a few minutes of playing. I'm gonna check the spark board next.
 
tapetech said:
Very often on that deck the resistor-caps on the Spark Quencher board (RD 150B) will be bad and will cause speed problems. You will see some of them bulging. Replace all. They are a combo cap & resistor.
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Just wanted to thank you for pointing this out. I replaced my motor caps a year ago and was trouble free until this morning when I had a consistent slow speed. Took a look at the resistor caps on that board hidden behind the power board and two are absolutely bursting at the seams. God bless.
 
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