B77 FULL MONTY complete service overhaul kits for Revox B77 reel to reel tape recorders mk1 and mk2 

What's the meaning of the phrase 'The Full Monty'?  Complete, the whole thing.   The phrase made popular from the 1997 smash hit comedy drama film of the same name. However it probably originated in about 1907 from the bespoke tailoring business in Sheffield of Sir Montague Burton, where the term was used to describe a complete three-piece suit. 

Over the years customers have asked for a full kit instead of ordering individual sub kits. They also have tended to ask advice on what they should do to fully overhaul and restore their tape machines. So this is what I recommend and if a machine comes into our workshop THIS FULL SET OF KITS is what we fit. It takes into account the most likely components mechanically and electrically that may have degraded over the many years due to sitting idle or being over-worked. So, if you want to  service, restore or overhaul your machine as completely as you can, this is what I recommend.  Without wishing to seem that its just  a 'sales spiel', of course individual sub kits are always available on their own. Please refer to the listings under the specific model section of my store. Please also see the precise details of each sub kit under its listing if you require more information on any particular sub kit.

THE FULL MONTY.  A set of applicable sub kits typically containing:

• Capacitor and Trimmer replacement kit.  All polar electrolytic, tantalum, motor and suppression capacitors, all audio relays  and all open type trimmer potentiometers  
• Motor overhaul kit for 3 motors including appropriate lubricant.  New SKF bearings, circlips and lubricant/s for all three motors. Earlier A77 Mk1/2 includes capstan special roller bearing.
• Reel table height and pinch roller arm shims to set your reel table and pinch roller heights exactly. 
• Tension damper repacking lubricant / drag agent.  ALL Revox machines have a special damper agent that needs renewing.
• Pinch Roller kit. - pinch roller with appropriate low friction PTFE washers and metal shims
• Tape Guide Kit  - two stainless steel SKF guide bearings with a full set of shims to set tape clearance accurately within the guide. (Includes extra parts needed to convert left guide from rub block to a bearing.)  Note:  not supplied for  types that cant use this kit.
• New RCA Sockets  Replace those ugly tarnished and faulty RCA sockets. Applicable to models with RCA sockets eg  F/G36, A77, B77, A700, B750, Revox cassettes & CD's  
• Brake drum linings - 1 pair for both reel turntables
• Tape counter belts  - 2 supplied - white toothed and long black. A77, B77, PR99.  1 supplied for A700 and F/G36
• Globes for the VU / Power  1 or 2 of each type fitted as spares
• PCB locator sponge.  To secure the PCB's when fitting the inspection / calibration panel - A77, B77, PR99.  (How many people bother ? Well, its pretty important and part of doing the job properly!)
• Separate Nagravox service sheet manuals detailing how to do it all.  Lots of pictures before / after, suggestions, updates, troubleshooting.
• Support service to help you in case you have questions, problems, comments. Problems are temporal events in the cosmos of life, "there are no problems only solutions".
• Transistors Spares Pack. (new from 2018)   The "Full Monty" now also includes a useful semiconductor spares pack which has a selection of repair replacements for most of the BC type NPN and PNP audio transistors as well as 1N diodes. This is not for replacing all transistors - only those that may be faulty or suspect. (replacing all transistors is completely unnecessary). The kit is particularly suitable for all Revox A77, B77 and PR99 machines AND is also a very useful kit to have as part of your electronic spares for most Revox and Studer equipment.
• Coming soon - the kitchen sink with gold plated taps ......   (just kidding).

Now includes our RCA sockets - complete your restoration to the highest level. Smart functional and eliminates many intermittent hassles.

 Overhauled and Repaired in our Workshop.

Please Note:  Pictures in gallery and description show various aspects of tape recorder restoration using Nagravox kits typical of our service sheets and what we encounter in our workshop.  These are for elaboration / information only and are not what is supplied in our kit of parts which is detailed as a picture of components when you select the model.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON OUR KITS

Our kits contain specially sourced, new, freshly manufactured components from reliable manufacturers whom we have been dealing with for many years. No NOS (new old stock) or 2^nd hand items!! The motor capacitors are specially manufactured for us for Revox tape deck motors as are large power supply can type electrolytics. The audio signal path capacitors are specially selected low noise, low leakage / high stability types that we have specifically tested and sourced to be the most appropriate available. The preset pots are cermet fully enclosed guaranteeing decades of trouble free operation and adjustment.

What About - other audio path caps and transistors - I try to design kits on the basis of what is most likely to be degraded without going over the top. We don't usually supply audio path related non polarised  path  paper, mica, poly or other caps <1uf simply because in our experience these are very stable, always fine and within spec.  We also don't supply any transistors or IC's (other than in teh Full MOnty kits) because again these are usually fine. Very seldom are transistors a problem! However we do have a separate transistor and diode kit suitable for A77, B77, PR99 and other Revox and Studer machines for the 60’s and 70’s.  If you restore a few projects then they are a "good" thing to have a few in your parts bin just in case. If you want to replace transistors, we can certainly supply (if you want authenticity) original spec or (if you are a sonic purist)  modern very low noise high gain equivalents we have tested extensively.  Just let me know when you order a kit and we can include them at a nominal cost.

MOTOR CAPACITORS:  Our precision high grade motor capacitors are specially made to our specifications for us for Revox and Studer tape decks.  There are NOT generic white washing machine / fan capacitors which have wide specification tolerances.  Don’t be fooled into buying  white plastic generic washing machine or fan capacitors - they are mass produced to wide specification tolerances, inaccurate and - frankly good for fans and washing machines BUT not precision tape recorders. Especially don't believe anyone who tells you that a different higher capacitance is better! What absolute rubbish!     Our motor capacitors are the exact Revox capacitance values not "approximately close". Anyone who implies that a higher capacitance value is better is talking nonsense. Other Ebay vendors have in the last year started copying us  and  offer copy cat kits many with inferior white washing machine capacitors and dubious non X2 rated suppression capacitors.  Also PLEASE never use old motor caps - its just not on and is a rip-off!  Our motor capacitors ensure the capstan and reel motors develop the correct starting and running torque necessary for smooth tape transport under a variety of tape tensions. If you have wow and flutter or sluggish FFWD or RWD then your motor capacitors could be the problem. 

Our suppressor capacitors far exceed the original specifications and are X2 rated to 275VAC. Don’t accept anything less!  Some vendors try selling cheaper DC rated capacitors which are not correct and wont last. Did you know an AC rated X2 capacitor at 275VAC have an equivalent  DC rating exceeding 800 VDC. Cheaper inferior 400VDC and 600VDC capacitors just wont do the job because they are not AC continuously rated and you will be sorry.  In defense of the original  Rifa and other makes of suppressor capacitors fitted by Studer / Revox to most of their machines which have often been referred to as “little smokers” (a coined WWW term I really loathe!).  These at the time were the best available.  The have done what they have supposed to do – suppress surges and spikes due to inductive / capacitive switching – and are simply old and passed their normal age and service duty period. They have never been bad capacitors. Just like the parrot in Monty Python – “they have gone to meet their maker” and have done a sterling job for decades. Its simply time to replace them. Did you know - capacitors degrade when they have been stored for a long time. The expected design life of  electrolytic, suppressor  and motor capacitor does not extend beyond 20 years and they degrade quickly whether under under working or storage conditions when they are older than this.

Our own Nagravox Service Manual Instructions.  For all kits, full instructions for each board are included with pictures before and after detailing exactly which components go where and a host of useful tips, checks and basic calibration.  We are still the only supplier of kits that has taken the time and effort to produce a detailed instruction manual on how to install our kits, what to look out for and how to maintain existing calibration. Some of these exceed 100 pages and share our collective knowledge and experience over many years and many hundreds of restorations.

Don’t waste your time replacing just one or two capacitors on machines that are now 25 - 40 years old, replace ALL the likley troublesome electrolytics and tantalums. Old high voltage capacitors associated with the motors and tape drive will be near the end of their useful life -  electrically and often even visually. Some capacitors may test ok on a low voltage modern tester. However capacitors usually need to be tested after they have operated for at least 10 hours (after being discharged and stored for many years) at working voltage and then tested under actual working voltage conditions. Modern testers cant do this. For such relatively low cost components its prudent to just replace the lot.  All our components are new recent manufacture specifically for Nagravox and specifically specified as worthy replacement for the originals. 

 Another typical example of Nagravox service sheets.

UPGRADE LABEL PROVIDED.   Why? Because we think that you should be proud of your work and it shows you have done a proper job.

Tools you will need.

·       Soldering iron and solder 

·       Desoldering tool or good solder sucker 

·       Switch contact cleaner WITHOUT lubricant

·       Screwdrivers, nose pliers, side cutters, 5mm - 13mm metric sockets and spanners

·       Multi meter

IS THIS KIT FOR YOU?  DO YOU HAVE THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE.

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?  Please communicate with me at Nagravox.  This is my preferred medium for communication for all queries, aspects you may need assurance on, parts, puzzling faults and of course for a chat. 

DO YOU NEED SPECIFIC SPARE PARTS?  We have many individual components for all Revox and Studer machines. Please check back periodically or contact Nagravox with your requirements. 

WHY BUY FROM NAGRAVOX? 

*  My kits are relevant.    * My support is genuine and I am the only Revox and Studer service person offering it. 

NAGRAVOX SERVICE UPGRADE KITS are formulated to include all the bits likely to need replacing that are commonly related. 

These target the most likely worn or age degraded parts.

SUPPORT and HELP.  We try to incorporate most of the “confusing” or difficult aspects one needs to look out for in our upgrade kits instructional notes which we call “Service Sheets”.  We also refer you to the official factory service manuals most of which are in the public domain courtesy of Studer / Revox. As our customer we are happy to either provide you with a manual or refer you to the appropriate download site.  Further, as an after sales service, we are happy to answer any questions or difficulties you have in your repair or upgrade . We wont always know the answers but will certainly try our best to help. In any event, if we don’t know the answer it is an ideal opportunity for us to increase our knowledge and experience base and so  welcome all problems. Indeed perhaps you might share some of your innovative solutions and experiences. After all we certainly don’t know everything and welcome advice, suggestions and constructive criticism. My philosophy is that in reality their are few problems only solutions waiting to be communicated or discovered. Why do we offer this level of support?  Well as I indicated before, I do this out of a passion and I think I am right in saying so do you in your anticipated endeavors restoring your treasured vintage gear. It is in this common spirit I am happy to share my knowledge and experience with you as a customer.