Otari MX5050 MKIII-2 problem

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:55 pm

Hey all,

I just bought these two tape machines yesterday and I've got a problem with the two-track on the left. Any advice would be great!

The two-track didn't come with the manual, but I downloaded one for the stand up model, which is technically the same.

The problem: I put a tape on and it plays fine at 15 ips, but when I flipped the speed switch on to 7.5 ips, the machine stops playing. Then, about every 5 seconds, I hear something like a relay clicking on and of, and when that happens, the capstan starts up and then stops. I don't plan on using the slow speed, but I would like it to work.

Any ideas on what the problem is? I wouldn't think that the previous owner would have adjusted the slow speed to not play.

Thanks in advance!

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:35 pm

sounds like a tension issue to me... but i am not intimately familiar with the 5050 (even though I used to own one... shame on me....)

i would find a tech with a tentalometer and intimate knowledge of those machines to take a look at it.

john

brianroth · Post by **brianroth** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:48 pm

It can be the speed selector switch itself. Turn the machine "off" and then work the switch back and forth a few dozen times.

Bri

Nate Dort · Post by **Nate Dort** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:37 pm

brianroth wrote:I can be the speed selector switch itself.

Do you charge by the hour or by the job?

brianroth · Post by **brianroth** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:53 pm

nate wrote:
brianroth wrote:I can be the speed selector switch itself.
Do you charge by the hour or by the job?

LOL...

So, did the problem get fixed?

Bri

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:51 pm

brianroth wrote: So, did the problem get fixed?

Bri

It's working now!

I had tried the switch thing earlier this evening with no luck.

I took it apart after I made the post and did a few things. Finally it engaged and stayed on.
I guess it probably hasn't ever been used in that mode before, so it was in shock and being stubborn.

I haven't used tape machines in over 15 years, so I'm looking forward to some analog action.

I'm also looking to try and sync that 8 track up to my pro tools rig.
What would be the best way to do that?

Thanks

brianroth · Post by **brianroth** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:43 am

Re. the Otari...maybe a short "spritz" of QD contact cleaner into the guts of the switch might kerp it heatlthy got awhile.

Re. syncing....that is tricky. At a minimum, you will require something like a Lynx unit, or at least a MOTU "MIDI Timepiece". Digidesigns also sold a "Universal Slave Driver" for their systems.

Bri

JohnDavisNYC · Post by **JohnDavisNYC** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:16 am

i think it would be of more benefit to use a 'track and dump' methodology with an 8 track alongside PT. fill up the 8 track, then dump it into PT and start overdubbing, then mix down to the 2 track....

john

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 7:34 am

I have the same Otari machine and the same problem. The only difference is mine works fine at 7.5 but only sometimes runs at 15.
I don't think it's a switch issue. When I put the machine to 15ips the capstan stops spinning, then every 20 seconds or so you'll hear the motor try to engange and the capstan will move an 8th of a turn. Toggling between speeds doesn't help. Sometimes if I shut the machine down, switch it to 15ips and start it up again it will work. Sometime if I set it to 15 and leave it alone for 10 or 15 minutes it will start to work. Sometime it won't work at all.

Blade - what did you do when you took it apart?

P.S. I also need a new pinch roller. Does anyone know where to find such a thing?

Blade · Post by **Blade** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:20 pm

Junk,

When I had it apart, I was looking for the switch that determines whether it runs at 7.5/15, or 3.75/7.5.

I don't know if I found it, but there was a switch inside directly below the pitch control knob on the main circuit board that I flipped back and forth a few times. When I plugged the machine back in, the capstan motor clicked two times, and then it finally fired up.

It seems to be fine now.

The pinch roller....just do a google search.....here is one place.

http://www.athan.com/

A.David.MacKinnon · Post by **A.David.MacKinnon** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 6:12 am

Blade wrote:Junk,

When I had it apart, I was looking for the switch that determines whether it runs at 7.5/15, or 3.75/7.5.

I don't know if I found it, but there was a switch inside directly below the pitch control knob on the main circuit board that I flipped back and forth a few times. When I plugged the machine back in, the capstan motor clicked two times, and then it finally fired up.

It seems to be fine now.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks

hrasco · Post by **hrasco** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:42 pm

I drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the back panel directly over the internal speed switch. I can now flip the switch quite easily with a small screwdriver without taking the machine apart.

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Otari MX5050 MKIII-2 problem

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