NAD 6300

[J!m]

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
THIS NAD TAPE DECK!

follow along as this boat anchor is returned to service.

 

[J!m]

Yep. It really is that bad.

I scrubbed the tape path enough to test it:

I had to polish the capstan shafts- they were rusty too. But what’s that yellow stuff on the heads? It’s not coming off with a lot of alcohol scrubbing.

But, it actually works!

 

[J!m]

Tape door is rubbing The right side of the face plate. Nothing obviously wrong so I’m pulling the transport out either way. There are connectors for the transport, but it is cross screwed in all different directions, and not coming out easily.

 

[J!m]

I have a belt kit on the way, although it runs fine as is. Need at least a left pinch roller so I should probably replace them both.

Transport will get de-rusted cleaned and lubricated.

I already have my eye on another one…

 

[Elite-ist]

The corrosion on parts of the tape transport is worrisome. I hope you can successfully clean it up. Did you play it through a system to hear how it does, as it has no headphone jack.

Nando.

 

[20tajk7]

It was left in a very humid environment, never seen so rusty cassette support pins.

The problem with tape deck is once you get one, you want another one, and another one...
And that's never enough.

 

[J!m]

Yes, I was in with my headphone amp and headphones. Sounds fine.

Play fast forward rewind pause all work fine.

Rust on the capstans was more of a concern for me, but since they run all the time I was able to polish them up with a piece of Cratex stick. The supports I’ll clean up when I get the transport out of the box.

I’ve got some rusty Springs and other bits in there to clean up too, but I’ll take care of it.

Any ideas what’s on the heads? Do we think acetone is OK to use to clean it?

 

[Elite-ist]

I want to see this deck work for you, as it's certainly a survivor. Try acetone first then play an unused true chrome BASF cassette through the deck a few times.

Nando.

 

[J!m]

I don’t have any true chrome tapes. I don’t think so anyway…

despite the deposits, it sounds fine. The Oz Noy tape I played I know well and with NR off it sounds like it should to me.

Perhaps ignoring the problem is the right answer…

 

[J!m]

Oh, the top of the aluminum face plate is all pitted like barnacles. Sweet.

 

[J!m]

After disassembling 80% of the thing we still don’t have the transport out yet…

 

[J!m]

Nearly as bad as the old Kenwood… every screw I can find is out but the transport isn’t…

 

[J!m]

It feels like there’s another screw holding the bottom of the transport but I can’t see anything yet… maybe now that the divorce is complete. (Not service friendly)

by the way: the service manual only shows how to do the electrical alignment/bias/gain and has NOTHING on mechanical.

I put the back plate back on so I don’t lose those screws at least…

 

[Chris Cables]

Reminds me of the 6340 I gave up refurbing. I decided my time was worth more than fretting how to get the damn thing apart and the blood pressure increases when I got flummoxed by it.

You may find areas that have been bonded/glued together as in the 6340.
A heat gun comes in handy if so...
Good luck! lol

 

[Ronnie_B]

If you still have rust to remove use Evapo Rust. It dissolves rust without etching the metal underneath. I've used it on reloading dies, etc that were rusted and all brown rust disappears overnight. It is sold in liquid and gel form, gel would probably work well using Q-tips to apply on problem areas. Clean up with water.

 

[J!m]

No glue. Another screw was found once I had the face away from the unit. These were not cheap to build; I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that NAD lost money selling these.

With it out, it seems straightforward. Uploading a short video now- capstan end float seems excessive (and I have no specs in the service manual)

 

[J!m]

So, is this too much?

https://youtube.com/shorts/ghpCWUVNDO4?si=SFWHt_aP4a21PmP2

 

[J!m]

Maybe it is pulled against the thrust pad/bushing/jewel (whatever is there) by the magnet to keep it in line?

I'm not tearing it down further until I have my belt kit in hand.

Back to cleaning, and re-attaching the meter "glass" which fell out of the face... no idea where my Barge cement is now... I'm going to clean the pots and switches as well since it's open. Just the slightest scratchiness from the "play trim" pot when I was messing with it.