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TEAC A-7030 Alignment Problems

E

Ed Lapple

New Member
I have a TEAC A-7030 ad I’m trying to setup the Playback and Record electronics. I have a service manual but it is for the A-7030 GSL. Apparently the boards don’t match between the two machines. I cannot find VR 105-205 or VR 109-209 VR 108-208, therefore I can’t do the alignment. I have an MRL test tape, Signal Generator and VTVM. I have not touched the physical head alignment. What I need is the numbers of the correct pots to turn and a 7030 manual would be great as well. Also which heads do you do the alignment for? Half track or Quarter track? Thanks.
 
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If the link posted by Numone doesn't work for you when you click on it, copy the link and paste it into a new tab on your browser and see if that will allow you to open and view the file.
 
Thanks for the comments, I could not get the link to work, even inside of HiFi Engine however, when searching their library I did find an abbreviated service manual with schematics, parts lists and component locations. This is good because the schematic seems to match the board that I have. The A-7030 GSL schematic does not match my board, the first tip off being that it shows a bunch of ICs which mine doesn't have. This one defines what the pots do but doesn't have the alignment procedure, I plan to do as follows:
1. Set output levels to .775 volts with output controls at nominal 2 o'clock...VR-104
2. Set meters to 0 vu with playback meter adjust...VR-103
3. Apply 1Khz .775 v sine wave to inputs and adjust input levels to .775 output, monitoring source
4. Place the unit in Record and monitor tape, then adjust record drive for 0 vu...VR-105
5. In Source mode set Record Meter adjust for 0 vu...VR-106
Does that sound correct for the basic set up? Also I plan to use the 2-track head for playback. Is that correct or should I use the quarter track head?
Thanks
Ed
 
Yeah, you need to sign-up to HIFIE to download anything. Open an account and use the link I gave you. As I said, I’m sure the 7010 schematics will be the same. I’ve no idea if that would work as a “basic setup” as each deck is setup differently. Please do not mess about with the electronics, especially as you do not have the service manual albeit, none of the TEAC manuals I’ve seen has an alignment “procedure” as such. I’ve got some questions.
  1. Are the paint blobs on the head adjustment screws still intact? If so, they have not been tampered-with since it was built. Whilst there are anecdotes of these being out of whack form the factory, I find it very unlikely it would be, so what I would suggest - again - is do not touch the head alignment.
  2. What makes you think the electronics are out of alignment?
  3. Can you post sharp close-up pics of the heads? They could be worn so need to be lapped, if possible, or just have stubborn crud on them which is ruining rec/PB, as was the case with our A3300-10.
 
Numone said:
Yeah, you need to sign-up to HIFIE to download anything. Open an account and use the link I gave you. As I said, I’m sure the 7010 schematics will be the same. I’ve no idea if that would work as a “basic setup” as each deck is setup differently. Please do not mess about with the electronics, especially as you do not have the service manual albeit, none of the TEAC manuals I’ve seen has an alignment “procedure” as such. I’ve got some questions.
  1. Are the paint blobs on the head adjustment screws still intact? If so, they have not been tampered-with since it was built. Whilst there are anecdotes of these being out of whack form the factory, I find it very unlikely it would be, so what I would suggest - again - is do not touch the head alignment.
  2. What makes you think the electronics are out of alignment?
  3. Can you post sharp close-up pics of the heads? They could be worn so need to be lapped, if possible, or just have stubborn crud on them which is ruining rec/PB, as was the case with our A3300-10.
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking the time to try and help me with this. I have been a member of Hi-Fi Engine for many years so I only had to log in to find the information and that was enough to finish the alignment. I don’t agree that, “each deck is setup differently,” in my experience almost every analog deck is set up the same, just the controls are in a different location. Basically you adjust playback to a standard reference tape, adjust VUs for zero, (unless going +3 or +6,) provide standard level test tone to the inputs, adjust record drive for 0 VU and set record metering. That ignores EQ, Bias and checking the noise floor. Also virtually all TEAC service manuals have the alignment procedure; TEAC A-7010 GSL pages 7-2 to 7-10; TEAC A-3340 pages 7-1 to 7-9; TEAC A-4010S pages 22-32, they really wouldn’t be service manuals without that information.

In regards to the paint blobs they are factory, so were left untouched. I felt called to the alignment requirement when I measured the output voltage, after adjusting both VUs to 0 on the test tape, and measuring the right channel outputting 1.7 volts and the left channel outputting .63 volts. I’ll pass on taking a shot of the heads and uploading it because now I have another problem and hopefully someone here will have an answer or at least a path to wander down.

After tweaking the machine, it was within specs and I took photos to list it on the Bay, I had 10.5” reels loaded and I put it into rewind; I heard a wobble from the take up side and I put my hand by there just in time to catch the take up reel when it flew off. I looked at the machine and the spindle had broken off from the reel table. I have never seen that before. I looked around the web and I could not locate a replacement for this 50 year old part. So I’m thinking that I’ll need to purchase a parts machine to get one. But, it occurred to me that I could change both reel tables to something more modern such as from a 3340. (I have one that I could cannibalize.) Does anyone know if that could work? Has anybody tried that?
 
Apologies, I now understand what you mean by “procedure” (I’m an idiot!) :rolleyes: Pleased you were able to sort it.
Before I took possession of our A7030GSL, the seller knocked the deck over, braking off the spindle on the take up side. I was still happy to go ahead with the purchase, given the amazing condition of the deck. However, I had a major issue finding the correct table. It has a completely different mount to, say an A3300 or a A3340, both which I was assured would fit and bought (stupidly). Fortunately, in the case of the A3300-10, the rest of the deck came with it and it turned out to work really well. Eventually I found the correct table from Openreel in Japan.
This is an A-7030GSL reel table.
9D1AEEBC-7BCC-4DA4-9D0C-E3EBBA0BA25D.jpeg
This is for a A3340, 3440. It looks very similar on the front to the 7030, but the rear is completely different and will not fit the reel table flange.
ED81B15E-5B69-4EF3-AF29-7991248FA98A.jpeg 19C5B240-6EB9-4F20-B065-4C158BB705B0.jpeg
 
Numone said:
Apologies, I now understand what you mean by “procedure” (I’m an idiot!) :rolleyes: Pleased you were able to sort it.
Before I took possession of our A7030GSL, the seller knocked the deck over, braking off the spindle on the take up side. I was still happy to go ahead with the purchase, given the amazing condition of the deck. However, I had a major issue finding the correct table. It has a completely different mount to, say an A3300 or a A3340, both which I was assured would fit and bought (stupidly). Fortunately, in the case of the A3300-10, the rest of the deck came with it and it turned out to work really well. Eventually I found the correct table from Openreel in Japan.
This is an A-7030GSL reel table.
View attachment 2481429
This is for a A3340, 3440. It looks very similar on the front to the 7030, but the rear is completely different and will not fit the reel table flange.
View attachment 2481430 View attachment 2481431
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info about the reel tables, that saves me the time of trying something that wouldn't work. Here's a picture of the reel table/spindle that separated. I'm wondering if I could drill a hole through the table, into the spindle and screw them together. But I'm thinking that would put the whole assembly out of balance. It would be in the middle so it might not have a big effect but those reels get to spinning mighty fast in the wind modes and 10.5" is a relatively weighty batch of tape so, danger Will Robinson, the screw up the middle might not be the best solution. I have a couple of other tape machine problems but I suppose that I should start a new thread for those. Thank you again.TEAC 7030 reel hub 1.jpg TEAC 7030 reel hub 2.jpg
 
I see one listed on the Bay-search for Teac reel table-I see the correct one for your deck among the numerous offerings.
 
Now that’s interesting. Your reel table is completely different to the one on our deck. I guess they changed them with the introduction of the GSL. The MK4’s tables are probably different to the GSL.
 
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