Hi,
I am a service technician for many years. This Aiwa Z-L500 stereo is
my own.

From time to time, I can not eject a cassette. Both units (dual
cassette) have this issue. I replaced the belts, but that did not solve this
problem.

More often this occurs when you use FF or RW and the tape
reaches the end. A solenoid (part of auto stop system) activates (click,
click, click), but the head assembly does not go down (disengage). It remains
up in the cassette.

A web search for a solution revealed that other owners of this model
Aiwa have the same issue, but no solution.

Does anyone know if Aiwa made an improved cassette deck assembly that
resolved this issue?

Thank You in advance, John

wrote in message
...
Hi,
I am a service technician for many years. This Aiwa Z-L500 stereo
is
my own.

From time to time, I can not eject a cassette. Both units (dual
cassette) have this issue. I replaced the belts, but that did not solve
this
problem.

More often this occurs when you use FF or RW and the tape
reaches the end. A solenoid (part of auto stop system) activates (click,
click, click), but the head assembly does not go down (disengage). It
remains
up in the cassette.

A web search for a solution revealed that other owners of this model
Aiwa have the same issue, but no solution.

Does anyone know if Aiwa made an improved cassette deck assembly
that
resolved this issue?

Thank You in advance, John



The solenoid should engage the PTO from the main system. Is there another
band you have not seen or missing linkage or pawl connecting to the solenoid
spindle ?

wrote in message
...
Hi,
I am a service technician for many years. This Aiwa Z-L500 stereo is
my own.

From time to time, I can not eject a cassette. Both units (dual
cassette) have this issue. I replaced the belts, but that did not solve
this
problem.

More often this occurs when you use FF or RW and the tape
reaches the end. A solenoid (part of auto stop system) activates (click,
click, click), but the head assembly does not go down (disengage). It
remains
up in the cassette.

A web search for a solution revealed that other owners of this model
Aiwa have the same issue, but no solution.

Does anyone know if Aiwa made an improved cassette deck assembly that
resolved this issue?

Thank You in advance, John



Possibly your replacement belt(s) haven't quite enough tension. That is,
slightly too large outer circumference. I have had similar problems when the
belts I used weren't "quite" right.

The Aiwa's do click quite a bit as they change modes, but I don't think the
heads stay engaged in regular FF or REW modes - sounds like a music search
(skip to next song) function.

Mark Z.

On Dec 7, 1:59*pm, wrote:
Hi,
* * * I am a service technician for many years. *This Aiwa Z-L500 stereo is
my own.

* * * From time to time, I can not eject a cassette. *Both units (dual
cassette) have this issue. *I replaced the belts, but that did not solve this
problem.

* * * More often this occurs when you use FF or RW and the tape
reaches the end. *A solenoid (part of auto stop system) activates (click,
click, click), but the head assembly does not go down (disengage). *It remains
up in the cassette.

This is almost certainly the belts still. You probably need some which
are a bit shorter or a bit thicker.
Did you clean the motor pulley and capstan flywheel surfaces with
alcohol before fitting the new ones? This is essential to remove old
deposits and grease which cause slippage under load.

It could also be that the cam and its follower arm /associated
sliders, racks etc. have old grease on which has hardened and is
causing things to bind. Only cure is a full strip down, clean, and
regrease. However, this is not likely in a cassette deck like this.

In particular problem cases, I have found that roughening up the
plastic on the grooves where the belts go helps give it that bit more
grip.

HTH
regards
B.

"b" wrote in message
...
On Dec 7, 1:59 pm, wrote:
Hi,
I am a service technician for many years. This Aiwa Z-L500 stereo
is
my own.

From time to time, I can not eject a cassette. Both units (dual
cassette) have this issue. I replaced the belts, but that did not solve
this
problem.

More often this occurs when you use FF or RW and the tape
reaches the end. A solenoid (part of auto stop system) activates (click,
click, click), but the head assembly does not go down (disengage). It
remains
up in the cassette.

This is almost certainly the belts still. You probably need some which
are a bit shorter or a bit thicker.
Did you clean the motor pulley and capstan flywheel surfaces with
alcohol before fitting the new ones? This is essential to remove old
deposits and grease which cause slippage under load.

It could also be that the cam and its follower arm /associated
sliders, racks etc. have old grease on which has hardened and is
causing things to bind. Only cure is a full strip down, clean, and
regrease. However, this is not likely in a cassette deck like this.

In particular problem cases, I have found that roughening up the
plastic on the grooves where the belts go helps give it that bit more
grip.

HTH
regards
B.


I absolutely agree. I used to repair literally hundreds of assorted Aiwa
models for an outfit that were main service agents for a barn that sold them
almost exclusively as their 'budget' range. The problem that you describe is
very common on all variations of deck that Aiwa used in these twin deck
all-in-ones and it is always caused by the belts not having enough grip to
turn the cam gear over, after the solenoid has allowed it to engage with the
drive gear on the front of the capstan flywheel. I actually used to stock my
belts from Aiwa (latterly Sony) direct, as the decks were more critical than
most of having the correct ones. You also have to be very careful with them
to select two belts for the two different lengths, that are exactly the same
cross sectional size. Even a small difference such as 1mm on one, and 1.2 mm
on the other, is enough to produce an un-resolvable speed difference
between the two decks.

Arfa