ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
A 4 year search for a Beocord 5000 led to finding 2 within days of each other, & both, oddly enough in Seattle.Both are the later 2-head decks.
The first arrived DOA but the second worked, if horribly noisy. I have been waiting nearly a year to have someone willing to do a professional restoration, but just couldn't wait anymore, & decided to try myself.
Tackled the non-working deck first with the expected dried lubrication, and broken or fallen-off belts. Installed Martin's 5-belt kit, reassembled, and nothing. Everything lit up. but no movement of the cassette.
Went to bed crestfallen, but I had an idea in the morning to plug in the unit with it in the ON position & like magic, the cassette played, beautifully.
The problem(s) with this initial non-working Beocord are: Only PLAY, FF, ON, & OFF work, nothing else does including STOP. To get the Beocord to either EJECT or STOP, it has to be turned off. In addition there is a considerable BUZZ on the aluminum button panel that goes away when any of the non-working buttons are depressed.
Suffice to say I cleaned thoroughly all the button contacts...... twice. In a perfect world I would just sent this Beocord back to the repair shop, but for now, I AM the repair shop.
Any idea why most of the control buttons do not work and the associated buzzing noise?
The sound quality is excellent, in case anyone is interested.
Let's move on to the working deck. Once I got the first Beocord functioning I was ready for the second and working deck. This deck had sensational sound quality from the beginning.
First thing I noticed as different, the larger drive wheels were quite corroded, requiring sandpaper, which struck me as odd.
Then I noticed the motor had become very loose and was hanging at a considerable angle, rubbing against the belt. (Figured, NO wonder it was so noisy.) The usual clean, lubrication, & belt change followed.
With this deck, I expected perfect results, as it worked so well before servicing. What a got was a motor struggling to move the cassette. What the heck?
Anyone that has ever changed the belts on a Beocord 5000 knows that this is a labour intensive project, & each deck took a bit over 6 hours to complete, or basically 13 hours of work.
I was so worn by the whole project that I unplugged the Beocord, & only then noticed that I had neglected to insert the circuit board shield that keeps the bottom of the mechanism from making undesirable contact with the circuit board below.
Could the missing electronic shield cause sufficient shorts to under-power the motor?
Any ideas or comments would be VERY welcome!
Jeff
Beogram 4000, Beogram 4002, Beogram 4004, Beogram 8000, Beogram 8002, Beogram 1602. Beogram 4500 CD player, B&O CDX player, Beocord 4500, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 5000 T4716, Beocord 8004, Beocord 9000, Beomaster 1000, Beomaster 1600, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 2400.2, Beomaster 4400, Beomaster 4500, Beolab 5000, Beomaster 5000, BeoCenter 9000. BeoSound Century, S-45.2, S-45.2, S-75, S-75, M-75, M-100, MC 120.2 speakers; B&O Illuminated Sign (with crown & red logo). B&O grey & black Illuminated Sign, B&O black Plexiglas dealer sign, B&O ash tray, B&O (Orrefors) dealer award vase, B&O Beotime Clock. Navy blue B&O baseball cap, B&O T-shirt X2, B&O black ball point pen, B&O Retail Management Binder
A photo of the Seattle pair prior to mechanical restoration.
As I have said before, this is the one piece of equipment that my old dealer's service department refused to fix. They stated that they had never found one with only one issue and that they were simply uneconomic to fix! Tim fixed mine - and it still destroyed tapes!!
Peter
Hi Peter,
The well deserved "difficult" reputation of the Beocord 5000 is pretty much universally accepted. Martin famously said that he would appreciate it if a Beocord 5000 never darkened his work beach, ever again. My regular shop in Atlanta didn't want to touch it..... or the Beomaster 4400. (The rational for the latter, I have no idea.)
Once I got the non-functioning deck working, the absolute first thing it did was chop my favourite tape and ground it to little pieces. I WASN'T amused.
As you said, there is never just one issue.
What I have with the first deck is something is locking the STOP button, along with everything but PLAY and FAST FORWARD. When I first tried it, nothing worked until I tried plugging it in with the ON engaged. That is where it started chopping my tape and EJECT doesn't work either until the OFF button is pressed, then EJECT works.
There is also a rather pronounced HUM coming from the buttons, which goes away when any of the non-working buttons is touched. I am not well versed with electronics, but I know something has hung up with regard to the STOP button. Guys, this is where I need the help.
This deck also started playing very, very SLOW, then immediately went to triple speed, and everyone sounded like Micky Mouse. And then like electronics possessed, the speed went to normal and it has played 4 tapes in a row, no distortion, no speed changes, and no tape destruction.
But OK, I admit it, I LIKE this Beocord 5000.
The second and formally working Beocord 5000 developed a "weak" motor after the cleaning, lubrication, (oil and grease), and Martin's new belts. It played perfectly before, but after doing TWO of these monsters, I was tired and left the shield for the circuit board out. I am hoping the bottom of the mechanism didn't do any real short damage to the board and that this is what is depriving the motor of power. I mean it worked great before. I just need the time to get in again and put the shield where it needs to be.
Any advice, especially about the locked, frozen, or stuck STOP circuit on the first deck would be greatly appreciated.
Soren, Jacques, anyone?
The problems with this version of the Beocord 5000 are legendary of course.You have set yourself a challenge indeed.They are lovely looking machines and nicely made too,but oh boy were they unreliable!!!!
The Dealer I worked for had to admit defeat too,after we spent so many fruitless hours trying to overcome the problems.It was almost as though the machines had a "hex" on them!
B&O tended to "buy in "the tape mechs for later machine's,and quietly swept this debacle under the carpet.
B&O at the time blamed users for not using the tapes that they recommended (BASF)which the machine was allegedly designed with.My own experience though,was that BASF tape was the worst thing you could use!!!
It's hard to imagine that any machine problems could not be overcome,but perhaps in time, like the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle etc,it will all be explained.
There is probably an enthusiast out there who will finally sort them,but it's not me alas!
Good luck with your's sir,
Nick
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Hi Nick,
Thank you for your candid commentary.
Legend has it that the design staff at B&O insisted on a profile that matched other B&O products of the day, thus leaving the engineers insufficient height to work with. Thus challenged they went on to design an over-engineered nightmare in an attempt to make the best possible cassette recorder of the time.
In the fifties and sixties B&O was faced with intense competition from much larger electronic manufactures and they needed to make BOLD statements, to stand out, and in fact, survive.
The Beogram 4000 in the seventies was just such a product, and a success. The Beocord 5000 wasn’t.
This is a lot like Rolls-Royce in the early fifties, they knew they had to offer an automatic transmission, but lacked the resources to design one from scratch. Thus, they purchased, under license, the 4-speed Hydramatic from GM.
Rolls-Royce then, in a misguided attempt to make the best, better, sanded and polished the internal works to perfection, and you know what? It didn’t work, as the gears required the roughness to shift.
In any case, I do have an enthusiast willing to work on my Beocords but I have waited for about a year to get them on his schedule and I just couldn’t stand it any more. This is the ONLY reason I attempted what I did: clean, oil, grease, and change the 5 belts.
Now I have one working Beocord that has several functions out, including STOP and REWIND. I am not trained in any of this, but I know the STOP is locked or stuck as there is a considerable HUM coming from the buttons that disappears when any non-working button is depressed.
Please don’t anyone say clean the contacts….. I knew to do that, TWICE.
I just need a tip of what to either look for or do to get STOP to work.
The other issue (I hope) is the result of fatigue, as after doing both decks I was exhausted and forget to put in the circuit board shield. I thought that one was DONE, but no, it used to function beautifully, but now the motor lacks power.
I just need the time to go back in and put the shield where it belongs preventing the mechanism from shorting out part or all of the circuit board.
Thanks for your response.
Not surprisingly Jeff,I don't have any technical info now on the Beocord's under discussion,but I agree with you as to the design parameters.B&O were rather "all at sea" during the seventies,as they couldn't compete with the onslaught of super engineered kit from the Japanese hi fi makers.
They did get their act together later though,and I notice that you have a Beocord 9000 in your collection.This is a fabulous machine and is everything and more of what the '5000 should have been!
The later '5000 machine from the eighties, is no slouch either of course,and can still impress once properly refurbished.
We will be following your reports with interest in due course as to the progress of the work.
I'm amazed at the tenacity and ingenuity of many B&O enthusiasts,and the solutions they have arrived at to restore the older kit.Prap's "never say never" is more optimistic?
Nick,
Yes indeed, the knowledge-base here is truly remarkable: maven enthusiasts who share....
I too am very impressed with the Beocord 9000, a truly wonderful machine, and I especially like seeing the indicators through the window in the top. Very clever that little touch. Mine has been "laid-up" for an eternity due to a voltage surge that took out my McIntosh C-27 Pre-amp along with ALL the power on the third floor of our house. A REAL explosion, a bit of smoke, and now (are you ready?) 16 months after receiving my C-27, it is still at the factory due to issues with glass manufacture. Once I have that pre-amp back, the BC 9000 will get a LOT more usage.
Right now the Beocord 5000's are the new "toys" so the working one in the living room, the one with all the issues, gets most of my attention and use. Today I was "blasting away" with the Beolab 5000 and M-100 speakers. Made for a great start to the morning. (I am so glad my neighbors don't mind....)
I keep scratching my head as to why almost none of the buttons on the right side work, yet all the ones on the left side do.
It is not remotely the same thing, but I had a terrible time with the AFT on the Beomaster 1600. (Stunning design, but avoid these like the plaque.) I wanted to tune in KING-FM (Seattle) and I needed that AFT off, but the switch, it turns out, was stuck. Once I "charmed" the switch, problem solved, and I have the Classic King-FM on the 1600.
I am thinking it must be something similar with the Beocord 5000, as I know the STOP switch is somehow still engaged, although I don't see where. I have no electronic background, of ANY kind, but even I know all that buzzing coming from the buttons on the left is not a good thing.
If I don't receive any helpful directions beforehand I plan to take a look at the switches that DO work on the other Beocord when I go in to replace the circuit board shield.
We'll see. Thank you for your interest.
Welcome back Jeff, sorry but i cant help you, Rich gifted me a BC 5000, he even included new belts and some spare parts, when it arrived I took a look at it, investigated on the forum and said oh my god, it is now waiting at the end of my to do list, so I will be following here to see what you and others come up with, wish you luck and a lot of fun
Soren
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Hi Soren,
Thank you for ....well..... ALL of that.
John will eventually get around to tackling these 2 Beocords, but I have been waiting for about a year, and I just couldn't take it anymore, I had to try.And at least I got the one that was DOA up and running. Still no STOP (etc) but it plays BEAUTIFULLY! The sound quality is truly exceptional, and I love the meter display!
Oh boy, the Beocord 5000 is a complicated beast! Every spring has to go back in the same spot so PICTURES are a must! (That and 3 full pages on notes.)
If anyone is interested, for ANY reason, I have LOTS of internal photos.
The next thing on my TO DO list is get back into the formally functioning Beocord and see if reinserting the paper electronic shield restores the power (strength) of the motor. Assuming this omission fixes my problem, I will get under the control buttons to see if anything is different between the working model and the non-working model.
And guys, anyone who has changed the belts in say a Beocord 8000 series (like my 8004) or even in the Beocenter 9000, either is a walk in the park next to the Beocord 5000.
There will be progress, and I will update when there is.
... Hopefully in 2019 but I have been swamped with other restorations. I do have my own interest in the Beocord 5000 as I have my own unit from 1977 that I would like to get working again. I actually thought I was going to tackle mine a couple of years ago. I still have the new belts from Martin sitting in a box.
John
Hi John,
Excellent workmanship like yours takes time. All I have to do is look at my Beocord 8004 and Beomaster 4400 to know that.
I just had to try my hand at fixing these beasts and the way I look at it, with luck I will have eliminated the "easy" stuff.
Trust me, in 2019 I will still need to ask for your help, but at least you won't have to change the belts
This is a public forum but I am a little distressed that the DOA Beocord has so many function buttons that do not work. Worse, the functioning Beocord now having a motor too feeble to move the tape.
You might say this is the difference between an amateur like me and a professional like you.
One thing I think you will like, after saying not to let the working Beocord sit, the DOA Beocord get played at LEAST an hour every day and we'll see what happens when I put the circuit board shield back in the formally functioning Berocord. With luck, it and the Beomaster 4400 will make wonderful music together!
Jacques
The thing you must remember is that the Beocord 5000 is a real B&O device. It was built to be superior to every other deck of its time and the engineering is fantastic. The problem is that it is like a vintage Ferrari - when it works it is sublime - but it goes out of tune just looking at it. If you think of what it was up against when released you will realise how incredibly advanced it was. As was the matching Beomaster 6000. So good luck to each and every one of you - you are keeping ultimate B&O working.
I am not sure what I would put into the ultimate category?
Beolab 5000 system probably, though the Beogram was an import.
Beomaster 1900/2400
Beolab 8000 system
Beogram 4000 (obviously!)
Beocord 5000/Beomaster 6000
I definitely don't underestimate the 4400 - or the 4401 in particular!
chartz:Hi Jeff, John, Søren, Nick, Phew, what a nightmare! I’m here, always. But all those threads about newer products just don’t do anything for me. Plain boring. Like you Sir I have two of those as you may remember, but I didn’t come across any of the problems you are now facing, after all those hours spent trying to fix them. My two Beocords still work fine (I make sure they do, from time to time) and although I always dread the odd tape-chewing event, well it hasn’t yet happened. Hum is usually related to a bad ground connection somewhere and I’m pretty confident that this is your issue here. Even in service position, this shouldn’t happen. This could also be a leaky capacitor. Do all the lamps work? I remember the STOP lamp was part of the circuit. Perhaps you should double-check everything again, and put that shield back in place. Your speed issue is odd too. Check the motor amplifier and feedback circuit. The capstan wheels are dented (it’s a tachometre) and there is a sensor in the loop that regulates speed, à la Revox. Again, check solders and connectors. Let me have a look at the service manual.
Phew, what a nightmare!
I’m here, always. But all those threads about newer products just don’t do anything for me. Plain boring.
Like you Sir I have two of those as you may remember, but I didn’t come across any of the problems you are now facing, after all those hours spent trying to fix them.
My two Beocords still work fine (I make sure they do, from time to time) and although I always dread the odd tape-chewing event, well it hasn’t yet happened.
Hum is usually related to a bad ground connection somewhere and I’m pretty confident that this is your issue here. Even in service position, this shouldn’t happen. This could also be a leaky capacitor.
Do all the lamps work? I remember the STOP lamp was part of the circuit.
Perhaps you should double-check everything again, and put that shield back in place.
Your speed issue is odd too. Check the motor amplifier and feedback circuit. The capstan wheels are dented (it’s a tachometre) and there is a sensor in the loop that regulates speed, à la Revox. Again, check solders and connectors.
Let me have a look at the service manual.
Hi Jacques,
Always good to hear from you, and yes of course I WELL remember that you had two Beocord 5000 decks.....AND that they never chewed up tapes.You were most clear on that point.
With the two decks, I am afraid you have become confused with which deck has an issue. This is totally understandable. Allow me to clarify.
The first Beocord to arrive from Seattle, Washington, arrived here DOA. The lights came on, but that is it. Cleaned and oiled/greased (where needed), reassembled, and nothing. I went to bed after a LONG day bearvering away at that beast, and felt totally defeated.
Woke up the next morning with a "brilliant" idea (that actually was....) and I engaged the ON button, so that the deck was powered, and THEN I plugged it in. Instantly the deck (from out of nowhere) came to life..... oh it sure did and it destroyed my favourite cassette tape. Really bad.
The reason for so much damage was EJECT does not function when the deck is on, and of course, as mentioned STOP does not work either. So with the tape being chomped to death, I am wildly pressing STOP and EJECT, to no effect.
Only pressing OFF stopped the carnage. Then (by accident) I discovered that EJECT does work, with the deck off. Out comes what HAD been a cassette tape, now several, ripped, torn, and mangled pieces of tape. (The tape alone took an hour to splice back together.)
OK, a bit annoying, but I was making progress, of a sort. I was just staring at the Beocord somehow expecting it to tell me what was wrong. It doesn't work that way, but we were getting to know each other.
So at this point I knew how to operate this Beocord, using the OFF button as the key to everything.
As mentioned there is a CONSIDERABLE BUZZ coming from all the switches on the right side. Press any of them and the BUZZ goes away. Somewhere in here we clearly have a ground problem.
But I need to digress. I played 3 tapes with improving results.
Initially the right channel was barely audible. We are talking put you ear physically touching my new M100 speakers. (I just love them....) But within 10 minutes of play, the right channel came up to where it should be, and stayed there. More progress, well hopefully anyway.
This is where the tape slowed down to a crawl and I was shaking my head, WTF, now what? Well what was it went from SLOW to triple speed, with the singers all sounding like Micky Mouse. Disconcerting. But I was now obsessed with this deck.
From here on, the little hiccups disappeared. I have something like 10 hours of play time: no tape chewing, and no speed changes.
Jacques, you asked if all the lights work. I don't know as STOP doesn't function and I assume there is a lamp for STOP. However, in general, all lamps work except Reverse and STOP.
Moving on, much of the above took place over the last week, but the following day I tackled, while I still remembered what to do, the second deck from Seattle. (Different seller, two weeks apart.) This deck arrived in working condition, however there was a TERRIBLE noise coming from the unit. It played EXTREMELY well, but I had to turn the volume up to overcome the operating noise.
This second deck had all its belts in place, unlike the first that had one broken belt and one had just fallen off. But belts in place, the motor had come loose and was at a really steep angle, and rubbing on the belt. I thought, well now, no wonder it was SO noisy.
Cleaned/lubricated the second deck, but out of fatigue I forgot the brown paper shield that keeps the bottom of the mechanism from touching the circuit board on the bottom.
I was really surprised (disappointed too) that the formally fully functional deck now had a motor too weak to do more than SLOWLY move the tape. I was actually thinking about having one of Soren's Cubas right there and then..... but I didn't. Kinda gave up, and THEN I spotted the shield thinking "You dummy, you left that out." Well I did.
I am now HOPING that the omission of the shield is causing a short issue, probably multiple short issues and that is what had the motor acting so anemic. I plan to go back in tomorrow with the second deck which I have left unplugged until the shield is back where it needs to be.
Wow, that was a LONG story.
And Jacques, I have the BEST all together for the first time: Beolab 5000 (You "might" remember THAT one), Beomaster 5000, Beogram 4000, Beocord 5000, and M100 speakers. They look and sound stunning today.
Soren, I was "rocking" this morning at "7," and the Beolab was as happy as a clam. And so was I!!!
Peter: The thing you must remember is that the Beocord 5000 is a real B&O device. It was built to be superior to every other deck of its time and the engineering is fantastic. The problem is that it is like a vintage Ferrari - when it works it is sublime - but it goes out of tune just looking at it. If you think of what it was up against when released you will realise how incredibly advanced it was. As was the matching Beomaster 6000. So good luck to each and every one of you - you are keeping ultimate B&O working. I am not sure what I would put into the ultimate category? Beolab 5000 system probably, though the Beogram was an import. Beomaster 1900/2400 Beolab 8000 system Beogram 4000 (obviously!) Beocord 5000/Beomaster 6000
Yes sir, the Beocord 5000 is ALL B&O and indeed, it was designed to be the best of the best. I have been searching for a Beocord 5000 for years..... YEARS, and then found two, a couple weeks apart, and both in Seattle, Washington.
I don't recall anyone in any forum saying anything about the sound quality, which I believe is EXCEPTIONAL.
Jacques,
I was hoping someone would mention the Beomaster 4400.
Remember mine? The abject disaster with all the NOS caps?
Well John Worley did an AMAZING job on it and now if performs the way it should.
One VERY positive oddity, after the rebuild, John noticed, as have I, that running at near FULL power the 4400 runs COOL! We are talking tepid, if that.
Thank you Mr. W!!!!
Peter: I definitely don't underestimate the 4400 - or the 4401 in particular!
Oh Peter, how you love that black fascia panel on the 4401. I agree, it looks nice, although I haven't ever actually seen one.
I just got my 4400 back from John Worley's remarkable restoration. John is a perfectionist and it really shows in his work.
chartz:Sound coming up progressively as the deck warms up clearly indicates bad electrolytic capacitors. I think you should start here Jeff. Then the STOP lamp should be replaced. I guess that will restore normal operation. Good luck with that!
I think you should start here Jeff.
Then the STOP lamp should be replaced. I guess that will restore normal operation.
Good luck with that!
The "improvement" in the right channel volume was a ONE-time affair, in the beginning. Now when the Beocord turned on, the volume is normal and correct, immediately, and every time.
As for the STOP lamp, I am 99.9% certain the lamp is fine, it is that STOP does not engage. Pressing this button and REVERSE does nothing, no effect. If/when I figure out why the switch doesn't work, I believe the lamp with be there.
And I think you are right, there is a ground issue that does not effect the buttons on the left side, just most of the right, but not all.
Since STOP does not work at all, EJECT won't eject a "playing" tape.
Here is a really poor photo of the Beolab/Beomaster 5000, Beogram 4000, Beocord 5000, and M100 speakers. The room is hopelessly over-crowded, but serves it purpose, for the present time. (We need a larger home....)
Yes the cap has “reformed” but leave the deck unused for some time and it will do it again.
Do check wiring, lamps and caps.
chartz: Yes the cap has “reformed” but leave the deck unused for some time and it will do it again. Do check wiring, lamps and caps.
Hi Jacques, holy crap, I suppose you are right. Sigh.
The plan, if I can be so overly charitable, is to get into the second deck, the one that worked flawlessly, if noisily, and see if shielding the circuit board restores full power to the motor. If it does, I have a completely functional Beocord 5000.
Back to the first one. With all that BUZZING going on, vibrating the buttons (yes they vibrate) I really need to find the ground issue, if I possibly can, because once the ground is there, I suspect the STOP and FF buttons (with their lights) will work, and then the EJECT will work, without having to turn the deck off.
It does sound like re-capping is in the near future, but first, I kinda would like to follow my plan.
If the above photo is too big, just click on it, and you can see the crowded, but visually intriguing set-up. Basically my pride and joy stereo dropped into a mini car museum. This requires a bit of a sense of humour to appreciate fully.
Hi Soren, Jacques, John, and Peter,
This is not going to be quick or easy.
First off, I made a collage of mistakes, too numerous and embarrassing to name. However the missing shield is needed to protect wires NOT the circuit board.Sorry about that incorrect information.
One thing is for certain, NO one would ever employee me to repair their Beocord 5000.
Missed lubrications corrected, the pressure on the motor was reduced at least 90%. A few other goofs adjusted, and I thought I was good to go.
No such luck Chico.
Everything back together and the motor has sufficient power, BUT the tape only plays a short time, say 4 seconds and shuts off, like in the end of the tape senor is tripping.
Back to square one. Took a quick break with everything disassembled (again) on the kitchen counter.
So as not to confuse anyone, this is unit number two, the one that arrived working. Now it isn't. Grrr.
Unit one, the one with all the issues continues to operate beautifully, with the handicap of no STOP, REVERSE, etc. I admit the incessant buzz from the buttons is driving me to distraction, but I see nothing amiss that could possibly be a bad ground.
I will continue sleuthing, but this is beginning to look like too much for an amateur. Sigh.
UPDATE:
Deck two, the "working deck" will play a tape for about 4 seconds and stop. Repeatedly.
Exchanged mechanisms and the same thing happened, so probably not the mechanism.
MAJOR lubrication reduced the tension on the motor 90%, but the problem continued.
Back to deck one, the DOA deck. Reassembled it and now it EATS tapes, repeatedly. I must have played a dozen of tapes previously with NO tape crunching. But now, from out of nowhere, it is destroying my tape collection.
Soren never gave up when restoring his Beomaster 4400 or Beolab 5000. I suspect John and Jacques never gave up either. But I don't really know what else to do.
For retrospect, I found two Beocord 5000's, both in Seattle. The first was DOA and the second played beautifully, but made horrendous noises in doing so.
Cleaned, lubricated (imperfectly), and changed the 5 belts on both and the DOA worked, sans STOP and Reverse, but the formally working deck no longer worked.A second going-over with lubrication didn't seem to help.
Sorry guys, I feel I have let you down.
Piaf: UPDATE: Deck two, the "working deck" will play a tape for about 4 seconds and stop. Repeatedly.
Did you fit the belt for the motion sensor?
Martin
Piaf: Peter: I definitely don't underestimate the 4400 - or the 4401 in particular! Oh Peter, how you love that black fascia panel on the 4401. I agree, it looks nice, although I haven't ever actually seen one.
Not all Beomaster 4401 are black
What is the motion sensor?
Close to the tapecounter is a round magnet, rotated by the belt, when the tape moves.The magnet works with a hall-sensor or a reed.relay, depending on deck type, sending pulses to the electronics.The electronics will issue a stop command, when no pulses come in, - that is if the tape stops at tape end or if the tape breaks -or if the belt to the magnet is missing.
Yes. I assumed you did put that belt back into place. I had to replace the hall sensor on one of my BC5000, I remember it now!
Good advice Martin, as always!
Dillen: Close to the tapecounter is a round magnet, rotated by the belt, when the tape moves.The magnet works with a hall-sensor or a reed.relay, depending on deck type, sending pulses to the electronics.The electronics will issue a stop command, when no pulses come in, - that is if the tape stops at tape end or if the tape breaks -or if the belt to the magnet is missing. Martin
Could it really be this easy? This simple? I can't wait to find out.
Thank you Martin, as always. (I am beginning to see why you prefer not to work on these decks.....)
Guys,
Spent the better part of the day with the first (DOA) deck, and you know the drill, you do everything you think needs doing, reassemble it to test it, still has problems, so take apart again. Repeat as necessary. Yuk.
Now THREE thorough cleanings/lubrications and the right spindle it moving slower than the left, that is the take-up moves slower than the supply spindle, and you know what happens, over and over again.
Been over and over the manual but don't seem to see any solution.
Still want to check deck two to see if Martin's tip will solve the 4 second play issue. That would be nice, but sounds too good to be true.
Not remotely the news I want to deliver.
Deck one will not stop eating tapes, as the receive spindle moves more slowly than the supply spindle.
Never quiet found what Martin was talking about, however, after a total of 4 full days, the second Beocord will "play" indefinitely, as long as there is no tape. Insert a tape and virtually the same problem, the receive spindle is so anemic in power, that the tape backs up.
Here is the deal, deck one, the deck that arrived DOA, but then played tapes beautifully, daily, for a couple of weeks after the clean/lube/belt change, now destroys tapes with abandon, mostly because the take-up spindle moves too slowly.
On to Deck two, the one that functioned, was noisy, but otherwise trouble-free. This deck would only play for 4 seconds, but after spending an entire day rummaging around yesterday, but then if there was no tape, the take-up spindle runs endlessly. Put in a cassette and the exact same problem with the first deck, the take-up is too slow.
I find it beyond ODD that both decks have the same issue.
Basically four full days of work, real work, to take two decks that at one point or another played tapes well, but now, both are out of commission.
I rather doubt a defective motor in either deck, however something misplaced, well that is a real possibility. But what? Exactly, who knows?
Changing the subject briefly, you never cease to amaze me in your choice of words. We have had this discussion previously, but the choice of "thingy" is just SO unusual for anyone not native to English. I mean it is slang, but such a narrow bit of slang. Fascinating choice, really. Colorful too, as "thingy" would almost exclusively be used by a not too bright woman, probably a blonde, a gay man, or a person who wants to convey clearly that they do not know anything about the mentioned article. If you didn't know this, good, than you learned something today.
What I am saying is, when I studied both Spanish and French (I do NOT remotely speak French!!) it was all very stiff, correct, and often archaic, like voiture instead of auto. Yet your word choice would easily fit in well, in New York or Los Angeles. I am saying I am REALLY impressed!
Back to my Beocords, it is absolutely NOT in my nature to give up on things, but I fear I have attempted something outside my limited ability. I don't even know what question to ask at this juncture.
The situation that REALLY gets to me is with deck two, the one that always worked. I mean Jacques, it did everything flawlessly: PLAY, FAST FORWARD, REVERSE, STOP, etc. The ONLY reason I didn't use it was the horrendous crunching noises it made when playing tapes. When I found the motor loose, at such a steep angle, and rubbing constantly against the belt, I thought I was home-free.
I mean this was an OPERATING deck and all I was doing is cleaning/lubricating, and changing belts. What could possibly go wrong? The motor was fine when it arrived, but after the work, I felt the motor as anemic. That was an unexpected surprise.
Then I found the shield and mistakenly convinced myself that it was to protect the circuit board. It wasn't, just some central wires. I was thinking (incorrectly) that the mechanism might be shorting out the board, but of course, that was not the case.
Put back together this deck would only engage PLAY for 4 seconds (or so) and stop, repeatedly. Here Martin suggested the belt was missing from the magnet and hall sensor. Back in, I found the magnet, put things the way I thought they should be, and that brings us to today, where the 4 second play is not an issue, the problem is the take-up spindle isn't moving fast enough and the tape pills up.
I have no doubt that I caused this problem, but I don't see how. (If I did, I would have fixed it by now....)
I sincerely DO appreciate all the helpful advice.
My theory is that we have misunderstood the whole Beocord 5000 device. This was actually the first AI life form and invented by B&O. What we have not understood is that its nutrition source is clearly the magnetic covering of tapes. It clearly makes sense - just when you think everything is fine, it is lunch time. Get an 8004 - it just works and is the best tape machine made by B&O. Mine never ate anything - don't know why I let it go!
Peter,
Ha ha ha, you maybe right, but to have the exact same problem with two decks I have to think I didn't something wrong. What? I have no idea.
The 8004 is a SUPERB machine. BeoBill serviced it (God help me) but John Worley did the mechanism to perfection. This is the cassette deck I use most often, and it is wonderful. (Sorry Rich)
I also have a Beocord 9000 serviced by Martin, so you know it performs well. And it does.
In my opinion the Beocord 9000 was the best cassette recorder B&O ever made, BUT it is overly complicated, so folks are better off with the (really) equally good 8004.
I was REALLY enjoying the performance of the one Beocord 5000 with my Beolab 5000, but that pleasure has come to an abrupt end.
Hey Rich,
I love your system too, you have wonderful taste.
I have searched for years for a Beocord 2400 (The VU meters work with play, not just record) but all I have found has been tattered.
I am a little surprised at your love for the Beocord 4500. I was gifted with one from the Netherlands, and I do LOVE it, but is so basic, only one channel indicator. Still the sound is superb and I LOVE the auto-reverse. Great stereo with the S-45.2 speakers.
The same system, more compact, the Beocenter 9000.
All FUN!