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Akai GX-635D takedown procedure and a question...

I'm wondering if this was the same issue I am having but I can't find anywhere that the original problem is described.

On my deck, when powered on none of the butons engage however the play light is on. Wondering if somethnig is stuck due to aged grease like you experienced here. :scratch2:
 
Tape needs to be threaded onto deck before mode buttons work (or tape the tension arms to 12 o'clock position).

If still no button action, you will likely need a new tension-arm switches. Or one of the 4 fuses is blown.
 
I can see that the belt inside is very loose. Any idea where to get one?

BTW, I will try it with a tape as soon as I get one. :)
 
marantzfan said:
I can see that the belt inside is very loose. Any idea where to get one?

BTW, I will try it with a tape as soon as I get one. :)
Click to expand...
That is just the counter belt and it has nothing to do with the deck not working. Measure the belt and get back to us.

You don't need a tape to test the deck. As I already explained, move the tension arm to the 12 o'clock position. Play and fast wind should then operate fine.
 
Bumping an old thread here.

Found a 635D for sale with hub adapters and 2 black reels for €160.

Sounds really cheap but the close-ups show it is really dirty.
Most definitely from a smoker.

I tend to walk away from this because of how bad it looks but maybe there is a beautiful swan under this ugly duckling.
These go for +€500 here in good condition. Even when completely servicing this deck myself would still be "cheap".
IF nothing is broken.

I love this deck because of the center oriented pinch roller and the easier tension arms. All symmetrical and super easy to load tapes.
And it still has the aluminium front and buttons and wood sides so it matches the older 70s decks for style.
 
Last edited:
SX550 said:
Bumping an old thread here.

Found a 635D for sale with hub adapters and 2 black reels for €160.

Sounds really cheap but the close-ups show it is really dirty.
Most definitely from a smoker.

I tend to walk away from this because of how bad it looks but maybe there is a beautiful swan under this ugly duckling.
These go for +€500 here in good condition. Even when completely servicing this deck myself would still be "cheap".
IF nothing is broken.

I love this deck because of the center oriented pinch roller and the easier tension arms. All symmetrical and super easy to load tapes.
And it still has the aluminium front and buttons and wood sides so it matches the older 70s decks for style.
Click to expand...

These are really well built decks, so as long as you go slow and remove the yellow tarry film carefully, you should have no problem. However, the internal maintenance will very likely still need to be done. And no, I haven't done the transistors yet. I was shortly thereafter seduced by toobs, and have been hopelessly enamored ever since....
 
I used AA's guide to clean my two. Akai fan here. Have not had to replace the transistors in either one yet and I really do enjoy playing big tapes. I have picked up a nice collection of 10" tapes from various places. Good stuff.
 
A problem I have found with weak playback is with the auto reverse solenoid switch. This switch is found with the back off on the bottom inside the deck. A quick fix is to spray the long rail which switches contacts with some contact cleaner. Work the deck back and forth from forward to reverse play let everything dry off and see how it works. Good luck.
 
I took my Akai GX-635D down a few years ago in order to replace ALL the Electrolytic caps AND the Transistors in the audio chains. They are well marked on the PCB so no fear of going wrong. Definitely worth while. I bought this Akai NEW in about 1983 or so. I was therefore the first person to open it up. That said, I was surprised to find two of the transistors had already been changed! I had used it for a lot live recording Opera in the Brighton Dome - and found the reverse feature on these machines was Very Handy Indeed. I used a couple of my ElectroVoice RE20's suspended over front of stage (F.O.S) to record everything. Then when I came to Xfer them to Digital I found the GX-635D didn't want to know - hence the diversion into replacement Electrolytics and Transistors. Also a number of the 10" NAB tapes were 'sticky' which meant I had to keep cleaning the tape path - but that's another story. Michael @ Studio1. UK.
 
Maybe I am lucky, but I have yet to have a transistor or cap issue with a GX-635 or 747, and I own several. All suffered from the aforementioned Elmer's grease issue however. I've also noticed dirty heads are common, are not always easily apparent, and need to be scrubbed well (not just an IPA wipe). This can often resolve perceived level issues.

Haters dog the Akai's, and sometimes with good reason (e.g. GX-77), but the GX-635's are my favorite!
akai decks.JPG
 
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