I just picked up a free akai X1800SD open reel deck. it also has a built in 8TRACK deck on the side. must be mid 70's ya think it's any good quality wise? has a built in speaker too. the guy gave me some open reel tapes and 8tracks with it. I was at his house to look at some work and happen to comment that looks like an old deck and just like in my daily fantasys about seeing cool audio gear in someones place and saying something like that he says ya want it? I said sure, if I can figure out how to post pictures I will. Anybody know anything about this deck or where to find out about it, thanks, Joe

Hi Joe, congratulations to the Akai :thmbsp:
1800 SD has a built in amplifier and speakers.
The extra treat with 8-track player on the side can be fun to use.
It's a solid state model with even 15 inch speed with a special speed-sleeve and smaller pinch-roller attached, but the normal speeds are 1-7/8, 3-3/4 + 7-1/2.
If your deck has the wood-front-cover and in good condition, you have a winner. :)
Did you try it yet ?

Hi! Thanks, it looks in really good shape visually. 8 track works, I just tried it after reading your responce, r to r another story I tried recording with a mic. but nothing, but I don't know how to opperate it really I could be doing it wrong. rewind brake dosen't work I'll have to open it up and check that also pots noisy, must clean them.Whats that stop lever for on right side under the reel, I push it up and now can't get it down, thats the deck in your avatar,right?

Oh yea, it does have the cover

If you take the face-plate off you will find a small rubber wheel next to the reel-table, that is the brake, clean the rubber and check the linkage, a common problem Joe.
About the recording, be sure to engage the reel to reel button over the VU meters and not the 8-track section.
The stop lever is the Pause function, lift it up carefully to release it again. :)
Cleaning the pots on this one you need to seperate the transport section from the amp section and cabinet.
Little tricky but if you need any advice let me know, faceplate need to come off first to reach 4 screws in each corner behind the faceplate.
Then slide out the transportsection so you can disconnect a large wire connection on the left side + 3 more wire connections in the rear section.
When the transport section is out the amp section below can come out and you can service it really easy.

Good Luck Joe. :)

PS/ Yes my avatar is a 1800 SD. :D

Hi,
I also have this unit and love it! But it needs a few repairs...it records on both left and right but will only playback the left channel. The right VU needle moves during recording but doesn't even budge on playback.

Sometimes when rewinding it will start to slow down and eventually stop...not done rewinding the tape yet.

I've heard of the 15ips but how to get this unit to do it?

Any tech help would be appreciated. I might even make a small website about this unit for users with questions like me!

Thanks, looking forward to being here!

Hi,
I also have this unit and love it! But it needs a few repairs...it records on both left and right but will only playback the left channel. The right VU needle moves during recording but doesn't even budge on playback.

Sometimes when rewinding it will start to slow down and eventually stop...not done rewinding the tape yet.

I've heard of the 15ips but how to get this unit to do it?

Any tech help would be appreciated. I might even make a small website about this unit for users with questions like me!

Thanks, looking forward to being here!
That unit is an interesting novelty. Akai also made at least one combo cassette and reel deck. But that unit is not designed to operate at 15 ips, so I would not bother trying to do so.

Does anybody have any potmetal cams for the Akai x-1800sd? Mine are both cracked and need replaced. Thanks.

Does anybody have any potmetal cams for the Akai x-1800sd? Mine are both cracked and need replaced. Thanks.
Checkout Terry's Rubber rollers. This guy will rebuild almost any part with rubber on it. :thmbsp:

Thanks. These are pot metal cams. They don't have any rubber on them. They are just metal. They are the fast foward and reverse cams that engage the reels and are located under the face panel of the deck. I thought maybe someone may have an old deck for parts that they could extract them from.

Thanks. These are pot metal cams. They don't have any rubber on them. They are just metal. They are the fast foward and reverse cams that engage the reels and are located under the face panel of the deck. I thought maybe someone may have an old deck for parts that they could extract them from.
My mistake. I thought that you might be referring to the metal ones with the rubber rings around the edges.

These things must be coming out of the clouds... I snagged one today for $10.00 at a local TS. Has the owners’ manual and a box with all the accessories that came with it... Still in the trunk of the car... Weighs a TON.... Has the plastic front cover also... A chunk had come off and it was glued back in place, so not a "10" on the cover...

One more "project"... I got more "projects" then I have room for them:)

Thanks. These are pot metal cams. They don't have any rubber on them. They are just metal. They are the fast foward and reverse cams that engage the reels and are located under the face panel of the deck. I thought maybe someone may have an old deck for parts that they could extract them from.
hi therel if you could show us a photo, i MIGHT have the parts you need..i got a box of parts from various machines...mostly Teac and Akai.... blooeyz

Here's a picture of the parts I need. They are primary FF and reverse cams. They are made out of pot metal and as you can see they are old and have become briddle. There is also two cams on the reverse of the machine which I would like to replace. Thanks

While we're on Akais here...I just picked up a sweet little Akai 1700 W, cover missing of course. Also missing is the capstan speed change sleeve. Cheapest I've found is a new brass one for $35 and I find that outrageous. Anyone know where I can get one?
Harvey

I passed on one of these on Sat, in perfect condition too with the wood case, and all accessories, but too much $$. they look to be OK units quality and build wise, but I think the 8 track detracts from there collectability a bit, that auction site doesn't have many that sell well at all.

Those pot-metal cam's is the biggest problem with 1800 SD, I have 4 decks sitting with crumbled cam's inside..:sigh:
And making it worse the newer model like 4000 DS or GX-4000 D are not the same.
But if you find a 1700 or 1710 with good cams' they fit 1800 series.

About the 15 inch speed-sleeve for 1800 series, it was a extra option but you need both the speed-sleeve and a smaller pinch-roller, a rare option to find.

Harvey: Speed-sleeve for the 1700 are the same as 1710, these fall off the capstan really easy so buying a new aftermarket sleeve or finding a second deck is easier then tracking down a sleeve.