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Melted belts on Nakamichi DR-1 help finding correct belt?

N

nameeman

Member
So far I've heard :
Capstan belt FRSP-9.6" and backtension belt: SCY3.2"
Yet others have said 9.84" is correct which would be longer so less tension on the transport workings. I cannot find any definitive answer on it.
Anyone have these decks that could help and possibly tell a source for ordering a reliable belt set?
eBay is filled with them but don't even state what length they are.
Thanks in advance :)
 
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Good capstan belts are a rare commodity these days. Do you have a good speed tape and a W+F meter or program? Almost any belt of adequate size will get it working and unless it is so bad that you can hear very high W+F, a belt that fits well will get you going and may be good enough. I have used the FRSP9.6 before on the Sankyo dual capstan belt drive transport found in your DR-1 and many other top decks, and it's OK. If you do have a good speed tape and a method to measure, try the belt in all four possible mountings. First try it as installed, measure. Then flip the belt over and measure again (you can do this without disassembling anything, just turn the belt over in one section and roll it around until the whole belt is flipped over). Then remove the belt and turn it around so it is traveling in the opposite direction as from the first time and measure. Then flip the belt over and take your last measurement. It's a lot of work, especially to reverse the belt, but the differences can be dramatic. Or not. You just have to try it. I was skeptical that this would have any effect at all, I mean after all, it's just a fancy rubber band, right? But I have seen some belts that were garbage in three installed ways and when I tried the fourth way, the stars and planets aligned and the W+F fell into line. In that instance, the W+F was HALF the original value! I couldn't believe it.

And the SCY3.2 is what I use for the B/T belt on those transports.
 
Thank you for your reply!

I don't have a speed tape but I usually use a commercially released cassette with a drone note (either E or D) and tune it to an electric keyboard or a digital source of the same recording. I'm a guitar player and have a really good ear. I can get them in phase or as close as possible. It takes me quite a while before I am satisfied. I usually also use music I am very very used to.

For instance Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits has a nice drone note through the whole song. This process takes a LONG time, I use one source (broadcast or audible) and one side of a can type headphone to compare at the same time over and over.

I know this is not ideal but I am fairly compulsive and I might do this for an hour and a half testing. It's hit or miss starting them at the same time but once they phase I can figure out if I am too fast or too slow. I really need to buy a speed tape. I know there are apps for wow and flutter so I will try some of them.

I'm pretty sure this machine doesn't speed adjust from a podometer on the motherboard, I think it is done with a tiny Phillips head into the back of the motor.
I'm going to have to search the service manual again for that.

I will try quad direction turning and flipping of the belt for sure. I would try anything to get the machine working properly. I might order a couple belts of different size to see if that changes anything. If they have a belt 9.84 (9.7) I will try it or close anyway. Of course the back tension belt I don't think anyone has had a problem with.
 
Oh thank you for replying!

I'm new to using these things can you direct me to which one I should get?

I'm assuming at 1 7/8 the 440 guitar tuner one?

I'm not sure how they interact with the software or what software works with which cassette... so any advice please?
 
nameeman said:
I'm not sure how they interact with the software or what software works with which cassette... so any advice please?
Click to expand...

wfgui.
But you need good 3000 or 3150hz test cassette. Gennlab is OK, bet Gennady Liskin is in New Zealand. You may contact Alex Nikitin (A.N.T. Audio) and ask him for his
4) S31A - Speed and W&F Test Tape 3150 Hz -10dB DIN (70us EQ)
5) S30A - Speed and W&F Test Tape 3000 Hz -10dB DIN (70us EQ)
Both speed tapes are OK, simply different standards. Alex is in UK.
 
Ok thank you so much. I have a tape coming. I can use the software with it and I think it will make my life SO much easier. I really appreciate all the help I have received here through the years. You guys are amazing!
 
I see these belts are from Germany.
Are they better than belts that are available here in the US?
The shipping is fair priced on that site even to the US.
They don't tell what size the belts are, like most sites.

Anyways, I guess good quality belts are not normal anymore.
I sent an email to Electronic Supply Corporation with an order but no reply back yet. They are probably back logged.

I saw some clear belts from Ukraine online too.
I don't know if they are any better than anyone else's either.
This is where other people's experiences help.
Obviously consistency is the most important aspect of getting stable results from a deck.
I'm not sure if anyone has tried different manufacturers and have come to any definitive conclusions on which work best.
If not I'm obviously pulling the trigger asap anyways.
I'd like to know who I'm shooting though...lol.
 
Idk what that is suggesting.
I don't watch media news outlets so maybe I'm not aware what this means.
They don't manufacture belts they make them by hand?
I probably misunderstood your statement, if so I'm sorry.
I'm gathering not to trust Ukrainian clear belts.
 
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Someone in another forum said they got good results from these cheap belts that were exactly the right size I was looking for.


250mm or 125mm folded or about 9.84" so I hope they work well. I ordered at 9.6 belt also so I might try them both out.

Also I was noticing my azimuth adjustment knob is a bit loose feeling. Is this normal or should I try tighten a screw on the other side to firm it up?
 

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So the azimuth knob was just loose because a piece of it was broken. I'm assuming someone tried to remove the transport while forgetting to pull the knob off the front or it got mashed and broke.
 
So I replaced the belt and now I'm having the right channel cut out when recording but monitor comes through fine. Adjusting azimuth makes it kick in or just stopping and starting the recording. Anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this problem or what it might be?
 
Seems like broken connection somewhere. Maybe you accidentally pulled one of the leads from the heads during belt change (the one that goes to the record the right channel).
 
So it turns out I installed the beauty plate but I didn't fit the bottom into the two slots on the two metal cassette locators. decoplateset.jpg

Someone in another forum pointed it out because I had a slight cassette movement when the transport engaged.
 
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