Nakamichi RX-202: does not rewind

[Raccoon1400]

It tries to rewind, but it can't. It does move a bit, but then it stops. Fast forward works, but I think there are issues here too. Deck seems to play fine. Anyone know this deck? I can barely see how the mechanism works.

 

[bobaloniny]

Dont know the deck on a personal basis but I do know the symptoms, you need to get some new belts I think. Also count on cleaning and inspecting whatever rubber rollers there are and a relube of moving parts, no sense in ripping it apart to do the belts and not do the other maintenence.

 

[tapetech]

Do this. Or have it done by a NAK repair specialist.

http://www.eslabs.com/idler.htm

 

[Raccoon1400]

It looks like the idler tire, not a belt. I only see one belt. Looks like vintage-electronics has the belt and idler tire.

 

[tapetech]

It looks like the idler tire, not a belt. I only see one belt. Looks like vintage-electronics has the belt and idler tire.

Correct, your defect is caused by a bad idler tire (not a bad belt). You should replace the belts while you're in there (capstan belt, counter belt and belt that drives the tape-flipping device). You also should service all the motors (cam motor, reel motor, capstan motor, tape-flip motor.) Its' a lot of work in that model and you should consider having a NAK expert do it.

 

[pcb121055]

I have an RX-202 with the exact same symptoms. The directions given seemed easy enough but then i read that the RX-202 would require much more skill Still should try it. Miss being able to use it.

 

[eagleeyedjoe]

Just dont my rx-202e new idler tire and lamp for the door, bit daunting but if you have a clean worktop and no noisy kids or anumals about you be fine.

 

[pcb121055]

thanks lrdrage. i'm slowly but surely edging toward the project. did you get your parts from eslabs?

 

[Raccoon1400]

My belts got here a few days ago, I will be attempting this soon.

 

[Raccoon1400]

Mission a success!

Just finished replacing the belts.
A couple things to note for people who want to attempt this:

The idler tire was the hardest part to get at, I could not even see it until it was apart. The tire is on an arm which attaches to the motor spindle. It looks like it would not be hard to snap this off, so be careful. I managed to get it on my stretching it over a pair of tweezers.
In the last picture, you see a potentiometer. This is part of the servo control mechanism that rotates the tape. It tells the electronics what position the tape holder is in. If it is not in the exact right spot, when you eject the tape, it will not be parallel with the face of the machine, and it will not play both sides. If you do not get it exact, you can take out the screws holding the plate in place, and lift it just enough to disengage the gear attached to the pot, then you can rotate the drawer to the right position. It took me a couple tries to get that right.

Anyone know the specs for the lamp?
EDIT: lamp is 12V, 70mA. From service manual.

 

[tapetech]

You should test the idler before putting it all back together. While in play, grab the take-up reel. The reel motor pulley should come to a complete stop instantly. (ignore that the auto-stop kicks in after 2 seconds). If it still spins, then you have some slippage of the idler.

 

[Raccoon1400]

It is still acting weird. Sometimes it doesn't like to play side B. It reverses, and then ejects it again. But if I reverse it, then shut if off, then turn it on when it has side B loaded, it will play.

 

[tapetech]

You need to follow the alignment procedure for the tape-flipping mech as described in the manual.

 

[ssmith3046]

I have a RX-202 that doesn't get much use since I bought a Dragon but mine had the same problem. $158.00 for parts and labor that included new belts and an idler tire plus clean and lube. I sure didn't have skill to fix it. The 202 is a great sounding two head deck.

 

[Raccoon1400]

Working on this adjustment, and it seems to be improving, though this is tricky and looks like it will take a while to get it right.

One thing I would like to clarify: It says to adjust VR501 to the position where the cassette case is about to start rotation, but it doesn't say exactly where
that should be.

 

[perryinva]

When the cassette case is parrallel to the front, you adjust VR501 until it starts to turn just a bit, then back it off so it STAYS parallel. On many decks it gets out of whack and is already starting to turn while fully extended.

 

[Raccoon1400]

I think I got it. Was very tedious, and took me longer than changing the belts.

Also, the kit had three belts, plus the idler wheel. I have an extra belt, identical to the one used for the flipping mechanism. I replaced the capstan belt, the idler wheel and the belt for the flipping mechanism. Did I miss one, or did they give me a spare?

 

[Raccoon1400]

I sold this one and the buyer is having an issue. He says the noise floor is very high only while recording, you can see it on the meters. He says he has cleaned the heads.

Any ideas? I don't remember any issues, and I did test record.

 

[tapetech]

Might be a defective head relay. Polishing the contacts will fix it.

If the buyer is recording LPs, then it could be excess rumble. Have him record CDs.

 

[Raccoon1400]

Deck is in my possession now. Even with no input, there is a scratching noise being recorded onto the tape. Not constant, intermittent in both channels. Cleaning the heads didn't help. Could it be the head relay? Where do I find the relay?