Otari MX5050 Problem!!!!!

[steveidosound]

That sounds similar to the one I have. 4 channel 1/4" format. Those multi pin interconnects can cause connection issues.
I also like the Maxell tape. I have a bunch of old stuff on it and other than the leader splice losing it's adhesive, the tapes seem to have no issues.

[rowcherumble]

Hopefully with a bit of contact cleaner, they shouldn't cause any problems. They are some serious-looking plugs though.

[rowcherumble]

Back again!

Anyways, the machine was working fine when all of a sudden I turn it on and Channel 1 has no sound--this is a 4-track.

I checked all the leads from the head to the plugs, etc. and everything is fine. I even unplugged all the circuit boards, sprayed them with Deoxit and reinserted them to no avail.

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[ironbut]

I don't know if you've cleaned the switches but it's always a good idea with these older machines. On some of the later models which have the 1/2 and 1/4 track heads the selector switch is a pretty common source of problems like this. Since yours is 4 track it won't have a switch like that but it should have one for each channel. While you're playing a tape, try switching that and any other switch that's in the signal path back and forth a few times(like your back panel high/low switch). I could just be a bunch of crud that the wiper is just moving around causing intermittent contact).

[rowcherumble]

The problem is that the source/tape switch seems to work, but there appears to be no signal to Channel 1.

When I switch it to Tape, there is the normal "hiss" of the channel being wired, but there's no signal at all.

[ironbut]

So, I'm assuming that this is when playing a tape that you've already established that channel #1 has in fact been recorded onto. If this is the case, does the VU show any signal present on that channel?
Just to double check things, get another tape and try recording onto channel #1 again.

You said below that you "checked all the leads fro the head to the plugs". Did this include a continuity test of each lead?
Also, is there some sort of switching for each of the 4 channels (not the source/tape switch). On most of these kinds of machines there's a way to control record or playback of each channel. Those would be the switches in question.