Panasonic RX5050 tape assembly issue
- Thread starter JAF
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Hello all, I just found this great site here and love seeing all the vintage blasters. My personal fave bitd was/is the Panasonig RX5050. However, mine won't play tapes. The problem seems to be with the drive roller being inhibited by some sort of stabilizer roller (not really sure about the inner workings so forgive my ignorance). I've pointed it out in the pics of my tape assembly both engaged and disengaged. Also, when the tape plays for those few seconds there's quite a loud hum.
Anyone have an idea how to fix this? All belts are intact and all pulleys seem to be rotating. If I put a tape in the drive roller stops and the rubber roller below keeps pulling the tape into the mechanism. Thanks for any help in advance!
disengaged...
...and engaged
Anyone have an idea how to fix this? All belts are intact and all pulleys seem to be rotating. If I put a tape in the drive roller stops and the rubber roller below keeps pulling the tape into the mechanism. Thanks for any help in advance!
disengaged...
...and engaged
Try and clean that roller and the take up real where roller rides with alcohol..It may not be making good contact due to rubber being dry and slick 
Also belts may need to be changed if they seem stretched 
Also belts may need to be changed if they seem stretched
the hum could mean the record switch is dirty and not getting good contact...Spray some contact cleaner/ deoxit in switch and press switch many times and this will help clean and and get rid of any oxidation
I have a 5050 as well and for whatever reason I can't get the tape door to open. 
The cassette works perfect when I took it apart tho!
Go figure. I'll get it squared away one day. Good luck with yours. As for the missing slider look up bredgeo, he makes small to large knobs and sliders.
The cassette works perfect when I took it apart tho!
Go figure. I'll get it squared away one day. Good luck with yours. As for the missing slider look up bredgeo, he makes small to large knobs and sliders.Unfortunately no good on the cleaning Bill. It really seems like that drive reel doesn't have power now. I realized that when it was spinning last night, the counter belt was off. If I put that back, the drive hardly moves. Sounds like it could be a malfunction with the auto-stop feature too but I don't really know how that works on these units. All belts are there like I said (at least there are none I can see broken or missing). But they don't seem very tight either.How much tension should there be on these belts? It also seems like a complicated job to replace them. Has anyone done this before?
I'd love to hear from anyone with experience restoring/repairing one of these 5050's. I'd really like to bring it fully back to life. the Radio still kicks A$$ and reminds me of why I loved this box so much.
I'd love to hear from anyone with experience restoring/repairing one of these 5050's. I'd really like to bring it fully back to life. the Radio still kicks A$$ and reminds me of why I loved this box so much.
Bummer man, that should be an easy fix though next time you take it apart. The latch for the door is on the right side of the tape assembly. Looks like the eject button is connected to it directly, just lifts/pushes it up releasing the spring loaded door. If that deck works it's def worth fixing.Jboogie2384 said:I have a 5050 as well and for whatever reason I can't get the tape door to open.
The cassette works perfect when I took it apart tho!
Thanks for the good luck wishes and tip on that slider!
:superduper:
yea I press the eject and nothing happened. Even when I took it apart the latch doesn't move or anything. It's cool tho. I only use it with the iPad when I'm watching movies or listening to the music off of it.JAF said:Bummer man, that should be an easy fix though next time you take it apart. The latch for the door is on the right side of the tape assembly. Looks like the eject button is connected to it directly, just lifts/pushes it up releasing the spring loaded door. If that deck works it's def worth fixing.Jboogie2384 said:I have a 5050 as well and for whatever reason I can't get the tape door to open.
The cassette works perfect when I took it apart tho!
Thanks for the good luck wishes and tip on that slider!
It's probably a slipping belt then. You should replace belts as 30 years and the rubber gets weak and stretches. You can try and clean belts with alcohol but more than likely they are weak and dry rotted. If you can take deck out completely it's easier to change belts. I can tell you where to order them and give a chart on sizes ... Good luckJAF said:
As for your hum you may have an earth wire not in the correct spot, I have a 5085 and there was an earth on one of the mountings for that whole cassette mechanism, I forgot to put it back on when replacing the belts and that caused a hum when playing tapes.
Jboogie2384 I have to try an iPod through this beast. That's a good idea. I bet the tape deck could even be a holder lol.
Bill & Rock, thanks for the tips on eliminating the hum I'll check those things out too.
Here's a pic of the back of the assembly. 3 main belts all are supple but seem pretty loose so I'll assume they are stretched/played out. They're def not dried out though.
Bill, can you point me in the right direction for some new belts? May as well overhaul this joint. Thanks again all!
Bill & Rock, thanks for the tips on eliminating the hum I'll check those things out too.
Here's a pic of the back of the assembly. 3 main belts all are supple but seem pretty loose so I'll assume they are stretched/played out. They're def not dried out though.
Bill, can you point me in the right direction for some new belts? May as well overhaul this joint. Thanks again all!
PM sentJAF said:
More than likely the flat belt is suspect, but I would change all belts including the counter belt...Good Luck 
its always a good idea to replace the belts slipping stretching are always involded of deck problems plus chech those other wheels and the rubber that covers them ,,i have seen them come apart because of the rubber being brittle... 
The plate that the motor is on has to be removed to change the flat belt and the auto-stop belt. The ff/rw belt is easier. Just had mine apart.
Thanks for the comments and advice guys. Yeah, it looks like the motor housing plate is the piece that needs to come off. I may ship it off to a more experienced member since I've never taken an auto-deck apart.
And teamstress I love your avatar, totally remember that bad-a$$ box!
And teamstress I love your avatar, totally remember that bad-a$$ box!
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