CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Thanks Curt - It is a model MX5050. From what I have learned, some models had a direct drive capstan, and some used a belt.
Since it actually fell apart in my hands, it was hard to measure, but it is approximately 18" long and about 3/8" wide. I have searched all over and have had no luck so far.

Thanks,
Bob

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:33 pm Post subject:

OK, leave it with me. By chance have you called Otari? They're in California I think. There's still a crapload of those decks out there, I'm sure I can come up with something.

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

I called them several month's ago and they said they didn't have any parts?
Do you have a contact there that can help?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:42 pm Post subject:

No I don't, but I'll pull my belt manual out today to see if it has a crossreference.

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

I looked through a couple MX5050 service manuals to see if I could get an exact size on that belt but not seeing the belt yet. Which version of the MX5050 do you have?

BobNelson · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 58 Location: Green Valley, AZ

In about 1966, I had a friend pickup an Akai M8 at the Army PX in Japan. I later got a 355D, then a 360D These all had the Crossfield heads.

I then picked up a used 365D with the glass and crystal heads. It was lacking in highs and I figured that I could tweek the equalization. I had an AC VTVM and an audio signal generator. Well, I couldn't. I got out a magnifier and looked at the heads. They were shot. The guy must have been running sandpaper through it. I sent a letter to Akai and told them what happened and that I had bought it used. They sent me a letter to take it to Electric Engineers in Chicago and they would replace the heads. All I had to pay was the labor. Sure would like to see a company do something like that today. I still have that deck, but it hasn't been used in ages.

I also have an Akai 3 head cassette deck model GX7.

I always wondered why the magazines didn't give them better write ups. Must have had something to do with ad. dollars.

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Bob, I posted for you over on AudioKarma in the Tape forum. one meber posted this:

I have a 1993 Projector-Recorder Belt Corp. Reference Guide that says:
One belt is 7.8 in. inner circumference, and .070 in. thick. PRB #OA7.8
Other belt is 16.4 in. inner circumference, and .070 in. thick. PRB #OA16.4
Hope this helps.

And another posted this:

I think first generation MX5050 was still direct drive, but counter was belt driven.

link to thread is here:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=423443

Nashou

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

That 16.4 by .070 is a round belt which is for the counter I believe.. http://www.turntableneedles.com/Round-Belt-Small-164-Inch_p_174.html

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Thanks Mac - I think I'll find one at my guesstimate, try it, and go from there. My goal is to get it running and transfer all my master tapes to 24/196 and hopefully burn them to a BLURAY at that Rate. I remember calibrating it for the tape that was used so I need to get it going. Most of them were done using DBX which I really liked at the time.

Thanks,
Bob

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

I have worn out Google trying to find out about this belt. Seems like the very early MX5050's used a capstan belt and then they went to direct drive, so there are very few of them. Also, the cross-reference guides show incorrect listings as they are shown as round belts, and it is actually flat. I made another attempt to measure the length with a string and used a small piece of duct tape stuck to a string where I used a pencil to stick the tape to the drive wheel as my fingers couldn't reach it. Then I turned the capstan and it worked, so I got an accurate measure. It is 16-11/16", so the 16.4" is probably correct accounting for stretch. The belt is 3/8" wide, so I ordered several generic belts around these dimensions, and hopefully one will work.

Thanks,
Bob

macgyver655 · Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 8508

That's probably the best you can do Bob.

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

posted the question about mx5050 belts on the tape project forum, got back this answer

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

Curt there are two RTR's on Craigs list near me, one is an AKAI 1730D-SS for 135. Looks ok
but the other is a GX 220D with box and original waranty card with the original plastic bag etc for 300 firm.

The 1730D is Surround sound. Might go good with my Quad receiver. Plus its a lot cheaper.

Athanasios

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

Nashou66 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16171 Location: West Seneca NY

zaphod · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Posts: 2002 Location: Cloverdale

Dang Nash - sorry about that, didn't mean to thunder-steal Sad

Boilermaker · Joined: 21 May 2006 Posts: 527

IT WORKS!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the help - The shortest of the 3 I ordered fit perfectly, and it spins without any problems!

Now I will go through my DBX 144 noise reduction unit and change out the PS caps as they have to be suspect by now.
This retro stuff is getting addictive. Can't wait to hear what those master tapes sound like.

Thanks,
Bob