Nachamichi DR-2 Tape Deck

[son-yah-tive]

I have a Nachamichi DR-2 that doesn't get used enough. It starts out like it won't play, then it catches itself and starts working. It's probably a belt issue. I don't know. But I'm willing to let it go at a price that's agreeable and fair. It's faceplate is in great condition. The top has a scratch at each front corner, which can't be seen once it is put with other equipment. It's sounds flawless. I've used it recently to put tapes to CD, that's how I found out the starting problem.

 

[son-yah-tive]

I've made my mind up, if anyone is interested in the DR-2, I'll let it go for 75.00 plus Shipping. That should take care of anything that it might need to get it back to original condition, at a fair price. I think it just needs a BELT. But, I'm not going to take it apart. I don't have the know how. I don't want to take a chance and screw it up.

 

[TLS Guy]

I've made my mind up, if anyone is interested in the DR-2, I'll let it go for 75.00 plus Shipping. That should take care of anything that it might need to get it back to original condition, at a fair price. I think it just needs a BELT. But, I'm not going to take it apart. I don't have the know how. I don't want to take a chance and screw it up.

That NAK is a multi motor direct drive machine. So it won't be a belt. It is more likely trouble in the synchronization logic board or sensor issue. I have serviced those before. I think I even have a service manual for that machine. Absolute pain to work on, otherwise good machines, in terms of performance, but gave more trouble than other three motor machines.

 

[son-yah-tive]

That NAK is a multi motor direct drive machine. So it won't be a belt. It is more likely trouble in the synchronization logic board or sensor issue. I have serviced those before. I think I even have a service manual for that machine. Absolute pain to work on, otherwise good machines, in terms of performance, but gave more trouble than other three motor machines.

Thank you for your input TLS Guy. I use to open my old tape decks a lot. But not this one. It was too intimidating. So is it worth a repair? Nothing has ever happened to it. So, I don't know where to proceed. Is 75.00 too much to ask for what work the DR-2 needs? Thanks again.

 

[TLS Guy]

Thank you for your input TLS Guy. I use to open my old tape decks a lot. But not this one. It was too intimidating. So is it worth a repair? Nothing has ever happened to it. So, I don't know where to proceed. Is 75.00 too much to ask for what work the DR-2 needs? Thanks again.

No, I think it is about right. Anyone who buys it needs to know that it is very hard to get anybody to work on any kind of tape recorder now.

So it is now pretty much left to dabblers like myself. So if some one buys it around that price it will be OK. I have a rule that if I buy any tape deck cassette or reel to reel with problems, no matter how exotic, I will never give more than $100 and not more than $60 if I can help it.

I have made some very nice machines out of junkers. However tape decks are a lot of work, and you need a lot of equipment and expensive calibrated tapes. So I don't think you should even own any type of exotic tape recorder anymore unless you can do the service work. It is hard to pay some one enough to work on them any longer, and now it really is a labor of love.

 

[son-yah-tive]

You are definitly correct! I can tell, you know what your talking about. That's why people buy newer cheaper decks these days. Well, I guess it will be a labor of love, 'cause it is really going to be hard to part with it. But, I hope someone wants it just for the reason you said....for the LOVE of it. Just HATE to see it go to waste. Thanks again TLS......P.S, I still LOVE that room of yours. I know I told you that before, but I went thru all 36 pictures again. I don't know how you find the time? LOL

 

[TLS Guy]

You are definitly correct! I can tell, you know what your talking about. That's why people buy newer cheaper decks these days. Well, I guess it will be a labor of love, 'cause it is really going to be hard to part with it. But, I hope someone wants it just for the reason you said....for the LOVE of it. Just HATE to see it go to waste. Thanks again TLS......P.S, I still LOVE that room of yours. I know I told you that before, but I went thru all 36 pictures again. I don't know how you find the time? LOL

I have checked my manuals and I only have the C series manuals, not D. However your pictures look similar.

Your machine likely has one belt to couple the two capstans, but if this was bad the machine would not work at all.

One quite common problem with older machines not used often, is the photo tape motion sensor. The Naks use a rotating wheel, with black and white sectors, and a photo detector. If the lens gets dirty, then tape motion is not sensed properly.

The thing I hate about those Naks is that dreadful auto azimuth adjustment mechanism from a stepper motor with plastic gears. Everyone I have ever worked on has had trouble with that. It is a real POS that mechanism.

 

[son-yah-tive]

I have checked my manuals and I only have the C series manuals, not D. However your pictures look similar.

Your machine likely has one belt to couple the two capstans, but if this was bad the machine would not work at all.

One quite common problem with older machines not used often, is the photo tape motion sensor. The Naks use a rotating wheel, with black and white sectors, and a photo detector. If the lens gets dirty, then tape motion is not sensed properly.

The thing I hate about those Naks is that dreadful auto azimuth adjustment mechanism from a stepper motor with plastic gears. Everyone I have ever worked on has had trouble with that. It is a real POS that mechanism.

Thank you for going through so much trouble. All I know is that it won't start 'till I try a couple of times, then it goes slow until it picks up to proper speed. If I stop and start it again, in a few minutes it does it again. If I just let it go to the end of the tape it works fine with no trouble at all. I never thought about the photo sensor. You have me curious now, can you tell me where is the sensor is?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thank you for going through so much trouble. All I know is that it won't start 'till I try a couple of times, then it goes slow until it picks up to proper speed. If I stop and start it again, in a few minutes it does it again. If I just let it go to the end of the tape it works fine with no trouble at all. I never thought about the photo sensor.

In that case there may be trouble with the spooling tape tensioner mechanism. It might be hanging up and sticking the feeding spool. That is where I would be looking first. You have a lot of dismantling to get to it though.

 

[majorloser]

Back in the day I used to drool over the RX-505.

The absolute "coolness factor" of a tape that flips itself in the machine was the ultimate show off item to friends.

The choice of music is quite fitting, too.

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[Tomorrow]

In that case there may be trouble with the spooling tape tensioner mechanism. It might be hanging up and sticking the feeding spool. That is where I would be looking first. You have a lot of dismantling to get to it though.

I have an old Nak stored somewhere (BX-100 I think...haven't looked in years). It had exactly this problem. The tech called it a "black gunk" problem. He cleaned it up and off it zipped...and he got 50 clams from me.

 

[son-yah-tive]

Back in the day I used to drool over the RX-505.

The absolute "coolness factor" of a tape that flips itself in the machine was the ultimate show off item to friends.

The choice of music is quite fitting, too.

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I remember that machine. It was on display at every High End store when it came out. That was cool. I was afraid it would have hang-ups though.

 

[son-yah-tive]

I have an old Nak stored somewhere (BX-100 I think...haven't looked in years). It had exactly this problem. The tech called it a "black gunk" problem. He cleaned it up and off it zipped...and he got 50 clams from me.

I guess I'll get brave and open the DR-2 to see if there is something I can find. I hope I know what I'm doing? I'm more curious now.