Nakamichi BX-1

[bassmantj]

OK, so I decided to pull the old thing out of storage and do the idler wheel replacement. I spent $300 on it new and had the wheel replaced once by a tech. It lasted about a year and I decided not to do that again. I also had a Pioneer CTF-5151 that I was using.

I decided that with all the tape I have lying around I might as well put it to good use. Anyone else out there with a BX series deck? What do you think of them?

[Scorpion8]

The BX-1 was a good (but not great) tape deck. Of course, people have higher expectations with the Nak name on front, but face it, it was a simple 2-head run-of-the-mill tape deck at a time when everyone could turn out a serviceable deck. That being said, they are quite capable of nice sound and making good recordings. The idler wheel is easy to replace yourself. I'd keep it fixed up a enjoy it.

What issue does the deck have this time?

[bassmantj]

What issue does the deck have this time?

terrible wow, cant keep speed, funky rewind. But I quit using it some time ago and there might be more. for $10 I thought I'd give it a try.

[Scorpion8]

Rewind (and FFW) is handled by the idler drive wheel. You may just try cleaning the tape capstan hubs with cleaner so the idler wheel grips better. Wow and speed is more likely a drive belt issue. Naks are finicky about the belts they use and if you spend any time on NakTalk you'll know that only certain belts make the grade. If your tech used a generic belt, then it is probably the issue there. Nothing that can't be fixed.

Do you have the SM?

[bassmantj]

No SM but I do have quite a lot of electronics tech experience. I don't suppose this is hard is it?

[Scorpion8]

Nope. Not too hard. I've got some info on doing the idler wheel at home that I'll e-mail you tonight. Also, go to here: http://www.nakamichi-schenk.nl/ to find some useful info and good links to other Naks sites.

[kenwood61]

I've owned my Nak BX-1 since 82/83 and loved it. I had the idler wheel replaced about 4/5 years ago. No problems.

[Scorpion8]

I certainly wouldn't toss a BX-1 unless another of the grail decks came my way. I have a Nak 480 (2 head, simple) that I enjoy quite often, along with an LX-3 (2 head, slightly more controls) that's in daily use. I don't know if the BX-1 used the same dual-capstan Sankyo drive mechanism, but that's the heart of any Nak and it makes them just a step above the common average 2-head deck.