lubing otari 5050's - where and with what?

oldblues · 31st December 2011

To start with a specific query up front: spindles and/or reel motors? Lubricate where and with what? I've seen references to lubing these machines, but no specifics. the manuals only mention the few drops of oil for the capstan bearing. I've seen at least one mention about the spindles, and since I've finally gotten around to tearing into my MKIII-2, currently have the sides off and have had the reel tables off and on playing with the height adjustment (to little effect probably) I'd like to do this if it is recommended while I'm in the neighborhood. This does seem to be possibly where some of the noise is coming from when I have tape on there. (everything spins fairly whispery without tape.)

So, where would I put the oil in regard to spindle and or its motor? What kind? how much?

I know, it's probably still the pinch roller. I'm trying to keep it to one stupid question per post for now, though.

Radardoug · 1st January 2012

Look in the manual, it will tell you. Normally the only things are the pinch roller and the capstan motor.

oldblues · 16th January 2012

yes, as I said above, I looked in the manual and it only tells you what to do with the capstan bearing. But, I know other people have talked about going further in the refurbishing of these things.

Having done all the cleaning basics, and raising the reel tables a touch, my first deck the MKII-2, which was fairly well maintained when I acquired it back in the '90s but had slowly declined under my stewardship, is back to working at both speeds and fairly consistent and true to pitch. But, there is still a little squeaking going on. And an occasional fast 'dip' in the meters when playing back a recording of a test tone.

oldblues · 18th January 2012

I've collected all the manuals I could find online (B2 and BIII seem to be ubiquitous), but I still don't have the ones for my specific models. I got a hard copy with my mkIII-2, but the guy who I got it from wasn't sure if it was the right one for the model, and the book itself doesn't seem to say. It says it is for the entire line of 5050s. Maybe there weren't that many models in those days. And, I haven't seen a trace of anything for the BQ-II anywhere. Anyone got anything on these machines? A majority of the information in the manuals for other models is useful, but there are obviously some crucial deviations.

31st December 2011	#1
oldblues Gear interested Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 4 Thread Starter	lubing otari 5050's - where and with what? To start with a specific query up front: spindles and/or reel motors? Lubricate where and with what? I've seen references to lubing these machines, but no specifics. the manuals only mention the few drops of oil for the capstan bearing. I've seen at least one mention about the spindles, and since I've finally gotten around to tearing into my MKIII-2, currently have the sides off and have had the reel tables off and on playing with the height adjustment (to little effect probably) I'd like to do this if it is recommended while I'm in the neighborhood. This does seem to be possibly where some of the noise is coming from when I have tape on there. (everything spins fairly whispery without tape.) So, where would I put the oil in regard to spindle and or its motor? What kind? how much? I know, it's probably still the pinch roller. I'm trying to keep it to one stupid question per post for now, though.

18th January 2012	#4
oldblues Gear interested Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 4 Thread Starter	but... speaking of Otari manuals... I've collected all the manuals I could find online (B2 and BIII seem to be ubiquitous), but I still don't have the ones for my specific models. I got a hard copy with my mkIII-2, but the guy who I got it from wasn't sure if it was the right one for the model, and the book itself doesn't seem to say. It says it is for the entire line of 5050s. Maybe there weren't that many models in those days. And, I haven't seen a trace of anything for the BQ-II anywhere. Anyone got anything on these machines? A majority of the information in the manuals for other models is useful, but there are obviously some crucial deviations.

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1st January 2012	#2
Radardoug Gear addict Joined: Oct 2009 Location: Northland New Zealand Posts: 334	Look in the manual, it will tell you. Normally the only things are the pinch roller and the capstan motor.

16th January 2012	#3
oldblues Gear interested Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 4 Thread Starter	yes, as I said above, I looked in the manual and it only tells you what to do with the capstan bearing. But, I know other people have talked about going further in the refurbishing of these things. Having done all the cleaning basics, and raising the reel tables a touch, my first deck the MKII-2, which was fairly well maintained when I acquired it back in the '90s but had slowly declined under my stewardship, is back to working at both speeds and fairly consistent and true to pitch. But, there is still a little squeaking going on. And an occasional fast 'dip' in the meters when playing back a recording of a test tone.