Hitachi TRK-5280E

[hitachi-san]

Hello boomboxers,

this is my first post in this highly appreciated community. I'm not a native speaker so some terms might be not fully accurate.
Two weeks ago I found a Hitachi TRK-5280E on a flea market in Berlin. Cost me just 5 €. I think that's no bad deal regarding only the great radio sound which i'm now allowed to hear every day.
Radio sound - as unfortunately, the cassette player is not working any more. When i opened the cabinet i found a torn belt which i thought to be the original part. But now, after ordering a new one with almost the same dimension (maybe 1 or 2 mm longer than the orignal one) i think that a former owner replaced it already, cause it didn't work, no matter which way i tried to connect the motor with the pulley (hope that's the right term). The device has definetly been opened before as some screws from the rear cabinet were missing and the profile was damaged.

So my question would be: is there anybody who own's a manual or knows about the belt sizes for this device? Even if I find a manual somewhere i can't be sure to find the right length as these manuals often only keep the article no. of the spare part.
it would be also great to find out how the belt from the motor is "routed" as there are at least 3 possibilities.
Btw, i got the same problem with the counter...

Thx for any help!
Cheers!

 

[Northerner]

Welcome to the forum!

You'd have been better getting a belt shorter than the one in there as they stretch over time and then slip...its best to get a pack with a selection of belts as you can do it by trial and error and it tends to be much cheaper than ordering individual belts

If you post a picture of the mechanism someone will be able to tell you the correct route for the belt.

Oh and for a non-native speaker your English is excellent!

 

[Alberto]

I deduct 10% from the length of the old belt and get a new belt to that length. Welcome and Goodluck.

 

[baddboybill]

Deduction should be 5-10% depending on what actual old belt feels like on pulleys. If you use to small of belt you can damage motor or capstan

 

[Alberto]

I start with a deduction of 10% and work from there. I have found that the tighter the belt the slower it will sound when you play a cassette. If the cassette sounds slow then I go with alittle bigger belt.I do all that before I do any speed adjustment to motor and any azimuth adjustment.

 

[hitachi-san]

Thanks for help!
It's sounds logical to me to deduct something from the "orignial" length, but when I replaced the belt and pushed the play button, it seemed to work right for a few seconds. But after that it became slower and slower and stopped completely in the end. Also it didn't rewind and fast forward as it seemed too much tension on the belt. That's why I thought it's not the original belt which was installed before.
I think I heed Northener's advice to get a selection of belts .

 

[hitachi-san]

I finally got it started with a flat belt (length: 238 mm; width 5 mm: flywheel belt)
the counter belt should be 194 mm long (square belt)
the other belt for transport and fast forward ist a round belt, which is 2 mm thick and about 188 mm long.
this is all without warranty. i've never seen the exact measures. i just doubled the measured length und added about 2 mm.