• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Harman Kardon CD491

V

vegas79

Active Member
I was given this HK tape deck since the owner was "cleaning house".

It looks rather impressive but unfortunately, when I turn it on, all i get is a green wait light that slowly fades away and then nothing happens. None of the tape transport buttons work. The tape well light stays lit but that's it.

I opened her up and the two fuses seem fine. I'm kinda lost at this point.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
 
Register to hide this ad
Make sure ALL the belts are working , sometimes the unit will need to cycle through for a start up .


Barney
 
I'm interested in a response to this issus as well. I just picked up a cd491 for 30 bucks on C.L. from a guy who or course "did not have any cassette tapes for a demo" and i was so excited about the prospect of having the deck for 30bucks that i didn't care.........

Anyhow, it turns out the deck plays great, but will not fast forward or rewind (it will rw and ff with no cassette in the well but won't with a cassette) so i'm assuming that is a belt issue??

My cd491 will come out of the "wait" mode, but sometime takes up to 30 seconds, expecially when it is "cold". My question is, does anyone know if the "wait" light on the cd491 is for the power supply board to "power up" (like my Marantz 2270 powering up before the speaker relay will click on) or is it for the transport to cycle through and get the flywheel etc. up to speed??

In other words, is my decks failure to cycle out of "wait" mode promptly an electrical issue such as caps on the power supply board, or a mechanical issue such as worn belts?

Thanks for your words of wisdom.

-mark
 
Last edited:
The description sounds like a broken power-switch. I'm guessing that the lights probably remain-on for as long as the switch is depressed.
 
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but it sounds like I have a similar issue to the original poster, albeit mine sounding less severe.

My deck plays fine and sounds great once it cycles out of the "wait" mode. It just takes more time than it seems it should to do so. I will clean the power switch and see if it has any effect.

thanks,

-mark
 
I finally had a chance to come back and check the thread.

I'm not familiar with what this deck is supposed to do once it comes out of the wait cycle. Mwelna, does anything else happen while the deck is in wait mode?

I havent dug too far into this deck since I don't have a service manual yet. I will pop the cover off tonight after the baby goes to bed and have a look around. Oerets, I hope the fix is simple as your suggestion (crossing my fingers).

Thanks for the suggestions! Please keep them coming. I'll report back with my findings.

-Mike
 
Wait mode

Hi,
On my 491, after wait mode the reels turn back and forth momentarily to tension the tape in the cassette. I think there's an optical sensor that looks for reel motion at that point--you might want to check that out for breakage/obscuring stuff.

Jerry
 
CD491 Issues. can anyone help

i just have a question. I have a CD491 tape deck that i got off ebay its a wonderful unit.. except i cannot record... one channel is distorted and the other is fine... i know it might need belts too as for the rewind sometimes does not work... I want to start recording stuff on it as it has the HX pro dolby..

i have looked aimlessly online and cannot find anyone who repairs these...
Does anyone know? i have a feeling i might be at a dead end because its vintage.. but i really want to get it up and going

Christopher
 
Paradigm2009 said:
i just have a question. I have a CD491 tape deck that i got off ebay its a wonderful unit.. except i cannot record... one channel is distorted and the other is fine...
Click to expand...

I had the same problem on my 491, deox the tape/monitor switch. I flogged mine since IMO, play back of other tapes was usually flat, and the record level between tape and source didn't match, like 2-5 db off, and that meter weighting switch.....:scratch2: well I never used it.
 
2fives said:
I had the same problem on my 491, deox the tape/monitor switch. I flogged mine since IMO, play back of other tapes was usually flat, and the record level between tape and source didn't match, like 2-5 db off, and that meter weighting switch.....:scratch2: well I never used it.
Click to expand...

i will try that deox thing.. i will have to get some of it and see what it does. i really like the deck it does have really nice sound... ill let you know how that goes
 
Update on the CD491

I just found a local audio repair shop where the guy fixes nothing but car audio and vintage stereo equipment. He looked at my CD491 and repaired it.
He said the belts needed replaced, the Idler assembly he fixed.. every solder joint was cold he fixed that too. also all the switches/buttons were oxodized he cleaned them too.
The repair bill was $170.00 i am makiing payments and hope to get it back soon. I will post to how it sounds when i get it back. I plan on doing some recording and purchasing some tapes when i get it back.
Thanks for the help guys and i will let you know how it sounds when i get it back
:banana:
 
CD491 Repair

I got the tape deck back just now. it sounds MUCH better, ff and rew work without a hitch.. :banana: i will have to get ahold of some Cr02 tapes to test recording... thats what the guy recommended using..
Im glad i was able to give the tape deck new life.. I sure wasnt going to give up on it just yet :)
 
The higher end Harmon Kardon decks (like these) used Nakamichi transports. That transport has a tape pretension regimen. If the tape will not pretension correctly, the machine will not play. Belts fool the machine into thinking there is a tape problem.

These are real fine decks. Well into the top 10% of decks sold in the USA. IF I had one, it would get whatever it needed to keep it running right. These are not trivial machines.

I envy you'all. Been looking for a high end H-K for years. One will turn up at a yard sale some day. Meanwhile, my Denons do just fine. But you'all have some real nice stuff there :)
 
vegas79 said:
I was given this HK tape deck since the owner was "cleaning house".

It looks rather impressive but unfortunately, when I turn it on, all i get is a green wait light that slowly fades away and then nothing happens. None of the tape transport buttons work. The tape well light stays lit but that's it.

I opened her up and the two fuses seem fine. I'm kinda lost at this point.

Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
I have two of these with the same issue. When power switch is turned on, the "wait" light comes on and fades to black within a couple of seconds and then No power at all.
 
taineasy said:
I have two of these with the same issue. When power switch is turned on, the "wait" light comes on and fades to black within a couple of seconds and then No power at all.
Click to expand...
If the is an issue with cam motor or cam position it will stay ON, all buttons will blink
AFAIR WAIT should stay on as well as well as other light ( Dolby B,C indicators cassette compartment light and so on )

Check voltages of PSU.
 
xchg.ca said:
If the is an issue with cam motor or cam position it will stay ON, all buttons will blink
AFAIR WAIT should stay on as well as well as other light ( Dolby B,C indicators cassette compartment light and so on )

Check voltages of PSU.
Click to expand...
I checked one with a dim bulb tester and the bulb lit up and went out. Assumed PSU was ok but now when I turn it on (without DBT) I have nothing. No "wait" light, nothing. How do I check PSU voltages on this unit?
 
taineasy said:
I checked one with a dim bulb tester and the bulb lit up and went out. Assumed PSU was ok but now when I turn it on (without DBT) I have nothing. No "wait" light, nothing. How do I check PSU voltages on this unit?
Click to expand...
I can just guess, but if there is nothing, then there are bad fuses to check first using multimeter.
If fuses are bad, this mean something shorted in PSU. Then it becomes complicated especially if there is no obvious sighn of damage/corrosion
 
Fuses are good, DBT tells me no short, nothing obvious. Its too bad because previous owner had it completely recapped and the transport rebuilt with new belts, pinch rollers and idler tire.
 
taineasy said:
Fuses are good, DBT tells me no short, nothing obvious. Its too bad because previous owner had it completely recapped and the transport rebuilt with new belts, pinch rollers and idler tire.
Click to expand...
As Paradigm2009 posted, it sounds like the deck has poor connections-reflow solder joints and clean oxidized switches and pots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom