Pioneer RT-1011L Reel to Reel Repair/Rehabilitation 

Guys, I have 5 reel to reel decks, my first one was this Pioneer deck and it is in pristine condition. This deck is the one that made me fall in love for analog sound again. It is a brillian recorder and player. The other decks in my collection are the: Pioneer RT-707, Tadberg TD-20A SE, Revox B-77 Mark II and a Teac X-1000, but trust me this Pioneer RT-1011L is brilliant even compared to my other formidable and highly claimed decks. If you are looking for your first deck, you will never go wrong with a Pioneer, they are built like a tank and sound amazing!

Great video! still have my 1011L 40 + years and still going strong with only minor issues

Thanks for the video! I need to change the belts on mine, this showed me everything I'll need to know. Also appreciate your letting us in on your source for belts. Much better than throwing caution to the wind with many of the fleabay sellers!

I dont know why I am watching this or how I ended up here, haha. Never even heard of reel to reel, but should I need to fix one, here we go. I watched the whole thing over tea and biscuits. Yes I have a job.

Nice job on the motors, and a great easy tip on how to remove the bearing (s) The tensioner can be disassembled by turning the cap counter-clockwise. It's only snugged by hand so it will turn by hand. The RT-1011 isn't an introductory model. The "better" models offer more features. It is comparable to the TEAC 2300 and other similar Teac models in sound quality and technical specs. (I own and like Teac and Pioneer, Revox, etc.) The RT-1020L and RT-1020H (15ips) are the same machine except for 4 channel playback feature, and the RT-1050 is a two track with 15ips and selectable equalization, better specs because it's a two track format (wider tracks).... the mechanism and circuits are otherwise the same as the 1011, exactly the same.

Fantastic video, thank you so much. Saved for my RT-1011L’s upcoming maintenance. (Also ordered the belt kit & rubber cleaner/restorer).

Excellent. I have same model. Still going after all these years. Nice machine

Cool video. I have one of the same model. Works ok. That was interesting to watch. Thanks for keeping these machines going!

Nice Video, very helpful. May be picking one up tomorrow. Love the mechanics of it!

Great video! I just picked up this same model from someone and went through all the same maintenance - it was a great help! I didn't have any foam for the motor oil, so substituted felt rings I cut out of some 1-1/4" insulation I had. Holds the oil nice and I'm thinking it might last longer than the foam. Great machine, especially for the price I got it ($200). 😁

Thanks for this video. I have one of these with some similar issues (including the bent spindle). Thanks for showing me to how to fix it! Much appreciated.

You definitely know mechanical things. Good revival video

You are a GREAT technician. Krikor 85 from L. A. CA.

Excellent video, thanks for sharing !

Today i buy one machine like this. Is very nice. Work perfect.

I just bought one of those at an antique shop. Haven't had the opportunity to test it out.

Very amazing repair!

hi have worked on alot of cassette decks and reel to reel over the years it is so easy to miss out any parts when doing a fix i am a otari mtr 12 man my self because i can change over head blocks from 1/8 to 1/2 in tape 1/8 heads full track is for cassette line up tape i used to make them for 4 6 8 track recorders i have some 1/8 reel to reel slave recorders used to do real time cassette for bands

Very useful detailed video

Whatever music was on that tape sounded pretty weird! Nice work here dude!

best repair video.

Nice video ..i have the same unit with the same bent shaft on the same motor..lol go figure any way that was a great idea on how to straighten the shaft.

Great vid,thanks Man!

I'm in Europe and my Pioneer (1020L) is made for the US. I've flipped the switch on the back from 60hz to 50, but I'm still using a transformer to play on 220v. Is there a switch somewhere that does this conversion? Thanks.

Hi, thanks for the video. I have a phenomenon where the motor spins very fast at both speeds relative to another normal tape and playback is of course very fast. I checked the belt according to the explanation, it is on the wheel with a larger diameter that corresponds to 50 Hz in my area. What could be the problem here?

Thanks for the great video, I like your methods...I am wondering if you would do the service on my Sony TC-399 if I were to ship it to you...It is in desperate need of it. Thanks

hi have a tascam 38 fixed up and right at the end the main pcb dropped dead was not me something to deal with the ic's as the power 5v reg went i changed 95% of parts and test the rest it was left of for some time not good to do

Hi Mark, great video. I just pick up this RT-1011L. the unit is like the one you have in the video where the motors need to be oiled. I have a question on the right side tension bar. Is it supposed to have some tension to it or move really soft and free? Mine seems to be really soft and free and sometimes just drops down and of course the unit stops.

Super job

Great video, sir. I’m wondering if you know anything about the 1050H... I’ve got one, and my problem isn’t mechanical, it’s electrical. Do you know anything about the circuits in these ol’ bad boys?

try to find an old carburetor adjusting set, it has a flex shaft with Allen keys so you can bend the shart to fit into tight places. I'm an old mechanic, it works well on other stuff too. Cool vids...

I see there is a headphone jack (6.35 yeah?). Manual shows headphone output at 40mV/8 Ohms. And the load impedance 4 to 16 Ohms. Any over the ear headphone recommendations with this specifications in mind?

ReVox is the way to go if you're serious about tape reproduction

Great video - thanks for showing all the details. I have a AKAI 266D with one channel not recording but both channels play. Any advice of where to start?

I have had this deck since I bought it new and used it on occasions. Well I thought I would used it again and now I have no play back sound...no VU meters movement and no record lights come on. Any clues where I could start...have checked all fuses

Koliko su jaki zvučnici. Imali svoje zvučnike i pojačalo i još dva izlaza zvučna. Skoljko mani. Rok isporuke. Hvala. Joška. Srbija.

Why should you not use 3-in-1 oil? Nice work btw, loved watching the Tascam fixes.

Great vid,wonder if the motor's are the same on the 1020l ?

thats the counter making that noise ....they drive me nuts (I repair reel to reel machines for a living , hook me up if you ever need help) . the pioneer is a GREAT machine .

Dang, I wanted to hear the Nixon tape!

You must have a machining background. Hey, where do you buy the re-grip pinch roller juice?

This guy is good

Great video - don't know if you're still following this but I just picked up a long-stored RT-1011L. Very clean, little head wear. Upon initial test all functions were working, but next time I fired it up the take-up reel stopped working. Grabbed the service manual on-line pulled the back off to familiarize myself with the unit and noticed two things - 1) an audible hum that sounds like it's coming from the take up reel motor and 2) if you gave it a little nudge the reel would turn but noticeably slower than it should. Any suggestions on next steps?

Do you have a label for the tape head cover that says RT-1011? I have a refurbished machine and it's missing

LIKE YOUR STYLE...BTW - SOME FOLKS ON A WAIT UP TO 1.5/2 YEARS

I OWN THIS MODEL...I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS UNIT...IT ONLY RECORDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE...WHAT DO U THINK IT IS?.......THANKS

Nice

Thoroughly enjoyed this repair. As an owner of the RT-1020 model I am curious why you said entry level and lots of corners cut? These seem to be solid survivors for the most part. It could be because of the shear numbers produced, but I am wondering if a very basic design wasn't actually a strong-suit that has proven itself over time?

Where do you find Regrip?

Thanks to the video not too many people repair real the rules anymore I still do I found two 707's pioneer on the curb my buddy says oh look they're gold face I said no that's nicotine haven't looked at them yet they're pretty gross but the price was right they were free they probably need everything have a great day

I have a Sansui 7000 reel that I just acquired... the right reel does not turn much... any suggestions ?

Gde se može kupiti. Skoljko mani. Rok isporuke. Hvala.

UNLESS THIS TYPE OF MODEL ONLY RECORDED ON THE RIGHT SIDE?THANKS

Fix mine!!

What, on that tape?

rawn is unavailable outside usa afaik

my Bro!)

내가소유하고있는 릴데크를 유트브보고 수리했어요.

grind the socket down until it has its own built in tab and you wont need the allen key.

It appears there's an in-balance of reel drive resistance within tolerance spec. Your loaded reel is not within spec of the receiver and is causing a harmonic inbalance along with whatever other problems it has. So aside from not knowing how to load tape, the basic fundamentals are void.