Marantz 5030b Restoration

[MarantzRefrb]

This 5030b hasn't been used in over 30 years, need to recap and put new belts and possibly idler tire on. Has the optional WC-121 walnut cabinet.

I barely even touched the large belt and it left a black stain on my finger, and felt like it was going to disintegrate.

Where is the best place to buy belts and tire for this? Thanks!

 

[Steven Tate]

I rebuilt a 5025B, which is very similar. I got a belt and pinch roller kit on eBay from a Germany seller. Took a while to get here, but worked and fit great. I found that long silver switch marked S901 on your board to be a source of many intermittent problems. It switches the electronics all around with different levers of the transport mechanism. Be sure and give it a good Deoxit cleaning, and work it a lot of times with the transport levers. Of course, also Deoxit the pots and switches on front of the unit. But S901 is the epicenter of everything electrical. Good luck!

 

[Steven Tate]

I found the pinch roller tire here. They probably have belts too.

https://westcoastbelts.com/product/new-replacement-idler-tire-for-marantz-5030b-cassette-player/

 

[MarantzRefrb]

Thanks! I'm glad I saved this component until last to restore, the difficulty degree has significantly increased.

I see those rods and actuating mechanisms you're talking about! I used to fix copy and fax machines in the late 90's - out of school, this all brings back a lot of memories.

I found a German seller that has the reiman belts but doesn't deliver to US.

 

[MarantzRefrb]

I found the pinch roller tire here. They probably have belts too.

https://westcoastbelts.com/product/new-replacement-idler-tire-for-marantz-5030b-cassette-player/

I was concerned by his feedback rating on Ebay, https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/feedback_...age:RECEIVED_AS_SELLER&_trksid=p2047675.l2560
-but that might be the only choice. There are a couple out of Portugal too. Thanks!

EDIT: Found a decent place for the belts maybe -
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Marantz-5030B-Belt-Kit-For-Cassette-Deck-/333413792586

Westcoast Belts on Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Replacement-Idler-Tire-for-Marantz-5030B-Cassette-Player/133236760202

 

[jd3rdcoast]

I found that long silver switch marked S901 on your board to be a source of many intermittent problems. It switches the electronics all around with different levers of the transport mechanism. Be sure and give it a good Deoxit cleaning, and work it a lot of times with the transport levers.

I had same problem back when I got mine. Wound up having to hit that switch more than once. Flooded it the 2nd go round and seems to have held up for a few years now. I wrapped strips of paper towels around it to catch the runoff.

 

[MarantzRefrb]

Just found a place that sells the tape and tt belts with a lifetime warranty:
http://www.vintage-electronics.net/

Too bad I already ordered from: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Marantz-5030B-Belt-Kit-For-Cassette-Deck-/333413792586

Bought the Westcoast Belts idler tire, will report back when it all gets here.

 

[MarantzRefrb]

Got the three belts in, and one idler tire. Time to get started.

Face off:

Main belt removal - wear gloves!:

Denatured alcohol on a paper towel, spin flywheel, rub off belt goop, repeat:

Both belts in the drive train turned to stiff grease/oil, such a mess getting the old belts out:

Two out of three belt surfaces clean:

The kits:

Tape assembly out and flywheel belt going on:

Did not have to change the counter belt, or the idler tire - it works great! Correct speed, and all functions working.

 

[Steven Tate]

Awesome!

 

[rBuckner]

Good work. I have a 50xx that needs this all done. Got it years ago along with a 2325 on eBay. Maybe when I hit 120 I'll get to it!

 

[MarantzRefrb]

The belt replacement wouldn't have been too bad, or difficult, without all that mess. I got really lucky that the counter belt wasn't destroyed like the other two belts; getting the counter belt off would've required a lot more disassembly and taken far more time overall.

Found this old demagnitizer, will give it a test and see if it still works.

EDIT: I did end up cancelling my Ebay order for the three belts, and went with the lifetime warranty belts from:
http://www.vintage-electronics.net/

 

[MarantzRefrb]

The walnut veneer strips on the top of this WC-121 cabinet are broken and missing:

The width of the strips is 3/4":

In order to fix this, I'm looking at walnut strips:
https://www.amazon.com/Preglued-Edg...-Adhesive/dp/B01B0YX4LG/ref=asc_df_B01B0YX4LG

Has anyone else had to replace those, or have a better product for this? If no, I'll order this and give it a shot.

 

[Steven Tate]

If the rest of the cabinet is in good shape, that’s probably a good way to repair those edges.

 

[MarantzRefrb]

Thanks! Ordered these, will report back. Can't imagine they will match well, but anything is better than how it looks now.

 

[Steven Tate]

You can probably stain them if they are a little off.

 

[MarantzRefrb]

Got the walnut veneer earlier today:

Left side:

Right:

Used a hobby iron to heat the old strips and they peeled right off:

Rough cut the new strips:

Shape the strips, and tape them on for the moment:

The ends were difficult:

Need to stain these somehow to match, before ironing them on. The current color is a reddish gold, not sure how to get there just yet.

 

[Steven Tate]

Looks great! You might have to mix a couple of colors of stain to get what you want. Experiment on your scraps until you get the color you want.