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Otari Question

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Posted on April 29, 2015 at 14:50:47
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
As per the pic below the red circled area is the pivot point of the pinch roller arm assembly. It is all but bound at the pivot point and I thought penetrating oil would loosen it but has not within an hour.

I guess I need to remove the C clip there to remove the arm from the pivot point and thoroughly clean it. I think, but may be wrong, one end or the other of this arm must also be removed to totally access the pivot point to get the brass collar off behind the arm. (Am I making sense?)

Perhaps this is a common issue and someone here has done this before and can school me. When I push the arm to make contact with the capstan the drive system seems fine. As it is now it feels like a like an old record changer arm bound from old hardened grease.


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"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

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RE: Otari Question, posted on April 29, 2015 at 15:12:37
tesla
Audiophile

Posts: 3180
Location: San Diego County, California
Joined: October 25, 2000
I have had a similar problem in the past, and I think your right. The last time I attempted the same problem, It was difficult to remove because of, you guessed it, the hardened grease. From the picture, I would also guess you might need to remove what appears to be the motor to the left, or the solenoid? to the right. Good luck! and use a good quality grease upon re-assembly, preferably synthetic.





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you probably know this but..., posted on April 29, 2015 at 15:28:32
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 15995
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
October 23, 2016
numerous manuals (ops and service) available from Hifi Engine (link below).

Otari also has manuals online, if memory serves. Given the intended customers for this, I think they're fairly field-repairable (or at least field adjustable/adaptable).


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all the best,
mrh

 

RE: you probably know this but..., posted on April 29, 2015 at 16:02:00
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
They are all quite nice but none have a visual breakdown of the transport parts. Plenty of info and diagrams and schematics but not what I need for the transport and to understand how these parts go together. I tried them all. Most have the 97 page version and there is a 117 page (I think) that I got as well. Thanks!


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"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 03:44:20
vinnie2
Audiophile

Posts: 4481
Location: North Carolina
Joined: September 28, 2013
If you can see the old grease or know right where it is you might try spritzing a tiny amount of WD-40 there. I have had good luck doing that on older equipment before. WD has kerosene in it and it dissolves the old grease. If you use just a little bit it will mix in with the rest of it and soften it up again. It replaces the volatiles that have evaporated from the old grease, sort of a rejuvinater. Just don't use very much!

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 06:05:56
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11686
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
Earl, my manual (granted, for a later model) shows a drawing of that area on pp. 6-4 and 6-5 in a description of how you adjust pinch roller pressure. In your photo, the angled metal piece (arm) you circled appears to be broken (left of the circle) or in two pieces while the drawing in my manual shows it as a single unbroken piece. There's nothing about lubrication of the area and the manual (and the one I linked of your deck) says "The only component requiring lubrication is the capstan."

A mystery. Good luck.

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 06:22:46
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
No it's one solid piece, there is a bend (factory made) in the part, perhaps that makes it look like two. The C clip has no visible gaps on the back side to get it out easily. WD after 24 hours has improved its movement but not enough.

I saw the part about adjusting the pinch roller pressure and also found a complete diagram of the transport too. I just looked at it and didn't download it. Now I can't find it but I don't need it now so much.

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"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 11:02:18
ironbut
Audiophile

Posts: 1370
Location: OR
Joined: February 21, 2004
You should be able to find the manual you need plus a other pivot fixin' stuff on this page.

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 12:40:22
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
great thread but it is 5 years old and most of the links are dead. I know eventually I'll run into someone that has had this issue.


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"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 13:14:07
ironbut
Audiophile

Posts: 1370
Location: OR
Joined: February 21, 2004
Sorry about the links.
IIRC, the one regarding the pivot said that WD40 was the quick fix but removing, cleaning and lubing with phono lube grease was the real repair.

Were you able to download the manuals at least?

 

RE: Otari Question, posted on April 30, 2015 at 14:51:34
Awe-d-o-file
Dealer

Posts: 21037
Location: 50 miles west of DC
Joined: January 10, 2004
I've gotten all the manuals I need now. And while it has loosened a bit my experience with old record changers tells me this needs to be removed, cleaned, lube and reinstalled. Thank you for your help!

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ET

"If at first you don't succeed, keep on sucking till you do suck seed" - Curly Howard 1936

 

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