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BIC (B.I.C) T-4M Belt Change (lots of pictures)
- Thread starter ic-racer
- Start date
Well...someone else in this forum stated BIC cassette decks were a pain in the arse to change belts on,you truly and clearly showed everyone that it IS...we thank you!! Rob
Well, now that it is done, it didn't seem that bad...but in response to BrocLuno I can say that this is one of those things that I hope to only have to do ONCE in my lifetime.
Kudos to the repair techs that do this for a living!
I had forgotten how many tapes I made with this deck, I was up late last night listening to all my old music from the 90s. A lot of bad notes and poor mixing, but there were a few gems in there.
Now on to my next project...
Attachments
I have no prior records on my deck but the BIC T-4M on e-bay right now is described as being bought new in 1979.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...7668&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab=Watching
Vintage Cassette shows the T-4M's dates as 1979 to 1984. http://www.vintagecassette.com/BIC/T-4M
Red Stick
Well-Known Member
I'm replacing the belts on my T-4M as soon as they show up in the mail. Thanks for the info. I'll let you know how it goes.
I bought my deck and a Pioneer PL-630 (both lightly used) around 1979 or 1980 with paper route money, from the local electronics store owner who was upgrading. It makes all those days delivering the papers in rain and snow worthwhile.
I bought my deck and a Pioneer PL-630 (both lightly used) around 1979 or 1980 with paper route money, from the local electronics store owner who was upgrading. It makes all those days delivering the papers in rain and snow worthwhile.
Looks like I posted earlier that I would not want to do it again, but it turns out the belt I used (from my old parts box) was probably too old and it melted against the pullies as it deteriorated. I should have used a new belt the first time but I guess I wanted to see how long that 'parts box' belt I had would last.
Anyway, I got the fresh belts in place in about 1/5th the time as the original post. The written notes were key, and it went pretty fast.
Anyway, I got the fresh belts in place in about 1/5th the time as the original post. The written notes were key, and it went pretty fast.
Bic T-4M
IC-Racer,
Thanks Much for that great tutorial on how to change the Belt on the BIC T-4M Cassette Deck.
I found this thread after I did a Google Search on the T-4M in hopes that I might find some info and replacement parts source on this unit.
Bingo!
I have a T-4M (See attached jpeg)that I purchased new in 1979-80. I have had it all these years. One day, last year I fired the Deck up, but the Transport would not move the tape. I suspected the Belt. I had no spare.
My Brother and Law and I got adventurous and took the Unit apart, no Manual or Guide. We managed to get it disassembled. Sure enough it was the Belt. Since we had no spare we glued the belt together at the break. We put it all back together and it worked fine for about a few months.
I finally decided to do a little research and found this Forum and your finely documented write-up.
Great Job!
I am going to order the Replacement Belts tomorrow. I am not looking forward to this repair as I recall form our previous excursion this was no easy job. With your fine tutorial it should be much easier for me this time out.
I wish to save this Machine. I probably will not us it much, but I still have reverence for 60's 70's Audio Gear. As I recall, BIC mad lots of low-fi to mid-fi Junk. The T-4M was an anomaly for them so to speak. It was a very nice piece of equipment and looks real good also. I use to have mine Rack-Mounted. BIC made a very nice Black Ears and Chrome Handled Rack Kit for it, but I no longer have that piece.
It sits in the same Rack with my Kenwood KD-500 Manual Turntable w/Infinity Black Widow Arm and Grace Phono Cartridge.
Thanks again for helping to (hopefully) breathing some new life into my T-4M.
Great Article!!!!!!!!!!
IC-Racer,
Thanks Much for that great tutorial on how to change the Belt on the BIC T-4M Cassette Deck.
I found this thread after I did a Google Search on the T-4M in hopes that I might find some info and replacement parts source on this unit.
Bingo!
I have a T-4M (See attached jpeg)that I purchased new in 1979-80. I have had it all these years. One day, last year I fired the Deck up, but the Transport would not move the tape. I suspected the Belt. I had no spare.
My Brother and Law and I got adventurous and took the Unit apart, no Manual or Guide. We managed to get it disassembled. Sure enough it was the Belt. Since we had no spare we glued the belt together at the break. We put it all back together and it worked fine for about a few months.
I finally decided to do a little research and found this Forum and your finely documented write-up.
Great Job!
I am going to order the Replacement Belts tomorrow. I am not looking forward to this repair as I recall form our previous excursion this was no easy job. With your fine tutorial it should be much easier for me this time out.
I wish to save this Machine. I probably will not us it much, but I still have reverence for 60's 70's Audio Gear. As I recall, BIC mad lots of low-fi to mid-fi Junk. The T-4M was an anomaly for them so to speak. It was a very nice piece of equipment and looks real good also. I use to have mine Rack-Mounted. BIC made a very nice Black Ears and Chrome Handled Rack Kit for it, but I no longer have that piece.
It sits in the same Rack with my Kenwood KD-500 Manual Turntable w/Infinity Black Widow Arm and Grace Phono Cartridge.
Thanks again for helping to (hopefully) breathing some new life into my T-4M.
Great Article!!!!!!!!!!
Attachments
Bic T-4M
IC-Racer,
Thanks Much for that great tutorial on how to change the Belt on the BIC T-4M Cassette Deck.
I found this thread after I did a Google Search on the T-4M in hopes that I might find some info and replacement parts source on this unit.
Bingo!
I have a T-4M (See attached jpeg)that I purchased new in 1979-80. I have had it all these years. One day, last year I fired the Deck up, but the Transport would not move the tape. I suspected the Belt. I had no spare.
My Brother and Law and I got adventurous and took the Unit apart, no Manual or Guide. We managed to get it disassembled. Sure enough it was the Belt. Since we had no spare we glued the belt together at the break. We put it all back together and it worked fine for about a few months.
I finally decided to do a little research and found this Forum and your finely documented write-up.
Great Job!
I am going to order the Replacement Belts tomorrow. I am not looking forward to this repair as I recall form our previous excursion this was no easy job. With your fine tutorial it should be much easier for me this time out.
I wish to save this Machine. I probably will not us it much, but I still have reverence for 60's 70's Audio Gear. As I recall, BIC mad lots of low-fi to mid-fi Junk. The T-4M was an anomaly for them so to speak. It was a very nice piece of equipment and looks real good also. I use to have mine Rack-Mounted. BIC made a very nice Black Ears and Chrome Handled Rack Kit for it, but I no longer have that piece.
It sits in the same Rack with my Kenwood KD-500 Manual Turntable w/Infinity Black Widow Arm and Grace Phono Cartridge.
Thanks again for helping to (hopefully) breathing some new life into my T-4M.
Great Article!!!!!!!!!!
IC-Racer,
Thanks Much for that great tutorial on how to change the Belt on the BIC T-4M Cassette Deck.
I found this thread after I did a Google Search on the T-4M in hopes that I might find some info and replacement parts source on this unit.
Bingo!
I have a T-4M (See attached jpeg)that I purchased new in 1979-80. I have had it all these years. One day, last year I fired the Deck up, but the Transport would not move the tape. I suspected the Belt. I had no spare.
My Brother and Law and I got adventurous and took the Unit apart, no Manual or Guide. We managed to get it disassembled. Sure enough it was the Belt. Since we had no spare we glued the belt together at the break. We put it all back together and it worked fine for about a few months.
I finally decided to do a little research and found this Forum and your finely documented write-up.
Great Job!
I am going to order the Replacement Belts tomorrow. I am not looking forward to this repair as I recall form our previous excursion this was no easy job. With your fine tutorial it should be much easier for me this time out.
I wish to save this Machine. I probably will not us it much, but I still have reverence for 60's 70's Audio Gear. As I recall, BIC mad lots of low-fi to mid-fi Junk. The T-4M was an anomaly for them so to speak. It was a very nice piece of equipment and looks real good also. I use to have mine Rack-Mounted. BIC made a very nice Black Ears and Chrome Handled Rack Kit for it, but I no longer have that piece.
It sits in the same Rack with my Kenwood KD-500 Manual Turntable w/Infinity Black Widow Arm and Grace Phono Cartridge.
Thanks again for helping to (hopefully) breathing some new life into my T-4M.
Great Article!!!!!!!!!!
The Rack Ears Kit for this Unit was actually like a Cradle. It consisted of a Black Aluminum Type Under-Shelf that came up the sides with Black Anodised Rack-Ears and Chrome Handles. It was a real nice setup and looked great in the Rack with my other stuff I had back then.
If I still had mine I would give them to you.
Unfortunately a few years back I tossed mine during a move under pressure from the Wife.
My Rack Setup never met the S.A.F (Spousal Approval Factor) Standards.
Thanks!
If I still had mine I would give them to you.
Unfortunately a few years back I tossed mine during a move under pressure from the Wife.
My Rack Setup never met the S.A.F (Spousal Approval Factor) Standards.
Thanks!
Thanks for the info.
I just upgraded my diminutive guitar 'studio' to a bigger rack unit, so now I was thinking of filling my smaller one with HiFi gear. I was drooling over a picture posted somewhere showing a rack full of silver-faced Pioneer Hi-Fi components.
marblehead
New Member
I just discovered this forum very recently. I just bought a BIC T-3M in beautiful cosmetic condition, however this unit will not move the tape during play or record modes. It will fast forward and rewind. (The right capstan activates for fast forward and the left one activates for rewind.)
I am encouraged that others have had a similar problem, which was solved with the installation of a set of belts. How do you find the tutorial on replacing a BIC belt and where does one go to source these belts?
Thanks much!
I am encouraged that others have had a similar problem, which was solved with the installation of a set of belts. How do you find the tutorial on replacing a BIC belt and where does one go to source these belts?
Thanks much!
T-3 Belt replacement
I have just replaced the larger and smaller drive belts for the BIC T-3. It seemed pretty straight forward, The FF and REW work fine but when I push play the (from the front) Rt spindle turns clockwise and the Lt turns counterclockwise causing a jumble of tape in the middle. What did I do wrong?
I have just replaced the larger and smaller drive belts for the BIC T-3. It seemed pretty straight forward, The FF and REW work fine but when I push play the (from the front) Rt spindle turns clockwise and the Lt turns counterclockwise causing a jumble of tape in the middle. What did I do wrong?
Which spindles? The capstan drive spindles or the larger tape 'take up' spindles?
When in PLAY, the two small drive spindles rotate counterclockwise. The LEFT 'take up' spindle does not rotate and the RIGHT take up spindle also rotates counterclockwise.
I'm going to try to calibrate the machine.
On the underside of the main PC board are the following labeled trimmers with my guess at the function:
PB R = Playback level for RIGHT
PB L = Playback level for LEFT
L 4.75 120 = LEFT Record bias for Low bias tape at the slow speed (4.75cm/sec)
R 4.75 120 = RIGHT Record bias for Low bias tape at the slow speed (4.75cm/sec)
L 4.75 70 = LEFT Record bias for Chromium tape at low speed
R 4.75 70 = RIGHT Record bias for Chromium tape at low speed
L 4.75 MX = LEFT Record bias for Metal tape at low speed
R 4.75 MX = RIGHT Record bias for Metal tape at low speed (9.5 cm/sec)
L 9.5 120 = LEFT Record bias for Low bias tape at fast speed
R 9.5 120 = RIGHT Record bias for Low bias tape at fast speed
L 9.5 70 = LEFT Record bias for Chromium tape at fast speed
R 9.5 70 = RIGHT Record bias for Chromium tape at fast speed
L 9.5 MX = LEFT Record bias for Metal tape at fast speed
R 9.5 MX = RIGHT Record bias for Metal tape at fast speed.
From what I can tell the overall R and L record levels are the same across all tape types and speeds. These RECORD LEVEL trimmers are actually available on the front of the unit.
On the underside of the main PC board are the following labeled trimmers with my guess at the function:
PB R = Playback level for RIGHT
PB L = Playback level for LEFT
L 4.75 120 = LEFT Record bias for Low bias tape at the slow speed (4.75cm/sec)
R 4.75 120 = RIGHT Record bias for Low bias tape at the slow speed (4.75cm/sec)
L 4.75 70 = LEFT Record bias for Chromium tape at low speed
R 4.75 70 = RIGHT Record bias for Chromium tape at low speed
L 4.75 MX = LEFT Record bias for Metal tape at low speed
R 4.75 MX = RIGHT Record bias for Metal tape at low speed (9.5 cm/sec)
L 9.5 120 = LEFT Record bias for Low bias tape at fast speed
R 9.5 120 = RIGHT Record bias for Low bias tape at fast speed
L 9.5 70 = LEFT Record bias for Chromium tape at fast speed
R 9.5 70 = RIGHT Record bias for Chromium tape at fast speed
L 9.5 MX = LEFT Record bias for Metal tape at fast speed
R 9.5 MX = RIGHT Record bias for Metal tape at fast speed.
From what I can tell the overall R and L record levels are the same across all tape types and speeds. These RECORD LEVEL trimmers are actually available on the front of the unit.