Hello all,
I picked up a cherry 1500 (at least cosmetically), that runs slow on all speeds. I can adjust the speed manually and it locks-in pretty well with just a bit of drift when 1st turned on. If I leave the machine on and the capstan motor running for a couple of hours (use a rubber band to hold down the idlers) it will lock-in manually with virtually no drift - when I take it off manual, it runs slow at all speeds. Any ideas?
Also, the tape lifters do not operate when tape is loaded (fast forward and rewind). If I remove the tape and cheat the system by holding the idler down, the lifters work, but intermittently. There seems to be dirty contacts in the right-hand idler assembly as sometimes I have to work it up and down to stop FF or reverse when I have things cheated (no tape loaded). Also, any ideas?
The machine had been unused but otherwise well cared for. Pots were noisy but worked them all manually 25 - 30 times as well as all of the front panel switches. Sounds great on phones and operates well otherwise. Tape transport controls and tape handling is otherwise excellent. Brakes seem fine. I have degaussed the heads, cleaned everything in the tape path with alcohol well, washed the rubber idlers rollers down with water - they seem to make good contact and do not appear to be slipping. The heads are in excellent shape.
I have not pulled it apart yet or used Deoxit on contacts or switches but probably will, given age of the machine and fact it saw little use.
Otherwise, she is a beautiful thing!
Thank you in advance for any ideas/suggestions. Regards, Bob
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE:
I have had the 1500 on for several days in a warm environment with the tensioners cheated and running at various speeds. Continued to work all of the mechanical parts and the lifter problem has resolved itself. BTW, I think the unit has been stored in a home environment and it does not have any bad odors or signs of abuse, smells good in fact, no signs of rust, and the more she runs, the better she plays and operates mechanically.
The speed issue persists however. She locks in well with the manual speed control with little/no drift. Still runs slow when the pitch/ manual control is out of the system.
I have both of the service manuals, a dual trace scope, a digital volt meter and a frequency counter. Does anyone know of a source for the calibration tapes or a source that has the equipment to creat those required? BTW, the 2nd volume of the service manual is EXCELLENT for the Technics 1500/1506! I have to put a plug in for HiFi Engine where I obtained them!
I had an OTARI B3 and the alignment procedures were nowhere near as clear!
Thank you all for the support and suggestions!
RE: Tape Project mods for the Technics RS series - are any of the tape path mods available for a handy DIY guy like me?
Thanks again, appreciate your time and skills! Bob Edwards