Otari MX-5050 Mini Pro

Maintenance manual · Section 1 · scan pages 8-14

General Information

This manual is a maintenance supplement to the MX-5050 Series Models 2S, 4S, 2SD and 4SD Instruction Manual, Catalog No. OIM-1005E, and provides detailed maintenance information. This manual is intended for use by qualified maintenance or service personnel only. Prior to using this manual, it is suggested that the user become familiar with the information contained in the basic manual.

NOTE

AFTER MAINTENANCE OR COMPONENT REPLACEMENT, ALL SCREWS SHOULD BE LOCKED UP WITH FOLLOWING PAINT TO PREVENT POSSIBLE DAMAGE. USE ENAMEL PAINT FOR HEAD ALIGNMENT SCREWS (AZIMUTH, ZENITH, HEIGHT), AND USE LOCTITE-222 (VIOLET) FOR OTHER SCREWS.

1-1 TEST AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS↑ TOP

All maintenance, electronic, and mechanical test equipment required during maintenance, alignment, and adjustment of the recorder is listed in Table 1-1. In addition, recommended maintenance periods are shown by accumulative hours of usage and/or elapsed period of time, whichever occurs first. Equivalent equipment can be substituted for the equipment suggested in the table.

Table 1-1. Test and Maintenance Equipment

EQUIPMENT TYPESUGGESTED MODELUSED FORPERIOD
Head cleanerAmpex 087-007Cleaning heads and guides8 hours
Isopropyl or denatured alcoholAnyCleaning capstan pinch-roller8 hours
Q tipsAnyCleaning heads and guides8 hours
Head demagnetizerAmpex 4010820Demagnetizing heads and guides8 hours
Lubricating oilAmpex 087-579 or Mobile DTE MediumOiling of capstan motor and pinch roller bearings1,000 hours or 6 months
Spring scales 0-16 oz, 0-32 oz and 0-10 lbsAnyMechanical adjustments1,000 hours or 6 months
Frequency Counter (Electronic Counter)Hewlett-Packard 5300A + 5301ATape speed measurment Same as above
Vacuum cleaner and brushesAnyGeneral cleaning1 month
Standard alignment test tapesRefer to Table 1-2 and 1-3.Reproduce amplifier alignment150 hours or 1 month
Audio oscillatorHewlett Packard H20-200CDOverall frequency response and signal-to-noise measurement150 hours or 1 month
AC Voltmeter (VTVM)Hewlett Packard 400L or 400 FLSame as aboveSame as above
Bandpass filterSee textSame as aboveSame as above
Flutter bridgeData Measurement Corp. 8100Flutter and wow measurementSame as above
Wave analyzerHewlett Packard 3590A or 310ADistortion and crosstalk measurementSame as above
Test cablesSee text
Technicians tools
StroboscopeGeneral Radio 1531-ABMechanical adjustments1,000 hours or 6 months
Volt-ohm meter20,000 ohms/volt any brank Test and adjustments-
Allen wrenchesMetric
ASA Noise FilterSee text and Fig. 3-1.Signal-to-noise ratio measurement150 hours or 1 month

Table 1-2. Alignment Test Tape

SPEED (IN/S)EQUALIZATION (TIME CONSTANTS)STANDARDTRACKSAMPEX CATALOG NO.
3-3/490 μs & 3180 μsNABFull4690037-01
7-1/250 μs & 3180 μsNABFull01-31321-01
50 μs & 3180 μsNAB1 & 301-31321-04
70 μs & ∞IECFull4690014-01
1550 μs & 3180 μsNABFull01-31311-01
35 μs & ∞IECFull01-31313-01

1-2 ROUTINE MAINTENANCE↑ TOP

It is important that routine maintenance be performed at the recommended intervals. External cleaning and demagetization procedures should be performed after each eight hours of operation, and the interior of the transport should be cleaned once a month. The lubrication procedure should be performed after 1,000 hours of operation or after 6 months, whichever comes first.

1-2-(1) CLEANING↑ TOP

Oxide particles from the magnetic tape tend to collect on components in the tape path and degrade performance of the recorder. To clean the head assembly, proceed as follows:

  1. Lift the head cover as shown in Fig. 1-1.

CAUTION

WHEN CLEANING THE HEADS, USE ONLY THE RECOMMENDED SOLVENT (HEAD CLEANER) TO AVOID DAMAGING THE HEADS. KEEP THE HEAD CLEANER OFF PLASTIC FINISHES AND THE CAPSTAN PINCH ROLLER. DO NOT USE METAL TOOLS THAT CAN SCRATCH THE HEADS.

  1. Clean each head stack thoroughly with a cotton-tipped applicator (Q tip) dampened with head cleaner.
  2. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean all tape-guiding components, the capstan shaft, and the capstan pinch roller.

CAUTION

DO NOT USE HEAD CLEANER ON THE CAPSTAN PINCH ROLLER AS DAMAGE WILL RESULT AND TAPE WILL SLIP.

Fig. 1-1 Lifting Head Cover⤢ zoomFig. 1-1 Lifting Head Cover · Redrawn as vector — zooms cleanly ·

  1. Remove rear cover of recorder (4 screws).
  2. Use a vacuum cleaner and a small brush to remove all dust or contamination from the interior of the transport. If necessary lightly moisten brush with isopropyl alcohol to clean parts.
  3. Reinstall rear cover.

1-2-(2) DEMAGNETIZING↑ TOP

The heads and tape guiding components in the tape path should be demagnetized after each eight hours of operation. These components can acquire permanent magnetization that increases signal noise and distortion and partially erase high frequencies on recorded tape. Use a hand-held head demagnetizer to demagnetize all components in the tape path as follows:

  1. Turn equipment power off and remove any recorded tape near the transport (tape could be partially erased by the demagnetizer).
  2. Lift head cover as shown in Figure 1-1.
  3. Cover the demagnetizer tips with adhesive tape to prevent scratching head stacks.
  4. With the demagnetizer held away from the transport, connect demagnetizer to power source.
  5. Move the demagnetizer tips slowly close to the head, lightly touch the demagnetizer tips to the face of one head stack and slowly move the tips up and down the stack several times. Then slowly withdraw the demagnetizer as shown in Fig. 1-2.
  6. Repeat step 5 for each head stack.
  7. Repeat the motions of step 5 for each guide and other metallic parts in the tape path.
  8. Move the demagnetizer slowly away from the transport for at least three feet and then disconnect power from the demagnetizer.

Fig. 1-2 Demagnetizing⤢ zoomFig. 1-2 Demagnetizing · Redrawn as vector — zooms cleanly ·

1-2-(3) LUBRICATION↑ TOP

The only components requiring lubricaiton are the capstan sleeve bearing and the capstan pinch roller bearings. See Fig. 1-3 and proceed as follows:

CAUTION

BE CERTAIN TO CLEAN CAPSTAN SHAFT THOROUGHLY. THE LUBRICATING OIL CAN RUIN THE CAPSTAN PINCH ROLLER AND MAGNETIC TAPE. CLEAN THE CAPSTAN AND PINCH ROLLER WITH ISOPROYL ALCOHOL.

Fig. 1-3 Lubrication⤢ zoomFig. 1-3 Lubrication · Redrawn as vector — zooms cleanly ·

  1. Unscrew pinch roller cap.
  2. Remove pinch roller from the pinch roller shaft.
  3. Remove metal dust cap from the capstan shaft by turning counterclockwise.
  4. Now the felt collar is visible. Apply 2 or 3 drops of oil onto this felt collar. Please do not over lubricate.
  5. Apply a few drops of oil to the pinch roller bearings.
  6. Wipe off any excess oil and reinstall the dust cap, pinch roller cap as they were.