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AKAI GX-630 D score.

Jonny Ramone

Jonny Ramone

Super Member
This machine was on the brain, as somebody posted about the 620 recently. Wasn't expecting one to cross my path, but I wanted one, and spent the cash. Makes excellent tapes with Quantegy pancakes. Does anyone know how to pull off the knobs? They're on pretty tight. Can the motors be oiled? Didn't see any tubes from the back.
 

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Akai R2R

Looks like you got yourself a nice quality deck there and the pictures are fantastic.
 
Nice looking machine and you found a great model !
The 630 is my favorite, last one with more metal then plastic and built very good.
About the knobs, don't they have a allen-screw on the side ?
 
No Allen screws on this one. I'd like to get inside for brake checking, and maybe de-oxiting the tape selection switch, but it records wonderfully already. I'll have to try some Maxell UD I have, but the manual states AKAI LN-150-7, and Scotch 211 are preferred. Who made AKAI's tape? Couldn't find any info about it.
 
the "grapewine" said Akai LN-150 was made by Sony.

Congratulations on the deck - it was one of the better AKAI's

(Seem's like it has done some hours, based on the photo of the tape lifters )
 
I have some Sony 150 tape, but from the early 70's. The Quantegy 632 tape seems a PERFECT match for it, as even the 3.75ips speed sounds very good, and 7.5ips gives very little difference between source/tape. The guides and heads are in excellent shape, and don't show the wear the lifters do. The capstan is completely smooth in the middle as it's constantly spinning against the tape. I have a method to re-texture it.
 
Awesome catch! No, the motors are sealed so they won't need to be oiled. Just deoxit any noisy controls. The tape monitor switch can be problematic in this unit, but will work fine after a good bath in above said chemical.

This was/is my first reel to reel and i still love it, but i've had to pull mine from the system. It's lost the ability to record cleanly, probably bad transistors. So like many other things, it waits for me to restore it. I have the service manual for it if you need a copy.
 
According to the S.M.(from HiFi engine), these do NOT have 2sc458C transistors, which are mentioned in SL benders website. The Dolby model does. It got a De-oxit/CRC electrical lube immediately, including the trim pots(lots of dust on them). I need to tweak them a bit. I was surprised how close it was on 632 tape, which I have around twelve 10.5" pancakes, though I'll need to get more metal reels for them. I need to conquer soldering, so I can recap this one. The 909 is one of the best looking decks ever, but a 707 will probably find itself a home here someday.
 
The 630D does have 2SC458LG transistors, but I believe they are from an earlier production series which didn't suffer failure like the later examples used in GX620/5/35 etc...
If you do decide to replace them, I would replace the TIP-47 with a TIP-50 too.
 
I haven't done anything with it other than observe the problem. I was almost done rebuilding my RT 909 when it started, so it was no big deal to shelve it for awhile. It does still play perfectly though. I guess we'll see what i find when i open it up.
 
I just resurfaced the capstan. I used a piece of paper to make the template by wrapping it around the pinch roller and cutting to fit. I traced it on the rough side of the sandpaper(80 grit), then placed the sandpaper rough side down. Spray tack glue on the paper side. Then, glue the smooth side of a strip of duck tape to it.
 

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More pics. I let it run for 10 minutes. It would be best to let the glue dry a few hours or more.
 

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Interesting way of resurfacing the capstan. For me I just used fine sandpaper and then used etching solution. It is found on line for this purpose. Yours looks good though.
 
I just picked up one of these and although its fairly dirty most operations seem to work.Both meters light and respond,motors turn the reels at what seems to be the correct speed.All switches respond well.
The tape monitor switch is a problem as mentioned here.
Do I have to get inside the unit to spray it clean?

I had a cd player hooked up to the audio input and with headphones got stereo sound.
So thats a good thing,right?
 
it's a great deck. I have been enjoying mine very much for the past few years.

I had issues with the speed switch myself and the speed pots needed a shot of deoxit as well but after that it's worked without a hitch. apparently the heads will last for quite some time which is a nice bonus.

as for the knobs they slide off (not easily but they do). once it's opened up its easy to clean.

oh, I forgot to mention that the service manual can be downloaded from hi-fi engine if you need it.
 
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The manuals will tell you how to dis-assemble . The only switch I couldn't reach from the back was the bias switch. I used shrink tubing to make 2 of the red "straws" that come on the cleaners into 1 long one, to reach the switches.
 

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