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Optonica RT 6405....will do everthing but record

B

Bongo1976

New Member
Folks.....
I have an Optonica RT 6405 Cassette deck which I have owned since 1981.....original owner....recently, it developed a problem where it will reverse, play and FF but, won't record.
I cannot find a schematic for this deck anywhere on line......has anyone else encountered this problem and been able to fix it?? Otherwise, advice and suggestions, thoughts, ideas, are welcome!!!
Thanks Much....Joe in Minneapolis!!!
 
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Pete;

OK...Now, I am feeling stupid.....I never thought of this since it has a "microprocessor".....my brain went to complicated problems...with more complicated solutions, of couse.....not thinking it would be solution...
 
The "microprocessor" on the Sharp/Optonica decks was mainly for the extra features (the search, timer, sleep) - probably just there to use the LCD screen. I always liked these decks.
 
petehall347 said:
does it go into record mode ?
Click to expand...

Pete--so, I powered-up the deck last night just to test it once again and to get more information to work with (and from). So, here's what I found:
-Deck powers-up just fine. All of the lights are working, etc.
-I placed a pre-recorded cassette in it; push the "play" button and it sounded just fantastic.
-I then tested both the Reverse and Fast Forward functions (regular and APSS) and these, again worked just fine.
-I then place a blank tape in the machine; ran through all of these functions again to ensure that the tape wasn't the problem and, again, it worked well.
-I turned off the Play Mode so the deck was idle; pressed the "RECORD" button; it sounded like the "Recording Heads" engaged (that nice little "thump" that it makes when it goes into "RECORD/PAUSE MODE") and then the deck proceeded to make an ugly "grinding noise"--similar to the sound you would hear if the cassette not placed in the deck properly. The tape itself was not moving; none of the other functions would work and I the "STOP" function would not stop this nauseating sound from continuing. I had to turn off the deck completely; let it rest for a few minutes, turn it back on and then this noise would stop. Oddly enough, even after I turned the power off, the cassette door would not open (again, as if the cassette were jammed in the machine or somehow engaged in a function during which one would not try to eject the tape).
-I repeated this process a number of times before I finally surrendered; turned-off the deck and then went to bed for the night.
-By the way, the I have maintained the deck very well over the years; regularly cleaned the heads and tape transport mechanisms; kept the rubber transport wheels intact and in great condition (everything is still original to the deck--the transport wheels have not deteriorated into 'mush', etc.)


So, let me know if this information is helpful and if you think that cleaning the Record Switch would do any good or if you have some other ideas that may be of help.....(This deck sounds too good to give-up on it...plus, like I said, I paid $385.00 for it back in 1981 when I was making $4.00 an hour as a darkroom technician).

Thanks Much--Joe In Minneapolis
 
i would think the switch is fine as it is obviously switching .
it sounds more like a mechanical fault in the transport . i am wondering if it possible to run this deck without a tape .
i guess it will need to have the door open and look for the levers that get pushed when a tape is inserted . one for the tape itself and the other for the record tab . these need holding in to make it operate . only thing is there might be a switch on the door .but i never came across a deck with such a switch .
running without a tape might let you see what is happening better .
 
petehall347 said:
i would think the switch is fine as it is obviously switching .
it sounds more like a mechanical fault in the transport . i am wondering if it possible to run this deck without a tape .
i guess it will need to have the door open and look for the levers that get pushed when a tape is inserted . one for the tape itself and the other for the record tab . these need holding in to make it operate . only thing is there might be a switch on the door .but i never came across a deck with such a switch .
running without a tape might let you see what is happening better .
Click to expand...

Pete--I'll take a look at this tonight when I get home and see what I can find.....I may have to send some JPEG Images which could help you provide me with additional guidance & advice......(if I recall correctly, none of the functions on the deck will operate without a tape being inserted and the door closed....I'll check this evening to ensure that I am totally correct). Thanks for all of your thoughts and advice on this weird problem........

Take Care- Joe in Minneapolis
 
Dwartz said:
The "microprocessor" on the Sharp/Optonica decks was mainly for the extra features (the search, timer, sleep) - probably just there to use the LCD screen. I always liked these decks.
Click to expand...
D--This is a really neat deck--it looks like you worked with the venerable (and now, Defunct) Schaak Electronics. I grew-up with wandering through the Schaak Stores...looking at all of the stuff I could not afford. I remember looking at the REEL-TO-REEL tape decks at the time (TEAC, AKAI) and marveling at how beautifully they were made.
 
petehall347 said:
i would think the switch is fine as it is obviously switching .
it sounds more like a mechanical fault in the transport . i am wondering if it possible to run this deck without a tape .
i guess it will need to have the door open and look for the levers that get pushed when a tape is inserted . one for the tape itself and the other for the record tab . these need holding in to make it operate . only thing is there might be a switch on the door .but i never came across a deck with such a switch .
running without a tape might let you see what is happening better .
Click to expand...
Pete; OK, the deck will not operate if it does not have a tape loaded. I wish I could find a Schematic Diagram or Trouble Shooting Guide online that would not cost me a mint to buy. I have found other schematics on Tape-Heads and some other forums but, the OPTONICA selections are very limited....usually just owner's manuals which, of course, were consigned to the dust bin some years ago.
So, let me know if you have any other thoughts or ideas. I am thinking that I may need to open it up, clean it out and check it from there.

Thanks Much--JOE in Minneapolis
 
look where the tape runs there should be a lever that detects the cassette .it needs pressing in first and holding in .
there is also a lever on opposite side for record .
both levers might be on record side though .
 
petehall347 said:
look where the tape runs there should be a lever that detects the cassette .it needs pressing in first and holding in .
there is also a lever on opposite side for record .
both levers might be on record side though .
Click to expand...
OK....I'll take another look tonight when I get home from work......so, it may be that one of these levers is not engaged properly when the cassette is loaded and this causes the ugly, ungodly sound that emanates from the deck when I try to record......this could be very interesting. I'll see if I can post some JPEG images later tonight.

Thanks Much!!!!!--JOE in Minneapolis
 
petehall347 said:
no the levers wont be doing it . its they need to be pressed to get it running without a cassette loaded .
Click to expand...
Pete;

OK, I looked at the deck last night; one lever to the far left has some function to hold the cassette in place--as there is a similar lever on the other side of the deck. There is another switch-like protrusion that is activated when the cassette is loaded and it turns on all of the controls. So, I pressed on this protrusion/switch and I can operate all of the functions on the deck without a cassette in-place (which is what I think you had recommended before). I then watched to see which part got activated when I pressed a specific function key. All of the functions work--Play, APSS (Forward and Reverse); Forward and Reverse (standard) and play. When I hit the "record" key, the deck makes the same "thud" that it always has--no other heads are engaged but, there is a small lever-like devise in the lower right hand corner off to the side which raises (with the "Thud") and then retreats immediately. I don't know if this little lever-like devise is misaligned or if it is supposed to have some impact on the position of the cassette or the heads as it doesn't appear to be affecting any of the other mechanisms. The deck has two heads (one of which I assume, control the "playing" function and the other "recording"--they do not move separately (the primary head is in the center of the cassette--which I assume controls the "play" function; the other, smaller black head is slightly narrower; it's located to the left of the central head (I assume is the recording head) and is not anywhere near the lever-like device on the right.....it does not appear that anything is missing or jiggling around inside (I haven't opened it up as of yet so, I may find something when I do that).
Anyway, as always, your thoughts and ideas--suggestions & advice are always appreciated.
Still Dazed and Confused in Minneapolis:yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes::yikes:
 
Pete-- I have managed to locate a Service Manual and Schematic Diagram for the OPTONICA RT-6405 (paid $8.99 for it) and I should be receiving it shortly. I am going to wait until I get the Service Manual, etc. before I take a screw driver to the deck......if you'd like a copy of this manual, I will be more than happy to provide you with a PDF file for the massive price of $0.00. I'll let you know when it arrives......
:beerchug::beatnik::beerchug::beatnik::beerchug::beatnik::banana::banana::banana::banana::beatnik:-----JOE in Minneapolis--
 
This very well may be what others were talking about earlier, but...

I never owned a pre-recorded cassette so this may be a dumb question, but isn't there a little finger that slips into the top of a tape to see if it's ok to record over? Pre-recorded tapes would have the slot covered, and iirc you could put scotch tape over the little hole on your homemade tapes so that it couldn't be recorded onto? Maybe that sensor is stuck up so it doesn't drop and let the record function engage...?
 
if the pin was stuck up it would be ready to record regardless of tape having tab in place . it wont affect the record function ..
something is amiss in the mechanical parts . could be a spring or broken part . or something like that .
 
petehall347 said:
if the pin was stuck up it would be ready to record regardless of tape having tab in place . it wont affect the record function ..
something is amiss in the mechanical parts . could be a spring or broken part . or something like that .
Click to expand...

Ah, so I have it backwards. If the hole is open, the tape won't record?
 
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