RDM - Cassette Deck Repairs

04/07/2026

#0119 Pioneer CT-959 Cassette Deck

--FULL RESTORATION--

Deck was received non functional, all belts were melted.

A full mechanical rebuild was done:
- Mechanism fully cleaned + re lubed
- Mechanism position encoder opened up and manually cleaned
- Tape type switches opened up and manually cleaned
- Rec tab microsw replaced
- All belts + idler + pinchroller replaced
- Reel motor replaced
- Capstan motor refurbished
- All bearings relubed
- Tape path realigned via WHS-300

On the electronics side:
- All potentiometers and switches were cleaned
- Solder joints checked and redone where needed (mainly display board)
- All parameters readjusted

You can see measurements in the YouTube video and also hear results in the limits YouTube compression allows.

Video with direct sound: youtu.be/rEWXWfv4R04?is=65fw4W97AkTcSdfE

03/07/2026

#0114 Harman Kardon CD-491 Cassette Deck

PART II

Photos

03/07/2026

#0114 Harman Kardon CD-491 Cassette Deck

PART I

-- FULL RESTORATION--

Unit received as not working, it would struggle to engage play/rec and when it did, the sound was horrible.
Upon inspection, lots of leaking capacitors were found so all the capacitors were changed (film was used where it was possible)

After the capacitors were changed, all contacts were cleaned and the mechanism received a full rebuild, full mechanical and electronical alignment and in the end, measurements.

Video with direct sound: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq06-xcY6pc

28/02/2026

Pioneer CT 757 adapted to Yamaha GF32 Head

After lots of searching i have found no replacements available and the Yamaha GF32 beeing more widely available i decided to modify this deck to adapt the head to it.
First, it was mechanically incompatible, the GF32 having a 2 screw mounting plate, so i took the mounting plate from the original head and adapted it to the GF32.
After that, the PB preamp needed work in order to achieve flat response.
Measuring the FR on REC, there s little difference compared to a well working 757 but at 0dB big improvements were seen, achieving 12/12.5kHz compared to the stock head's 9/10kHz. This translates into a cleaner HF response with less distortion especially at higher REC Levels
Hear the results yourself.

In this video i present a Pioneer CT 757 wich had a worn original head.After lots of searching i have found no replacements available and the Yamaha GF32 bee...

09/01/2026

#0112 Kenwood KX-1100HX
FOR SALE - SOLD

Completely restored

- Replacement of rollers/backtension belt
- Full regrease of mechanism/lubing of sintered bushings
- Cleaning of all mechanism contacts
- Replacement of all microswitches
- Cleaning of all potentiometers/switches
- Complete tape path realignment
- Complete electronical realignment

Video with direct sound + measurements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL25vzhAwzg&t

18/12/2025

#0111 TEAC V-5010 Restoration

Previously bought by the client as a allready restored unit but it was far from it.

Capstan motor was replaced with a CW one and an additional board was thrown in to reverse it.
Contact raising mechanism wasn't working properly because of improper reassembly + there were some missing screws.

The following was done:

- Full mechanism relube (including all sintered bearings)
- Locating missing screws from donor mechanism
- Replacement of all rubber (belts/rollers)
- Replacement of capstan motor with a proper one
- Cleaning of all contacts/potentiometers
- Realignment of tape path with WHS300
- Replacement of microswitches
- Full electronical realignment

Video with direct sound and measurements taken after restoration:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvFWCkTQwl4