Akai 208D-SS static

shade23

New Member
Feb 17, 2022
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I just purchased a beautiful Akai 208D-SS Quad reel to reel along with a Pioneer QX-9900 Quad receiver. When first turned on they play beautiful but after a few minutes I get static through one speaker and lose almost all volume and the #2 VU meter gets erratic. I cleaned both with DeoxIT D5 and thought the problem was fixed. I cleaned everything again and after sitting they play beautiful but after a few minutes the same thing happens all over again. Could it be a capacitor? I don't want to spend a fortune but both are in excellent shape.
Thank You!!
 

Adimon

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2011
136
10
925
I have experienced something similar in the past and the cause was indeed a capacitor.
 
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Reactions: shade23
Mar 1, 2022
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That problem on that deck (with near certainty) is: the micro relay to switch the head tracks in reverse mode has oxidized contacts on it. It is mounted on a small circuit board behind the 2/4 stereo selector switch and has an accompanying 25v 47uF capacitor as well as (if I remember correctly? --- because I worked on a GX-280DSS in 2002 I'd found in rough shape but then salvaged the glass heads from it for another machine) a general purpose 1N4004 diode on it.

The cover of the relay might be held on with just old cellophane tape, so peeling that off will reveal the contacts. However, if you get into the work that much: change the capacitor and the diode while at it.
 

shade23

New Member
Feb 17, 2022
12
2
3
74
That problem on that deck (with near certainty) is: the micro relay to switch the head tracks in reverse mode has oxidized contacts on it. It is mounted on a small circuit board behind the 2/4 stereo selector switch and has an accompanying 25v 47uF capacitor as well as (if I remember correctly? --- because I worked on a GX-280DSS in 2002 I'd found in rough shape but then salvaged the glass heads from it for another machine) a general purpose 1N4004 diode on it.

The cover of the relay might be held on with just old cellophane tape, so peeling that off will reveal the contacts. However, if you get into the work that much: change the capacitor and the diode while at it.
Thank you, this has been a fun project and am learning a lot. I will look into the micro relay today. Thanks again!
 

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