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Teac 5500 - Speed Control

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dcs11173

New Member
I just received a Teac 5500 and am looking for some info.
Upon powering on the Capstan motor runs at full speed. As if there is no feedback from the servo lock. After playing for a while the Take up and supply motors start to become weaker as well. FF/Rew get slower and less torque.
Considering the combination, I am starting to believe this may be a power supply problem not really a motor problem.
Any info or past experiences would be greatly appreciated.

By the way. After looking at other posts I am a bit confused. This is a unit with AC reel motors not the little DC motors that commonly fail. I does not appear to have been tampered with either, but I cannot verify that. Did this unit have 2 versions. This does not have an A on it either, just 5500.
 
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Sounds like there are some bad motor run caps. I've never been in one of those, so I don't know what problem the capstan motor might be having. That machine is very closely related to the A-4070, and just in general, it's very similar to an A series machine. So yes, of course AC reel motors. The X series are the ones with the problematic reel motors. They came much much later than this machine.
 
The caps are definitely my first suspect as far as loosing torque.
This is real close to the 4070 except it is direct capstan drive...no belt
The x- series use a motor that is great compared to what the other version of this unit had used. They were small and belt driven, not like any other teac out there. Luckily mine is built like the original A series. (a Tank)
To tapetech. There is no A on it, but for all intended purposes it is an A - Series.
There are a few posts relating to this unit on here as well as a cool youtube vid about how to change the reel belts. There was even a mod kit available to convert it to ac motors.
 
My service manual says A-5500 so it must say that somewhere on the deck. There is no listing anywhere on the web for a Teac 5500. No such thing.

I suspect your decks has been converted to AC reel motor either by Teac or by a shop.

The plug connector for the capstan motor is also known to go bad and cause speed problems. Also the relay on the board. If not those, then replace electrolytic caps. Also check solder joints and power transistors and power resistors.

Slow fast wind could be bad tape or a brake problem. Are you 100% sure it's not SSS tape? If not, then test the AC reel motor run caps.
 
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Did you lube the motors? It probably won't cure it, but it should be done. NOT the direct drive capstan.Sewing machine oil.
 
Thanks for the good info. I will be getting back on this this weekend.
Never thought about the relays since it was changing functions properly.
Still havent found an "a" on it haha. But I have now seen quite a few of these on the web that do. If you youtube the a-5500 it looks just like mine, just no "a" on the silkscreen.
And yes I did oil the motors and grease some other pivot points on this before I realized it had issues.
 
Check dc voltages at the power supply as well as in the Servo Section for Capstan Drive. Loss of speed control may be a bad switch or component(s) in the servo section.
You'll need to be patient here and measure voltages against the manual or schematic, if listed.
The reel motors run on ac voltage. Yes the motor cap(s) are suspect when the reels slow.

The 5300/5500 was one of the first Teac decks to use ICs. You really need the manual & schematic here.
 
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