Audio Systems: Kenwood Tape Deck, clock oil, electrolytic caps

Question
QUESTION: Last year, I purchased a new "old stock" Kenwood Stereo Cassette Tape Deck KX-630.  It sounds great but there are transport problems.  Most (but not all of the time) of the time, I need to push on the flywheel to get it started.  This is true in forward, rapid forward, and rapid reverse.  

What have I done?  First, I replaced the main drive belt.  Next, I replaced the large electrolytic caps, thinking that the motor was a capacitive start and was not getting enough energy to start.  I have also oiled those bearing points that I can reach with a very light watch/clock oil.  Nothing seems to help.  

What do you suggest?


ANSWER: Ed,

Sounds to me like you may have purchased a defective unit. Especially considering that you replaced the drive belt (which really should not have worn out already, unless you're using this unit VERY heavily).  If this unit is only a year old, and you've already replaced the belt and the capacitors and transport mechanism still isn't working, you may need to contact Kenwood and see if they'll replace it. Most Kenwood gear is built to last, and it's not fair to you to have to perform major surgery on this unit already.

If they won't, I guss the next step would be to clean any electrical contact points in the buttons, and check to see if any gears are stripped.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for the prompt response.  When I said "new old stock", I meant that I purchased a 20+ year old unit that had resided unused in its original packing.  It has seen a total of about 2 hours of use since I unpacked it.  All gears are in new condition.  

What are the electrical contact points in the buttons that you refer to?

Thanks again.  

Ed

Answer
Ahhh.... that may be a problem.  Where was the unit stored for 20+ years? Was it in a climate-controlled area?  Temperature fluctuations over time may have wreaked havoc on the circuitry. Transistors, for example, especially older transistors, can rot over time if they are not kept in use. Or, if it were unusally hot, for even one day over those 20+ years, something inside may have warped due to the heat... which may mean you're out of luck.

The contact points I was referring to may or may not exist in this particular model. Many electronics will have external buttons that end up pushing internal buttons. When I worked in IT support, we ran into a lot of old computers that wouldn't turn on because the real and "fake" buttons weren't making contact. I don't know if that's the problem with this unit (probably not, since it hasn't been ever used).