Restoring and Maintaining a Damaged UHER Report 4000-L Reel to Reel Tape Recorder!

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This is the longest tape recorder video ever made by ClyderSight. The UHER Report 4000-L is such an important professional grade audio tape recorder and has such interest, it will be worth watching, especially if you are working with one.
Disclaimer: ClydeSight is not responsible for anything you do to your own UHER Report 4000-L or other vintage audio reel to reel tape recorder after watching this video. If you do not know how to work on vintage audio tape recorders, it is better to let a qualified professional repair it for you.
This video shows how ClydeSight restored and maintained a damaged UHER Report 4000-L vintage audio reel to reel tape recorder. There are many fine videos on RU-vid about the UHER 4000 series of machines which reveal different performance and other aspects of these audio tape recorders.
What makes this video different and worth watching is the detail and description of the various parts of the UHER Report 4000-L audio tape recorder and how to change the belts, adjust the drive mechanism,. re-cushion the motor and check the record/play and equalization switches.
The UHER vintage audio reel to reel tape recorder used in the video arrived at ClydeSight as a wreck. It apparently had been dropped, and apparently a prior attempt had been made at repair (including replacing the microphone) which did not help the machine.
This video is a record of how Clydesight corrected these problems and show how to access, clean, maintain and replace various parts of the vintage UHER Report 4000-L vintage audio reel to reel tape recorder.
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Copyright Disclaimer:
This is an educational video, a critique, and report on an historic piece of vintage audio electronic equipment that is no longer manufactured or sold in stores. It is covered by the Fair Use Section of U.S. Copyright Law:
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
The selection of original music played by the UHER Report 4000-L reel to reel tape recorder is original synthesizer music composed by Tim Thompson of ClydeSight Productions. It is titled: "Birth of Dreams" which is owned and published on CD and stereo cassette by ClydeSight Productions, who has all rights to the music.

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3 янв 2012

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Комментарии : 137

@HaraldBendschneider 2 года назад

22:03 To slide the belt over the small wheel at this hard-to-reach hidden spot, I slid it into a piece of shrink tubing so that only a small loop stuck out at one end. The shrink tubing made it easy to guide the small loop. After the loop was placed over the wheel, I pulled the shrink tubing off the belt and placed the other end over the larger drive wheel.

@clydesight 2 года назад

Very clever! Your simple technique beats out the "wrangle with a dental pick" method of trying to loop a belt around a hard to reach pulley. I shall remember your technique. Thanks for sharing!

@erniesbudolab 12 лет назад

Awesome thoroughness. Makes me feel confident about keeping my eyes open for a bargain Uher unit out there.

@josephquiroga5201 3 года назад

Thank you for this video. I found one of these at a thrift store recently and all it needed was new belts. Your video helped me get them replaced and now it runs beautifully!

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Well, I was a missionary in Vietnam in 66-67, stopped in Singapore to buy the Uher, came back to US and finished my doctoral studies in Pastoral Theology, served churches in CA, AZ, worked for the Methodist HQ in Nashville for 6 years, taught students from around the world in masters and doctoral programs at Asbury Seminary in KY for 25 years, retired in 2008 to help develop lay-clergy leadership teams for smaller churches. And now I have time to "play" with all those old "toys" I got too busy to get out of storage. And you have encouraged an old guy to keep trying. Thanks!

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall You've been busy! Keep on trucking! Get that UHER going again, I believe you can do it.

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

I just ordered one (Report-L) with an aftermarket power supply on eBay. We'll see.

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall Good Luck! I hope it does what you need.

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Clyde, got a Uher 4000 working, but it's not the one I owned originally. Problem: playback speed consistent, quality good, but slightly fast. Any way to adjust that?

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Hi Ron, Gosh, sorry, I don't know on this one. I would expect that the machine has an electronic speed control -- rather than a mechanical governor, but I don't know where it is. I don't have a service manual for it now. There are some great UHER experts here on RU-vid who probably know. There is a RU-vidr named "Tim Smith" who is supposed to be very knowledgeable. I'd look him up and send a PM asking for some help. Sorry,

@syedsayeedurrahmanzaini4221 9 месяцев назад

Thank you very much for uploading this useful video for Uher machine owners. Fortunately I have three of them. Best regards

@gabrielbrosteanu8586 9 лет назад

I just bought a Report 4000-L , thanks so much for taking the time for doing this great video...its the most comprehensive that i could find on the report... thanks !

@clydesight 9 лет назад

Gabriel Brosteanu You are welcome. Glad if it helped.

@gabrielbrosteanu8586 9 лет назад

***** Oh it helps all right, especially since i'm looking to change the belt soon (sometimes it needs "help" rewinding or fast forwarding depending on the reel load on either side...). One problem that i found is that the battery check doesn't appear to work on mine :-( The recording level knob doesn't pop out, in fact its so secure it appears to not have this function from the start...Is that even possible? Volume and tone knobs pull out perfectly and easy and the recording level works perfectly besides this issue...Thanks so much

@clydesight 9 лет назад

Gabriel Brosteanu Here's what my 4000-L manual says about the knobs: Volume - Pull out knob to cut off the built in speaker. Will lock in out position. Tone - Pull out to illuminate the rec meter. Will lock in out position Recording (Modulation) - Pull out knob to do a battery check. Will NOT lock in out position. Input Selector - No in/out position. As you know, these knobs don't move very much in and out. If you got your machine "used" , it is possible that someone once repaired your recorder and replaced the potentiometer or locked it down somehow. If you open the back you might be able to see if this happened by looking at any wiring, etc. The battery check is useful of course, but there's an easy way to tell if the batteries are dead. The machine won't run! (Sorry, I couldn't resist that joke.)

@gabrielbrosteanu8586 9 лет назад

Yes, you were right, my button does pull outside and works perfectly, i was just expecting to pull out more and be a bit loose than that...that's some great engineering after all those years ! Thanks !

@raulitossss 2 года назад

My name is Rau, I want to thank you for your fantastic video. I inherited a recorder like that from my 60-year-old journalist father, it doesn't work and despite trying to find someone in Buenos Aires, Argentina to repair it to safeguard the memory of my father, I haven't been able to. I appreciate your video to understand more about this team. thank you sir.

@clydesight 2 года назад

Thank you for your kind comment and I hope you can get your machine running to honor your father's memory.

@davidhaney1394 2 года назад

thanks for this , i just bought 4 of these , 2 stereo 4400`s and 2 mono 4000`s , all need work , so good to have such a thorough insight into whats in there before i open it up . Thanks !

@retohofmann5878 8 лет назад

I just bought a Report 4000-L for 12 bucks today. It's in nice condition and the beige bag is included - wow! Thanks for that helpful video.

@clydesight 8 лет назад

+Reto Hofmann WOW, you sure found a bargain!

@EzeeLinux 12 лет назад

Simply awesome video! Thanks for giving us the chance to hang out in your shop and really get into this machine with you. The mechanics are complicated but it seems to be very smooth in operation and I was really impressed at the consistent audio quality when you went from speed to speed. :) JC

@mfw1936 2 года назад

A remarkably useful video. If only all were so well planned and well recorded. Thank you.

@carlosdelrio8309 4 года назад

You´re a HERO, greetings from Argentina!

@clydesight 4 года назад

Thanks! Stay safe and well!

@AndreBeukesZA 2 года назад

Absolutely love your videos. Im 19 so a bit strange to be so fascinated. I have restored 29 reel to reel tape recorders to date. All my own but my favorite was my uher which I unfortunately sold. However someone is selling one in rubbish shape so Im sure I'll be watching this video again at the end of the month. Warmest regards and good luck with your recovery.

@EvLoutonian 4 года назад

Much appreciated! Great thorough video! Helpful, as I'm just doing some basic restoration work on one that I had here for some years.

@SuperWatson63 12 лет назад

Thanks for granting my wish. I love the reel to reel vids. I bought another portatape and luckily it works. Im giving my mother the one i replaced the belts on cause she has lots of tapes.

@AndrewRishikof Год назад

Thank you for your video. Much appreciated!

@retohofmann5878 7 лет назад

Excellent demonstration! Thank you!

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Reto Hofmann Thanks for watching the video and leaving a comment!

@muppfoto 10 лет назад

Hi! Thanks for this video! I have two UHER recorders. One is a 4000 Report-L that seems identical to yours except mine has the printed text in german instead of english. Something is broken with it but I haven't made any real attempt to fixing it. I don't even remember exactly what is wrong with it. The main reason why I haven't done any work on it is that I basically got it to get the bag/case, carrying strap and most importantly a working AC power supply to use with my other (better) UHER which is a 4200 Report stereo IC which is the UHER I've had the longest of the two. (Actually I've had the 4200 since early 90's and the 4000's since mid 00's). I got my 4200 Report stereo IC because it was supposedly broken and the previous owner wasn't interested in repairing it. Also the buttons for rew/play/pause/stop/rec/ffwd seemed a bit wiggly. It turned out to be as simple as a screw holding the button mechanism that was a bit unscrewd. An easy fix! For those who have a completely dead UHER it might be a good idea to check for short circuits in the larger capacitors. I think I replaced one of the bigger electrolytic capacitors in my 4200 and the old capacitor was short circuited while it looked perfectly fine. Since my 4000 is broken I can't really test it, but I had a look at the speaker connector and I'm fairly sure that the push-pull switch on the volume control actually don't "turn volume on/off" but instead turns the internal speaker on and off. The DIN speaker connector is the kind without any break function, so you'd need some way to turn of the internal speaker. On my 4200 one of the DIN speaker connector has a break function that disables the internal speaker. (Strangely the 4200 has two speaker-level amplifiers but only one is connected to the internal speaker. It's obvious that the stereo feature is partially a kludge since the speaker connectors sits on either side. That might be good for connecting speakers but is impractical when hooking up stereo headphones. Also the amp for the "not connected to internal speaker" in my 4200 is broken anyway, but line input/output works fine so I don't mind.) On my 4000 I can turn the speed/power knob 90 degrees while pushing it in and having it in the upper off position. In one of the positions it's not possible to move the switch/slider down to turn the machine on, so it's a kind of extra safety so you don't accidently turn it on and drain the batteries. On the newer 4200 Report stereo IC UHER got rid of the whole procedure with using the speed selector as a power switch and having to keep it in upper position when not in use. The capstan wheel and the intermediate flywheel is automatically disengaged from each other when the play button is'nt depressed. I remember reading a test of some UHER in a magazine and they complained that it had unnecesary recording noice as the mic amplifier was also used for line input via a simple voltage divider. That model didn't have the input selector switch, you just got whatever input you plugged in. I had a look at my 4000 L and it seems that the rec/play switch indeed have an opening like yours but mine also has a short section of shield over the part of the switch that's closest to the front of the recorder. It seems like that part is removed from your recorder. If you want to I could take a photo of how mine looks and upload it somewhere. (Sorry, making videos is not my thing). You may already know it, but the original UHER power supply fits into the battery compartment and there is a notch on the back of the battery compartment and the recorders removable cover to be able to let the AC power cable come out. The reason for also being able to run the power supply via a cable is so you don't have to remove batteries. AFAIK there are two different connection cables between the recorder and the power supply, one for running the recorder and another for recharging a special UHER rechargable battery pack. The microphone connector is compatible with any standard 5-pin DIN connector (and any 3-pin DIN plug will also work), you only need that special connector if you want the mechanical lock to work. (On my 4200 the mic inputs is actually 7-pin DIN sockets but I'm fairly sure that any 5-pin or 3-pin plug will atleast work for just hooking up a mic without remote control). I'm not sure how the 4000 L works but it's worth noting that on the 4200 Report stereo IC the 5-pin "radio/phono" DIN socket on the side has pin 3+5 working both as standard line level outputs and ALSO as standard line level inputs. Pin 1+4 that's normally used for recording on DIN connectors also works as inputs but with far higher sensitivity. This gives some strange wiring problems if you want to have it hooked up permanently to a stereo amplifier for both recording and playback. On the other hand you can use a standard straight DIN cable to copy between two UHER recorders or from another recorder to an UHER recorder. (For those not familiar to 5-pin DIN cables, there are two kinds. One is the standard straight cable and one is the twisted copy cable, much like straight and twisted RJ45 ethernet cables. By some stupid reason the DIN connector pins were defined as record and playback instead of input and output, giving a "tape recorder" and an "amplifier/radio" way of which pins are input and output. The general rule for most other recorders is that recorders without internal amplifiers or if you have to press rec to use the recorder as an amplifier it's wired with pin 3+5=play as outputs and pin1+4=rec as inputs. If you have an "input selector" switch and are able to use it as an amp without pressing play it's usually wired with 1+4=rec as outputs and 3+5=play as inputs. Also worth noting as in the beginning the level of record signal were usually far lower than playback signal, giving problems when hooking up two recorders to each other or using DIN-RCA adaptors. Later equipment with DIN connectors usually had higher level on the record signal, more like line standard levels). Some day I might try to repair my 4000-L, but it's not on the top of my priority list.

@clydesight 10 лет назад

Thanks for your kind comment and all the wonderful information about the Uher tape recorders. I did find that the mic pins do not agree with the pins used by Philips/Norelco machines. They are reversed, so you can't use a Philip[s mic with a Uher unless you re-wire it or use an adapter of some sort.I figured this out from comparing two schematics. They probably did this to make sure people bought Uher accessories instead of Philips stuff, or the other way around. Oh well....

@adrianbellsound 10 месяцев назад

Thank you Clyde, really useful.

@christiansanden8005 2 года назад

Awesome machines! 🌹

@planoinfinito3809 6 лет назад

Fantastico amigo, gran uher Report, yo tengo en mi coleccion 5 de estos son maravillosos, gran sonido, aparato fuerte y metalico, me gusto tu video, saludos.

@SuperWatson63 12 лет назад

@clydesight Im so pleased you got it working. The mind is a powerful tool. Im glad my wish got the wheels turning.

@stevedoubleu99B 8 лет назад

This is a really informative video. I have the later Report monitor and am surprised at the difference within. Transport pretty much identical but electronics very different.

@clydesight 8 лет назад

+steve doubleu Thanks for watching the video and leaving your comment. I think UHER came up with what was a dependable and reliable transport, so there was no way to improve on it, or reduce costs by changing it that they could think of. But the electronics could be altered with electronic advancements, so we see changes there over time both for reliability and for cost benefits. That's my theory anyway.

@harveysvintageaudio Год назад

Cool, I have quite a few of those machines.

@RuneTheFirst 6 лет назад

Very similar to my old Uher 4000 IC. The amp was different but you still had to watch out for that R/P switch. My motor was too far gone to use. It injected noise into the amplifier and ran when it felt like it. Never found a replacement ... Also interesting: Akai used the same drive design in their battery portables. I wonder if they licensed it from Uher or if the patent (assuming there was one) expired. In a reverse of East copying West, when Akai dropped their crossfield bias Tandberg started using it. Lots of cross-pollenation in the tape recorder field back then.

@stevewardg4mvl302 8 лет назад

Brilliant, just bought one of these but motor is varying in speed, this video will help, thanks.

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Clyde, I have discovered how to adjust the motor speed on the Uher 4000 Report-L. On your video at 22:08 minutes, the picture on the screen depicts a circuit board with a circular brown slot adjustment directly adjacent to the motor and below the back cover screw opening. When turned clockwise, the motor speeds up, counter-clockwise it slows. Hilmar Krueger in Germany assisted me in this discovery after several email exchanges. I'm delighted. Thanks for all your help. Success!

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall Good to KNOW! Thanks for sharing the information. I am sure it will be helpful to others if they read this comment section, and if not, now I know I can spread the word! Congrats on succeeding with your tape recorder. Feels so good when that happens!

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Clyde, Happy New Year! Mine starts with one solution found and one new problem. The speaker seems to "blast" when a tape is first played, and a second later the volume drops significantly and sound is distorted. I've tried to check for solder connections but no discoveries. I could (arrg) replace the speaker with one for my other Uher 4000, but that seems a bit premature and complex. Any thoughts?

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall HNY2U2 - I don't think the problem you have is the speaker. It sounds more like something has popped in the amplifier, probably a capacitor that helps control an output transistor or transformer. I would suspect an electrolytic capacitor because of the blast/drop in sound. That seems to indicate an open, then shorting problem - which is common to these capacitors. The problem is WHICH electrolytic capacitor has failed? Usually they do not show failure, so a visual examination may be no help. But sometimes they do leak visibly, so look for a capacitor that is popped or is oozing a waxy substance. If you find one, replace it. If not, then on to the nest step. You'd have to have the schematic and follow the output lines backwards from the speaker to the output component (transistor or transformer), and back from that until you see an electrolytic capacitor. That would most probably be the one that failed. But there is no guarantee, it could be a capacitor earlier in the circuit. But this is a good place to start. Then, you'd have to follow the traces on the amp board to find the actual capacitor, and once found, test it with a capacitor tester for actual value. If it is significantly off value (more than 10%) it then fails test -- replace it. If it passes, then you have to continue to trace backwards and repeat the test. Sorry, this is a tedious and difficult process. I do not know of any shortcuts. As an alternative, there are places that do service these machines. It might cost you some buckos, but you'll get back a fully functional machine. Just Google "UHER Report Service".

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

I had this thought, but hoped . . . Thanks again, very thorough process description. I'll need some help for this no doubt.

@clydesight 7 лет назад

There are many radio restorers on RU-vid who know electronics inside and out and some of them are quite nice. You could try contacting Buzz1151, Joemone, Shango066 or RadioTVPhononut about what is happening electronically to your machine. You could also try some of the other UHER enthusiasts on RU-vid. They may know some simple tricks, and maybe they even have dealt with the problem themselves. It never hurts to ask! Good Luck!

@fritzpulka9744 9 лет назад

Hello Clyde,thanks for the very good video. Please let me make some comments: The 4000L wasn´t sold in black. Only two later models, the 4200IC and the 4400IC were made in black. These both are very rare. The broken slide switch normaly is closed from above and one side. Its a protection for electrical interferences. There is no need to take squarebelts. Round belts work better because of the arrowlike form of the pulleys. What you declare as a flywheel is only a driving wheel. The rotating mass is the heavy part of brass which forces the driving wheel. The whole construction in two planes allows quick movements of the taperecorder without distortions. Nearlly a gimballed system. With the years the rubber of the driving wheel becomes hard. You can hear that while running the machine. It also depends on the storage situation over a long time. Another mistake is to let the speed selector in ON-Position witout running which causes dips in the rubber. This cannot happen with the newer UHER-Reports) There is no chance to get new driving wheels with capstan and NOS-parts can be hardened too. Try to cook it for half an hour in a glycerine-water emulsion 30p/70p at 70°C. After that let the wheel run for another half an hour in FF or FR position. Mostly the reason for a noisy motor is a damaged centrifugal switch inside. To repair that it needs special tools an experience. I did it several times. Inside the UHER-Reports are "Sinterlager" (germ.) not brass bearings. They need special lubrications. A lot of informations about RtoR you can get there: www.bandmaschinenforum.de There are some UHER-Report Freaks (me too) Frank1391

@AndreBeukesZA 2 года назад

People like me enjoy just getting something to a satisfactory working condition. Not getting too technical... Like the fact that I prefer to extensively look for a song after Ive heard it instead of using shazam. LOL

@abeleballestri612 3 года назад

Very interesting tutorial lesson ,i have learnt a Öl from your Description Nd Demonstration.thanks a lot.

@The8TrackChap 10 лет назад

I need more help. I think I lost some metal piece connecting the sliding EQ switch to the metal linkage via the really tiny screw.

@Dan-TechAndMusic 9 лет назад

Some of the best pro equipment of the time. No wonder reporters mostly used this one in field recordings. Even in the lowest speed, the speech was clear enough to listen to and would be perfect for dictation, and the higher speeds better for broadcast use.

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Trying after almost 50 years to get my original Uher 4000 Report-L working again. Bought it in Singapore, 1967. Several problems, but totally benefiting from your video. I replaced the belts. With new batteries, the motor barely starts and then runs slow. My Z114 power supply seems not to be working. Replaced the fuze, no change. The most interesting development is one of my parts seems slightly different from your machine's and almost problematic. I apparently can't send an attached photo, but YOUR metal extension plate (video frame 27:29) just below the speed adjustment "steps" on the end of the flywheel to engage the capstan, seems cut off short just next to the spring above the "steps." On My machine, an extension arm came forward from there toward the "steps" with a slight upward twist. I couldn't see any reason for it so I cut it off. I now looks like yours. Still plays when the belts turn after "priming them" but with speed shifts slower and faster. Any suggestions on the power supply and/or maintaining a constant motor speed? Should I try to "oil" the capstan? Grateful for your effort. Great old machine, and I have tapes I want to play from the 1960's. Ron Crandall

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. I have read from other UHER owners that the motor in the Report 4000 is a finicky thing and am not sure why it would run slow unless it needs an oiling, or the governor has gone bad due to brush issues. Some motors used a type of rubber assist for the brush springs, and when that hardened (as rubber always does), the motors were ruined. The only solution in this case would be to replace them motor. I think Uher still makes them -- I know they still sell capstans and flywheels because I've seen them on E-Bay. The capstan flywheel and the brass stepper - these need very light oil to work well. They should spin quite freely. I eventually had to fabricate a new part to replace the one that was missing so the brass stepper was not pressing against the capstan except when the machine was "on" and under power. Hard to explain, but I discovered that the piece of metal was important. What I would do for the motor is: Take off the belts and check the stepper and flywheel for free spin. Once those are spinning freely, I'd check the drive and reel tables for free spin. I'd run the motor with no load and if noisy, apply some oil and see if it quiets down. Then I'd re-apply the belts and test it out. If it still slowed down or as intermittent, then it's time for a new motor. Good Luck!

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Clyde,,didn't expect anything back from you this quickly if at all. Thanks. I'm honored by your caring. 1. Well, maybe I should have left the piece of metal there rather than remove it. Your machine was the only one I had to compare mine with. I almost felt, however, like it wasn't engaging properly on 7&1/2 when "on" but without the batteries in. The capstan spun free. 2. Oiling the capstan seemed easy enough. How to oil the motor? Does it need to come out? I am also wondering if batteries can really "drive" this motor after all these years. 3. I would like to get a Z114 power supply that works, but they seem hard to come by. I wonder if finding another 6 or 7.5v supply would work if I could adapt the cable hook up. I do find some things on eBay, but how to directly hunt for old Uher parts from Uher escapes me. Can I go direct? Again, grateful for your comments and detailed work in the video. I'm having fun playing with this, hopefully with good results.

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall I think I have seen some vendors on E-Bay claiming to be genuine UHER parts sellers. It's been a while since I looked there for UHER stuff, so they may be gone. BUT, there are plenty of folks on RU-vid that feature UHER report machines. They may know where to apply directly for parts. I DID find a website that claims to be a genuine UHER service center and says they have parts. I can't put a link here (RU-vid will destroy the comment if it tries to link outside RU-vid) but you can open Google and type: Uher Report Parts That will get you a bunch of sites, along with, believe it or not, a listing for this very video! Don't despair, help IS out there, just a Google search away! That, along with lot's of money (LOL), should get your machine up and running in no time!

@roncrandall4174 7 лет назад

Will check out the "new" options online. Thanks again. Wish I could just bring it by . . . I'm just a retired professor, my dad was the electrical engineer.

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Ron Crandall I used to teach. What was your subject and level? I taugh continuing education in a college - computer programming -- back in the days of BASIC.

@CoolDudeClem 12 лет назад

Those Uher recorders are certailnly quality machines. Good thing you saw that the record switch was broken and you were able to fix it.

@GuyBodart 7 лет назад

I have a 4000 report monitor and no sound on play back,I need help. Thank you!

@antiquegym Год назад

Gentleman I love your information ❤️. God bless you warm wishes for you. So Information channel. Appreciate sir

@clydesight Год назад

Thank you for your kind words!

@timmotion6494 Год назад

I still have one of these, bought in London 1963. It works but may need some servicing. Finding fresh 5" tapes is a problem.

@johnzottoli521 11 лет назад

The akustomat is an automatic voice/sound recorder detector. So when it doesn't detect sound it stops the machine to conserve the tape, during long record sessions. The early Uher 4000-l's and the earlier 4000-S's used the F111. The later 4200's and 4400's used the F413. Machines beyond this had it built-in so they were no longer needed as an additional item

@CassetteMaster 12 лет назад

Very very nice Uher! You did a good job fixing that nice device. My Uher has an "un-fixable" problem with the motor servo control. The motor keeps wanting to run at the faster (rewind) speed, even in play. I tried replacing some transistors in the servo circuit, which at first fixed it fine, but then the problem came back and I cannot for the life of me find out what is causing it!!!! Does anyone out there know what's going on??!!??!!

@dreamingeel8391 3 месяца назад

thank you so much

@dhpbear2 6 лет назад

5:54 - I would think with that pressure-pad setup (all that surface area), some tapes would squeal a great deal!

@Musica651 11 лет назад

bought 3 units two Uher 4400 stereo one cassette 163 , just want to know if you are familiar and know about the akustomat? ,I bought an f413 do this item work with the 4400 stereo ? thank you. GREAT video much to learn about this machines.

@ezrawoolnough523 4 года назад

Great video! I have a question! I have the same Uher as in the video. How can I power it? Is it possible to get batteries for it and if so, what size? If I can't use batteries then what kind of power supply do I need and where can I get it? Would really appreciate any assistance!

@sunbeam8866 2 года назад

Five D-size, preferably alkaline batteries. There is a Uher AC power-pack that fits in the battery compartment, with the power cord exiting through a notch in the bottom cover.. I believe the same power-pack can connect to the recorder externally with the right adapter cable. Uher recorders and accessories come up on eBay fairly often. My first Uher was a very early two-tone off-white & grey, report model, working, picked up in the mid '80s at a flea-market for $2! I've since added a half dozen more, including two Report Monitor 4400 stereos - one to use and one for parts.

@MVVblog2 7 лет назад

Hi Tim how are you? I have another 4200 Report monitor to fix, what i really need to know is how to adjust the playback equalization. If I record with this RtR and i play the tape on my other Uher 4200, it sound perfect, so i think the recording function is OK. Playback is very bad, almost no bass and too much treble. On the service manual i can't find the equalization process. I also have just checked all the capacitors, only one was shorted, all the rest is still good. Any idea? Thank You, and Thank You for your precious video!!!

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Hi, Lo stanzino di MVVblog I'm sorry but I don't know how the Uher manages EQ on the Report. There are some other videos about this machine on RU-vid where some folks do repairs. Perhaps you could ask one of them? Sorry, I just don't work with these machines at all. My having this one was a stroke of luck.

@johnzottoli521 11 лет назад

Just another thought to add, the speed control engages a leaf switch that controls all the power in the machine. It's underneath the amplifier board and near the side ports...give it a look to see if it's been knocked out of alignment.

@FeCr3 12 лет назад

Sorry,i forgot... A Happy New Year too!!

@FeCr3 12 лет назад

Ah,a UHER!! :-) I have a "Report4400 IC Stereo" in my collection too! This tiny thing makes real good HiFi recordings! But mine needs a bit care after long time,so that it runs very well again.

@The8TrackChap 10 лет назад

I recently acquired one of these but I need help. Everything worked for a short time but now the playback got messed up. The flywheel and pinch roller no no longer turn during playback and feel a tiny bit stuck. What went wrong???

@jimdayton8837 2 года назад

I am having the same problem with mine. Did you ever figure out what was wrong with yours?

@CassetteMaster 11 лет назад

(reply to my own comment) No worries, no worries, I got it fixed finally. I believe if was an intermittently shorting polysterene capacitor in the motor control circuit. Replaced it and the machine is good now.

@wesleyhill4922 7 лет назад

clydesight, I have enjoyed your description of the Uher Recording machine....I happen to have one that I bought at an Estate Sale. Mine is a Uher Report -L, . It's similar to your examples but mine has German nomenclature mixed with English words.

@clydesight 7 лет назад

Thanks for watching the video. UHER made so many of these wonderful machines and they were sent all around the world - with appropriate languages.

@wesleyhill4922 7 лет назад

***** Thank you for sharing your knowledge about this quality German made tape recorder. Mine has certain issues but I am determined to restore it to what it was in the 1960's. I have most of the original "made in West Germany" cables and Uher tape reels. I even have the original Uher microphone. What I lack is a functioning Uher Z114 power converter.

@jimdayton8837 2 года назад

Hi, I wonder if you can help me. I have one of these Uher 4000 Report L tape recorders and the motor spins, and the belts seem fine, but the big capstan drive wheel isn't turning. It will turn manually by hand, but isn't turning by itself. What could be the problem here?

@clydesight 2 года назад

Hi, I haven't worked on this machine in quite a while, and I no longer have this machine, so I am guessing here. If it were me, I'd look at the brass multi-step pulley (4 steps for 4 speeds) that is driven by the long belt coming from the motor. I'd look to see that it is engaging the tire on the capstan flywheel correctly. The "yoke' mechanism for this part of the machine can be a bit finicky, especially at lower speed settings. I think there is a special "finger" that determines the step of the motor that is used when the speed control knob is shifted. I'd check that too. I hope this helps point you in a successful direction!

@FeCr3 12 лет назад

I have the same case too and a uher mic and origin.power supply. Thats sad with your rec/play switch:-(.But you have it luckly repaired! Almost all german reporters in the 1970's had worked with an UHER Report! A long video for an extravagant+very well made machine! ;-))

@The8TrackChap 11 лет назад

These are amazing with the 4 speeds. There might not be bias or ea compensation for all 4 speeds though.

@Musica651 11 лет назад

one of mine 4400L is dead no noise no light nothing . can you help me ,I tried to power it with batteries electric, nothing work , thank you,

@tonyouwehand7717 6 лет назад

Thanks.

@muppfoto 10 лет назад

P.S. I think the sympol for phono is supposed to look like a vinly record and tone arm, but the arm seems to be in the wrong angle. That symbol is kind of standard of 1960's and 1970's european home electronics

@38911bytefree 9 лет назад

Nice Vid. got a Report 4000-L and wont RW nor FW even with new belts. RW and FW spins but backtension on both reel is so much that cant be overcomed. Is there some setting of the reels are supposed the freely when FW or RW take place (the opossite reel of course). Thanks.

@clydesight 9 лет назад

38911bytefree I think there is supposed to be some back tension, but not a whole lot. I'd look to see if the main drive shaft for the reel tables may be gummed up so it cannot turn properly. If that part is okay, I would check the reel tables themselves. I would suspect that the grease or lubricant on the reel spindles has turned to gum, causing the drag. In that case, I'd get them out, clean them well and re-install.

@38911bytefree 9 лет назад

Many thanks for your advice. How this reels are suppose to be taken off the machine ?. From its back (call back the side with the several boards) or from its front ?. The shaft that is turned by the motor and have the two rubber ends, spins fine but just slips like mad. If I take the tape, reels spin effortlesly and seem to have decent "torque" to do the job. also have a bit distorded output. Improved a lot with amp adjust (two pots) but doesnt sound as good as in your vids. And I know this R2R is superb by its age. Changed many caps, PSU (Z114) brick was deffective, solved. also changed amp caps. Thanks for your help. Regards.

@clydesight 9 лет назад

38911bytefree I'm not an expert on these machine. I think everything comes off from the back. If possible you should get a service manual. Also, there is a guy on RU-vid who repairs these machines. I forget his name, but if you look for all videos about Reports, you'll probably find him. Sorry I can't help you more than this.

@lucabotto7884 8 лет назад

Hi Clyde ! just bought an Uher 2000 L in good shape. Some problems in electronics, may be i'll solve having a schematic diagram. Do you have it ? It will be great. Thanks a lot from Italy. Luca

@clydesight 8 лет назад

Hi Luca, Sorry, I don't have a schematic for this machine. Maybe one of the other RU-vidrs who has done a video on the UHER would have one for you. Sorry, but congrats on your UHER and Good Luck!

@blarrer20 8 лет назад

2000 L? Not sure that model exists, but if it is actually a 4000 L as in the video, the schematic can be downloaded from HiFi Engine; just look up Uher 4000 Report. You do need an account to download it, but it is free to make one. Good luck!

@SoundhuntersFICS 6 лет назад

Might be interesting for our friends all over the world!

@lezondmk 10 лет назад

Hi, . I need your help. I have been watching your videos and see that you are one of the only people that know these things. So I have an Akai 4000D reel to reel tape recorder that I bought a couple of months ago. It was used and i was shown a demonstration before i bought and everything worked just fine.Although it was old i could tell it had little use and had been well taken care of. However when i brought it home and wanted to record some songs trouble. I engaged the pause,hit record and at the same time engaged the lever to record. Went ahead and set the levels so that it was good. But when I tried to disengage the pause to get the machine to actually start recording the pause lever wouldn't budge.It wouldn't move at all.Stubbornly stuck. I could tell that it everything is set and it wants to go ahead and move because i hear the motor (s) running but the pause is stuck. Do you think it needs oil or something? Then i have 2 other decks which i know you don't like. I have a Sony TC 250A and Sony TC 350. Both play fine but when i record i have to set the recording volume all the way to maximum to get the VU meters to move at all and record music that sounds good and even then the recording is still low. There is some hiss but not a whole lot but I am not satisfied with the recording level quality. The sound of the recording itself is actually pretty good,Ok i guess. It's just so low. I have to turn the volume on the receiver all the way up to hear it satisfactorilly. Any suggestions on all 3? Thanks in advance.

@clydesight 10 лет назад

Leo Mkandawire If your pause control is stuck, it is probably a mechanical malfunction or misalignment that got locked in place when you tired to use the machine. You probably have to take the face plate off and examine the mechanical system. I don't know the AKAI machines, so you'd have to ask one of the people who make AKAI repair videos about this. Sorry. If your SONY decks (Why do you think I don't like SONY?) are recording too faint, it's most probably electrolytic capacitors that have failed. This is a common issue. They will have to be replaced, but the trick is discovering which ones. Generally, people replace all the electrolytic capacitors, which can be very time consuming and expensive, and difficult, depending on how complex the amplifier board is. It also helps to have the service manual for the machine. Sorry again. But try to keep in mind that ALL these tape recorders are well PAST their normal life span. The components don't age well on electronics like these, it's in the nature of the components themselves. The metal may stay viable for many, many years, but plastic shrinks in time (including circuit board material), different plastics in contact with each other develop harmful chemical reactions (the scarring that is often seen in plastic tape recorders), electronic components dry out or develop issues (electrolytic capacitors dry out, germanium transistors develop "hairs" that short them out), rubber components oxidize and dry out, making them useless, grease turns to cement and more. Sorry, it is just the nature of the ageing process.

@kidtronic 5 месяцев назад

It will run with 5 d cell batteries if the z114 is dead. Question anyone does the z124 work for a north american replacement. Also what are those blue metal cannisters. If capacitors can i replace with new regular capacitors same values?

@kidtronic 5 месяцев назад

Just received a second one, working. Internally it had the z124 power supply,answering the question i had. The earlier ps did a much wider range of world power. So if north american get the 124.

@robertpillow47 4 года назад

Great job and belated congratulations on restoring the 4000-L to service! What brand or kind of oil did you use on the larger flywheel bearing. I've read in the 4400 Report Monitor service manual that a "sintered bearing oil" is required. Thanks!

@clydesight 4 года назад

Hi, Thanks for watching. I use a U.S. made product called: "Marvel Mystery Oil". It is an oil formula from the 1920's (The Marvel in the name is not the comics!) that is thin -- like sewing machine oils -- and contains chemical metal cleaners/polishers. It was intended to be added to gasoline, I think, to help keep pistons and other parts clean from the inside! It works brilliantly on tape recorders and turntables, and can soften and dissolve most hard grease (i.e. seized Sony joints, BSR turntable seizures, etc.) if applied and left alone for a few days. I got mine at ACE hardware -- it's also on Amazon and in many U.S. auto stores.

@robertpillow47 4 года назад

@@clydesight Thanks!

@robertpillow47 4 года назад

@@clydesight I think I have a problem with some mystery oil inside a 4400 Report Monitor. It seems two 1/16 to 1/8 thick strips of foam, 3/4 by 4 and 5/8 inches, on the bottom cover began decaying some time ago, leaving a what looks like gold dust on components and stuff. Of course that could be tape particles, too. I'm tried removing the adhesive residue by soaking it in hot water and dish washing detergent. Later, the distilled white vinegar I tried was very effective at getting the adhesive to dissolve, allowing the nitrile gloves I wore to become tack cloths of sorts for the goo to stick to. Back to the problem, it seems like a lot of metal parts and stuff have some kind of lubricant residue on it, trapping what ever the dust is? How significant an issue is this? Thanks! (By the way, is there a vacuum cleaner for electronic internals?)

@clydesight 4 года назад

@@robertpillow47 The foam used in these machines is notorious for decaying and getting into the parts. It is a real nuisance. The adhesive should dissolve if you use a swab coat with oil. The oil loosens the adhesive and can be soaked and pulled up with a bit of dry paper towel. Lubricant and goo cannot be allowed on any drive surfaces that contact each other, or the parts will slip or bind. I'd clean all of it off -- since you don't know where it came from or how it got there. Lubricant belongs on bearings, not the surface of parts. However, grease that was used in the manufacture of the machine sometimes liquefies and gets on all the parts, like air pollution. Is it possible that someone else got into the machine and over oiled it? I've run into that issue a few times. You can clean it up with a cloth or toothbrush soaked in ammonia (or window cleaner which has ammonia in it) followed by and a cloth with water for rinsing and then dry. If you use a toothbrush for scrubbing it has soft enough bristles not to hurt any parts (usually, always go easy when working inside a machine) but it can scrub and won't leave cotton residue the way a swab might. You DO want a DROP ONLY of oil for bearings. But GO EASY on the oil. A DROP will do! I like to use an oil injector-- as it is more precise than a can of oil with a plastic spout. Good Luck!

@robertpillow47 4 года назад

@@clydesight Thanks! Will clean as prescribed. Do I need to be concerned about the stuff on the transistors, capacitors, resistors, wires, etc.?

@The8TrackChap 10 лет назад

I'm having issues with the play button on mine. It won't fully engage or disengage. When I press the button down, it doesn't stay locked down in place. Also, it doesn't fully return to the top, it looks as though it's just slightly pressed down.

@clydesight 10 лет назад

Do you mean the speed selector button or the actual play key? If it's the play key, I'd check inside the machine for wiring or something else that may be interfering with it. Also, check under the head cover, something could be in the way of the pinch roller or other parts.

@The8TrackChap 10 лет назад

It's the actual play key. I've tried looking at the mechanism but can't really tell where the problem lies.

@HowardJohnstone Год назад

You will need to replace most of the larger electrolytics over time, as they will mostly go to short, not open.

@LabSkaterPussies 3 года назад

Ok so this machine records onto 1/4'' tape, is there any machine that can play back 1/4'' tape? Because it seems all cassette players can only play back music cassette 1/8'' tapes, or can I put 1/4'' tape in them if I modify the cassette? Otherwise what is the point of having a 1/4'' tape recorder if all audio players play 1/8'' tape?

@clydesight 3 года назад

Hi and thanks for your comment. A bit of BASIC history will answer your question. Let's time travel... In the 1950s and early 60's almost all consumer tape recorders used 1/4" tape on different size reels from 2-inch - in the tiny battery machines - to 7-Inch in the heavy (they called them "portable"!) "table top" recorders. This was the way of reel-to reel format. Time travel to approx. 1965 (in the US) and we find an entirely NEW format - the compact cassette - invented by Philips of Holland. It appeared in Europe much earlier - about 1963. The US was slow to embrace the newer format. The goal was complete portability and ease of use. Tape reel threading was cumbersome, and you couldn't just pop reels off a tape recorder and store them conveniently. And they were heavy. The compact cassette fixed this by locking the reels in the cassette shell, and to make it portable, they made the tape 1/8 inch wide (thus a smaller format). But.. there was a problem. In the early days of cassette, the tapes sounded very flat and dull and only recorded in MONO. Over time this all got improved. So from 1965 to the 1970's we had both formats -- the reel machines were considered to be better and for audio fans, were preferred. But cassettes were improving every day. Time travel to the 1970's and the compact cassette format had grown SO popular that reel to reel format began to be fazed out. By the mid 1970's, stereo cassette decks were smaller and some higher end units sounded just as good as stereo reel to reel. So reel to reel went away and cassettes were the norm. Time travel to the 1980's and the CD changed everything, and cassettes started to wane. No more tape! Time travel to today (2021) and MP3 and other digital audio formats now allow us to put music on a micro SD card smaller than a postage stamp (and easy to lose!) That micro SD card can hold the equivalent of MANY original 7-inch reels! How far we have come! So, the 1/4 inch tape format works with 1/4 inch reel machines from the time period. No one makes reel to reel decks anymore -- though there is a growing interest in vintage machines that some companies are watching carefully. I think STUDER developed a modern "concept" reel to reel machine in the early 2000's, but I don't think it went to market anywhere. Therefore -- you have to buy a working vintage reel machine to play 1/4 inch tapes. 1/4 inch tape would never work in a cassette shell, even if you modified it, because the tape formulation -- what makes it magnetic - is entirely different for cassettes. We have cassettes still, and some recorders are still being made in China and they are still popular in some areas-- and they use the 1/8 tape that all compact cassette machines use. You can't open a cassette and wind the tape onto a reel and play it on a reel machine because the size is off, and the cassette tape formulation would overwork the reel recorder's electronics. So long story short - 1/4 tape requires a 1/4 tape reel to reel recorder 1/8 inch tape requires a cassette recorder and they can't be interchanged. And most of this stuff is vintage because digital recording outperforms them all in sound, ease of use, portability and so on. There is a LOT more to the story of tape-- many books have been written about it. Sorry for the long explanation, but it is a complex subject, yet a fascinating one. It is the march of time, and we get to be here for it all. Trust me, today's audio is the best ever, and it will improve with time. But the old vintage stuff is really warm and fuzzy -- and it provides a tactile feel that is obviously missing from digital. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for your comment.

@LabSkaterPussies 3 года назад

@@clydesight Wow I really appreciate your detailed response. That was very interesting, especially since I have only fairly recently dusted off my dads old reel to reel and started exploring this format

@nikineebay1778 3 года назад

Hello dear, can i play 4 track music reel tapes in the uher 4000 L ? Thank you

@clydesight 3 года назад

HI, As far as I know, this is a 2-track mono machine.

@nikineebay1778 3 года назад

@@clydesight thank you so much for the information 🙏❤️

@clydesight 3 года назад

@@nikineebay1778 You are Welcome. You might enjoy this video on currently available UHER Report machines. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ac3cXu27M-M.html

@hsbhachu3d 9 лет назад

40:49 is it me or did the 3.75 sound better than the 7.5 LOL

@klinkske 4 года назад

my rewind and F forward has not enough power to keep the machine running. I can't see how i'm gonna cure that issue.

@clydesight 4 года назад

Hi, The tape spindles are driven by a special drum set which you can see in my video at around 43:05. The motor has TWO belts, one on each side of it. One belt (on the side of the motor nearest the amplifier board) drives the brass speed selector for the capstan. It's pretty easy to see. The second belt, driven by the OTHER side of the motor, (you can see it near my finger at 43:05 in the video) goes from the motor to the drum that manages the two take up spindles. You have to remove the battery compartment to see all of this mechanism. Anyway, see if that belt from the motor is loose. That would make your FF and Rew wonky. You can actually get UHER replacement belts for this unit on E-Bay! (Okay, you could get them in 2012 when I made this video.) Also, I recommend cleaning ALL the rubber parts with isopropyl alcohol to remove any grease or oil that could make them slip. Good luck!

@wesleyhill4922 7 лет назад

My challenge is to make my Uher 'come to life"; that is to say that I want to make it play...I have the converter from European to American "plug-in" voltage...I've checked the DC battery compartment but I'm not sure of what the five battery values are. Are they 1.5 volts times 5...would be 7.5 .......don't think so....

@clydesight 7 лет назад

wesley hill I am no expert on these UHER machines, I just got lucky with this one. Here is what I know, but you should look at other folks who put up UHER Report videos -- as they probably know and understand more that I do. The UHER takes 5 "D" batteries, at 1.5 volts each which would SEEM to indicate that it takes 7.5 volts. But A-HA, that's not what actually happens! The converter box SKIPS one battery, but I don't know why. So, the converter box sits in the main battery compartment (that can hold 4 D cells), for an output of 6 volts. There is a label on the inside of my machine that even points this out. BUT, if I put 4 "D" batteries in the same space, the recorder won't run. I have to put in that 5th battery -- OR I can run a jumper cable across that fifth battery compartment -- and it will work! Also, If you look carefully at the battery compartment, you will see that the two endmost positive terminals have TWO studs. One set is designed for the positive terminal on the batteries (the "nipple"), the other studs are lower -- to match the studs on the converter box. So there are probably two different power circuits. It seems to me that the 5th battery is a parallel battery, instead of a series one, so the total voltage is still 6 volts but because one battery is in parallel it allows for a longer battery life. Since the converter will always have plenty of power, they don't need that parallel arrangement. So it is not used. I do not know why they set it up like this. I don't have a schematic and the manual doesn't talk about this at all. It just says to use the converter box OR 5 D batteries. I suggest that you contact one of the other RU-vidrs who seems to understand these machines better than I do and ask them to explain it, as I can't do more than this. Sorry.

@wesleyhill4922 7 лет назад

Thank you so much; there may be others who are knowledgeable, but you explained it in words that we all can understand.....and that is a "linguistic gift"!

@fickfehler3866 4 года назад

The German engineers responsible for these complex designs eventually went to either USSR or USA. All the technology we have today originated from the greatest minds in the world in Germany. It's a shame German made products of today are utterly unreliable :-(

@AlexanderGibbonsAudio 3 года назад

I have a parts machine UHER 4000 if you want me to send you the worm gear for the counter :)

@clydesight 3 года назад

Hi, Alexander, Thanks for watching the video and for your very kind and generous offer. I no long have the UHER machine (I made this video quit a while ago), so I don't need a worm gear anymore. Again, thank you for the kind offer! Stay well and safe!