Does a Nak 582 need recalibration after belts replaced? Good sources for belt kits?
- Thread starter Anubis
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Looks like I may have to give up on my Nak 582. So far it appears I can't get a belt kit for it unless I go to ebay which is risky unless the seller has a very high rep with lots of badges. However, I do not have a Paypal account nor can I get one anymore. (Had one until we got into litigation..their fault and a long story). The only other thing I can do is see if a repair place I know of about 25 miles from me can do it unless cost is too high. They do a lot of vintage gear and have done so since 1974, but I doubt they would have the belts for a Nak. Of course I don't know for sure yet.
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tapetech
Repair Professional
You should check the speed after replacing the flywheel belt. You need a test tape and frequency counter to do it correctly. If you don't have those, try matching by ear an old tape to a CD of the same music. This assumes the old tape was recorded at the correct speed (not a safe assumption). It will get you in the ballpark, however. When replacing the flywheel belt, it's best to clean/lube the bearings for the flywheels.
Other belts need no re-adjustments.
Thanks Tapetech. Yeah, wouldn't you know it, the flywheel belt happens to be the most glaring thing wrong with the unit upon opening it up. That figures.
The matching by ear thing is probably not the way to go because I don't have a matching cassette to a CD. I do not have the tools required for adjustment anyway. That is to say I have screwdrivers and such, even precision ones, but no way to really measure any adjustments while making them.
What I'm thinking is if I can find a belt kit and you or someone can walk me through a belt job and tell me the best thing and method to use to clean and lube the bearings, then if the shop I know about (the only one in So Cal that works on such things) has the tools to properly check the speed and make the adjustments, then I can just have them do that part afterwards and save a lot of money.
If they do not have the tools for that, then I will have to give up the Nak as it will not be fixable to the point of being used unless the speed is correct.
Just for kicks if the shop does have the necessary tools and if I can't get belts then I will also get a quote for the whole job. If it's too much I"ll just dump it and move on. (Dump it meaning finding another home for it, not trashing it or e-wasting it..never).
Do you happen to know any reputable places I can order a belt kit from?
The matching by ear thing is probably not the way to go because I don't have a matching cassette to a CD. I do not have the tools required for adjustment anyway. That is to say I have screwdrivers and such, even precision ones, but no way to really measure any adjustments while making them.
What I'm thinking is if I can find a belt kit and you or someone can walk me through a belt job and tell me the best thing and method to use to clean and lube the bearings, then if the shop I know about (the only one in So Cal that works on such things) has the tools to properly check the speed and make the adjustments, then I can just have them do that part afterwards and save a lot of money.
If they do not have the tools for that, then I will have to give up the Nak as it will not be fixable to the point of being used unless the speed is correct.
Just for kicks if the shop does have the necessary tools and if I can't get belts then I will also get a quote for the whole job. If it's too much I"ll just dump it and move on. (Dump it meaning finding another home for it, not trashing it or e-wasting it..never).
Do you happen to know any reputable places I can order a belt kit from?
Jonny Ramone
Super Member
You can get belts from Studio Sound, Ken's electronics, and Vintage electronics(I think). You'll have to measure the old ones, though(They explain how). Studio sound has a generic kit with 11 assorted belts for a good price.
NAK belts
http://www.eslabs.com/index.htm
http://www.eslabs.com/index.htm
Thanks Jonny. I'll check out Studio Sound and Ken's. Vintage Electronics is scary as they have no contact info outside of a general email so I don't trust them. I prefer to have full contact info email, address and phone just in case.
Thanks, I'll contact them. Obviously I can't send them my deck to work on, but I'll get prices for the belts.
tapetech
Repair Professional
Capstan/flywheel belts need to be made specifically for low wow & flutter. Only Marrs on eBay claims to have these belts:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Nakamichi-580M-...tronics_R2&hash=item41538e2560#ht_9420wt_1562
ESLabs may have original NAK capstan belts, but they are very rare and ES will not sell them (they are used for repairs)
All the other belt companies sell capstan belts that definitely will cause your deck to have much more W/F than spec, so be forewarned if using those.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/Nakamichi-580M-...tronics_R2&hash=item41538e2560#ht_9420wt_1562
ESLabs may have original NAK capstan belts, but they are very rare and ES will not sell them (they are used for repairs)
All the other belt companies sell capstan belts that definitely will cause your deck to have much more W/F than spec, so be forewarned if using those.
\
Wow, thanks for the heads up Tapetech. I'll contact Marrs to see if there is a way to get those. Yes, I'd rather spend $30 once and get it right instead of twice.
Thanks again.:thmbsp:
jazzgene
Active Member
Fred at Marrs is fine but I did have issues with his ZX-9 belts. He sent me another D type and it still had problems. Only the original Nak belt made the deck play properly.
582 is a good deck. I'd go with ESL so you know you'll get it back perfect the 1st time around. Bargains are fun but not when you get back a deck that is not even close to factory spec.
perryinva
IS it vintage????
582 takes a standard 8096D2 from Marrs, totally different than a ZX-9 belt. On 20 decks I've put that belt on, only one had measureably better W&F with the OE belt. It equaled or beat the (albeit used) OE belt and more importantly the decks went to spec or better, and the DIN variance was pretty low. I thought Willy Hermann was in SoCal? For something simple like a belt & tune on a 582, he shouldn't be high at all, I'd think well under $200 total, including the idler tire. ESl wants $95 for the belt, if they'll sell them, and $120 for the OE idler tire. Plus shipping.
If ESL was within driving distance I'd go with them in a second. However, they are somewhere in CT and I'm in southern CA. Shipping alone would be well over $100 plus I don't have the materials or know how to pack it properly (especially if it goes UPS knowing how they handle packages).
Who's Willy Hermann?
ESL won't sell the belts but they do have a special on an idler tire kit for the DIY'r. I'm not sure I need the tire though.
perryinva
IS it vintage????
Trust me, if it hasn't been replaced, you need a new tire. Willy or I can do one on most classic transport in less than 1/2 hour. A new idler makes a huge difference. ESLs DIY kit is for Sankyo based transports, the later Nak decks. The 582 tire is not a typical DIY like on a BX or CR deck. On the plus side, they only need a tire every 20 years or so..
Willy Hermann Services
7 Beaconsfield Ct.
Orinda, CA 94563.
Phone: 925-376-2146
No affiliation..he has a website.
Willy Hermann Services
7 Beaconsfield Ct.
Orinda, CA 94563.
Phone: 925-376-2146
No affiliation..he has a website.
I have never heard of Orinda, CA. From the number that looks way north.. more than a day's drive even.
I have a strong feeling that I will not be able to do the work on this unit myself. I can not ship it.
There is a shop that works on vintage gear about 25 miles from me in Mission Viejo. (They are the only game in town). I don't know the quality of the work, but they have been at it since 1974 and are quite reasonable. I'm going to contact them and see if they can do it. If not, then it's a paper-weight and hopfully my first and only bad purchase.
jazzgene
Active Member
Yes, UPS is scary. Over the holidays, 2 packages lost and countless delays...
missing_eric
Active Member
YAY! I found out that the place 25 miles from me does work on Naks and more importantly does the calibration on them!! I know now that I can not replace the idler tire myself on my Nak 582 and certainly can't calibrate it.
I don't know if the place has Nak belts or not, so I may order the belts from that Marrs guy and either do the belts myself if you guys think it can be done by a complete novice and then take it in for the idle tire and calibration or just take it in for the whole thing if I can't do the belts.
The additional upside is the place is very reasonably priced and warranties their work. (Diagnoses is dirt cheap).
I don't know if the place has Nak belts or not, so I may order the belts from that Marrs guy and either do the belts myself if you guys think it can be done by a complete novice and then take it in for the idle tire and calibration or just take it in for the whole thing if I can't do the belts.
The additional upside is the place is very reasonably priced and warranties their work. (Diagnoses is dirt cheap).
perryinva
IS it vintage????
Don't bother replacing the belts yourself. They have to all come off in order to do the idler tire, anyway. Ask if they use the Marrs capstan belt. If not, then supply them. Other cheaper generic capstan belts WILL work, but nowhere near as well, and I've done a ton of them, and it is a huge difference.