How I changed the counter belt on my Pioneer RT-707

I know there are probably several methods to change the belt, but after not not finding anything on TH-cam, and not much on Google, I figured it out on my own and decided to post a video so others could at least find one method.
Good luck!

[@cytowing3353]

Thanks for the tip about raising the brake band to slide the belt in. With that and two pair of long tweezers I got the new belt in with only removing the faceplate.

[@patriot7734]

Love to see someone upgrade VU light to those Ice blue LED

[@Jamko1970]

Just did it today. It worked out perfect! I now have a working counter again. Thanks for the video.

[@theAVguy808]

Glad it was useful.

[@ningzhang2978]

Do you have video for changing the vu meter and lamp? I want to see how to do that? Mine burnt out…

[@garryfreeman1432]

Great Video. New belt I received had instructions that wanted me to remove the circlip on the end of the brake !!! Your solution was much easier. Loved the bent coat hanger. Well done sir.

[@SC515]

Good job. Thanks for posting this video. Great unit.

[@Jamko1970]

Nice info! I need to do this soon.

[@adaboy4z]

Great tip!!

[@myredsweetheart]

Thanks for the informative video, because mine was shot as well 🎉

[@MollydogRadar]

This was awesome. I am planning on getting rid of my Akai GX 210D auto reverse deck and moving up to the rt 707, but I have heard that the counter belt has something to do with how the 707 auto reverse works in the backwards direction and is the only thing that breaks. Funny. I had an SX 1250 sense 1998, but recently down sized to the SX 850.

[@garryfreeman1432]

Counter belt has nothing to do with anything else other than counter. Its the only belt inside the 707s

[@MollydogRadar]

@@garryfreeman1432 Good to know. I take it that It uses sensor tape to activate the auto reverse like my Akia GX 210D, that I have had for 25+ years. The pinch roller is wearing out, so rather than spend over 100 buck for a new one, I'll just invest in a 707. Thanks for the reply.

[@MollydogRadar]

@@garryfreeman1432 Well, I bought one with the manual. I had to install a new counter belt (not too hard to do). According to the manual, the counter is required if you want the unit to change directions back to forward, but not for auto reverse. That is done by using the foil tape, just as my Akai GX 210D.

[@EnochLight]

@@MollydogRadar - all reel to reels use foil sensor tape to activate auto-reverse. All of them. It wasn't until cassette reached maturity that auto-reverse was just "end of the tape tension" activated. Open reel to reel has no tension when it reaches the end of the tape so foil sensor tape (that shorts a circuit) was the only way to do it.

[@MollydogRadar]

I have news for you. The Pioneer RT-707 uses foil tape to auto reverse, but relies on the counter for auto forward when the continuous button is activated. I know this because I now own one. That's why this machine will not auto forward if the counter belt is broke.

[@paulbanks5542]

Hi Rick! First thank you for the informative video. My question: when the tape runs out, my machine won't shut down. What's the problem? Paul

[@jimjones1505]

Good info

[@Grizzlyklau]

What are dimensions for these belts? Would be great to know, i feel that resellers just take big bucks for standard dimensions...

[@jbjmz6015]

Thanks for this video -Also have an RT-707 and the counter does not work-So, to be clear you only replaced the belt because the counter didn’t work, correct? 😊

[@theAVguy808]

That is correct. The old belt had broke apart and needed to be replaced.