Today I decided to tackle my 3T18 - It was suffering from dull tired speaker grilles & FF/Rewind was just not working, she was really struggling to do anything
Now if you have got or had one of these machines you will know that they really are something very special - the build quality is way beyond the average radio recorder of the day.......I would say that they are designed & built to a ridiculous standard, look at the reel enclosures, the belt free gear driven reel control coupled to a huge flywheel & very long flat belt............All the microswitches are of the highest quality (& still work) Hardly ANY messy internal wires snaking everywhere - just the wires to the cassette deck, the dolby lamp (on it's own little board) & a simple loom for the speakers!
Like I say, the 3T18 is a beautiful thing & I am so happy I got a nice one
Anyway - The FF/Rew problem..........
The huge flywheel also drives via 2 stage cogs the take up spool in play & fast winding is done using the bigger cog beneath the flywheel!
A small cylindrical clutch driven by the bigger black cog had burst apart & jumped out on removal of the flywheel
Time to put her aside until today: After studying all the parts I had, & some very bad language - it suddenly became obvious how it went back together, but how to make it stay back in (It is under constant sprung pressure & sits VERY close to the underside of the flywheel
An hour later the clutch was rebuilt using scrap parts & secured to it's mount with superglue without getting any on it's mount which moves around to achieve fast reel drive
Was well pleased with achieving a good solid repair............
Next it was time to rub down the removed speaker covers & take the 'Bare Grilles' outside & respray them all.........the easy part!!
Two hours later it was time to get 'Bare' away from making stupid TV programs & into my home to do something useful
The 'Bare Grilles' were re-fitted the front panel cleaned yet again..........& then Disaster
Both the woofers it turns out are rotten beyond repair, the tiniest touch & the cones just fall away under my fingers!! The tweeters are fine so I am looking for a suitable pair of 5 inch (I think) woofers with big magnets..................That's for another day
She looks simply gorgeous now though
As I said these are a thing of beauty.................
Now if you have got or had one of these machines you will know that they really are something very special - the build quality is way beyond the average radio recorder of the day.......I would say that they are designed & built to a ridiculous standard, look at the reel enclosures, the belt free gear driven reel control coupled to a huge flywheel & very long flat belt............All the microswitches are of the highest quality (& still work) Hardly ANY messy internal wires snaking everywhere - just the wires to the cassette deck, the dolby lamp (on it's own little board) & a simple loom for the speakers!
Like I say, the 3T18 is a beautiful thing & I am so happy I got a nice one
Anyway - The FF/Rew problem..........
The huge flywheel also drives via 2 stage cogs the take up spool in play & fast winding is done using the bigger cog beneath the flywheel!
A small cylindrical clutch driven by the bigger black cog had burst apart & jumped out on removal of the flywheel
Time to put her aside until today: After studying all the parts I had, & some very bad language - it suddenly became obvious how it went back together, but how to make it stay back in (It is under constant sprung pressure & sits VERY close to the underside of the flywheel
An hour later the clutch was rebuilt using scrap parts & secured to it's mount with superglue without getting any on it's mount which moves around to achieve fast reel drive
Next it was time to rub down the removed speaker covers & take the 'Bare Grilles' outside & respray them all.........the easy part!!
Two hours later it was time to get 'Bare' away from making stupid TV programs & into my home to do something useful
Both the woofers it turns out are rotten beyond repair, the tiniest touch & the cones just fall away under my fingers!! The tweeters are fine so I am looking for a suitable pair of 5 inch (I think) woofers with big magnets..................That's for another day
She looks simply gorgeous now though
I don't see a Frequency Dial 
Does this model have a Digital Tuner?
