Pioneer CT-f2121 - easy to repair?

[HiFiLoFi Raf]

Hi all,

I’ve wanted to buy a Pioneer CT-F2121 for awhile now. Saw one with the wood cabinet for sale for $200. It’s in great cosmetic shape and works, but the rewind is broken. Wondering how hard these units are to repair, and whether that price is too high. Prices for these 70s tape decks have been rising lately. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Most cassette decks are not easy to do mechanical repair/overhaul on. The older, simpler mechanisms are better in this regard. Heads, motors and motor bearings, idler wheels and pinch rollers are key to best function. Most cassette decks are belt driven. Hunt down the service manual, it can be useful.

 

[tapetech]

Price is too high for a 45 year old, broken tape deck. $50 more like it. It may need a lot of work: the 5 belts and 4 tires may all need replacement. And the head may be worn (no replacements for that). All pots and switches likely flaky.

 

[TeslaKnew]

Just finished restoring my father's old CT-F2121. I would call this 'intermediate' level to repair. Good news is that the service manual and parts are all available. Sounds and looks fantastic. Happy to share any details re: my experience on it.

 

[titanstats]

Hi all,

I’ve wanted to buy a Pioneer CT-F2121 for awhile now. Saw one with the wood cabinet for sale for $200. It’s in great cosmetic shape and works, but the rewind is broken. Wondering how hard these units are to repair, and whether that price is too high. Prices for these 70s tape decks have been rising lately. Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

That's a high price for a basic deck, I'd pass even if working correctly. Cassette decks are almost universally a bitch to work on; space is tight, and many parts are plastic that is now almost 50 years old and might break if you sneeze at them. I'd work on a deck I really wanted still, but it would have to be way further up the food chain to spend the effort and time on, like a 9191 or 1000, etc. Just my opinion, but I think you'll have a much better time if you lurk and wait for a better vintage unit to come your way.

Haha, I just replied to a year old comment thread.

 

[62vauxhall]

Only a year? Then it’s still fresh as a daisy.

I found a CT-F2121 at the curb last winter. Along with a receiver and speakers. Wasn’t going to bother with the deck but took it anyway.

Transport functions were weak or nonexistent so I ordered a belt/idler tire kit. Not the simplest chore of its kind that I’ve done. Fortunately the kit I ordered came with several pages of install instructions. Not super concise but mostly understandable.

After new rubber, FF & REW worked but if PLAY were fully depressed, the tape stopped. If partially depressed, it would play but speed was too fast.

Discovered then the motor’s speed adjustment pot was out of whack. Speed would rise and fall irregularly when turned clockwise and likewise when turned counter clockwise.

Found a NOS motor on eBay for $12 so got one. Installed it and found no power going to the motor. Suspected the leaf switch but still no power after cleaning it.

Then discovered I’d blown a fuse somehow. The deck has two 500 MA fuses and two 800 MA fuses. Can’t recall which was blown but I had neither. Figured I’d wait till I drive 700km to a big city where I knew of a parts store.

I’m in that city now but the only day I could hit that parts store was last Saturday which I did. But since I’d last been there, they now don’t open on Saturdays.

So I ordered ten of each value from Digikey. Landed cost will be $27 CAD.

I drive home tomorrow and perhaps the fuses will have arrived before me. Then I will learn if my work was in vain or not. I’m optimistic that the motor spins but unsure if play will occur when that key is fully depressed.

Guess I’ll know soon enough. Might be starting a thread about that if it doesn’t.

I want this thing off my way too small work table.