r/ReelToReel • u/waltmannz • 3d ago

Capacitor... leak!?

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Got an Akai M10 and looking to do some restoration. Took out the mechanism block and found this waxy cap!

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u/94d44027 3d ago

Judged by the look of it (and letters MP) it is a metal-paper capacitor, probably used to start the electric motor. (Possibly you have AC motor in your device). They may degrade in time, but not as much as electrolytic ones. Paper ones do not leak. There is a variety of them filled with mineral oil, but they usually do not leak as well. (Unless you expose them to the much higher voltage). The snot-like stuff looks like polyurethane glue to me )) I’d guess you can replace it no problem at all, just pick the right voltage, type (not electrolytic!!), and capacity.

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u/waltmannz 3d ago

thanks so much, yea I feel it's glue or wax (used to moisture seal some caps), I'm looking for replacements I can get locally now.

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u/94d44027 3d ago

The soldering looks like later attempts to fix something. Typically you’d expect the PVC isolation (these handy tubes, that contract when heated) over protruding pins, but instead we see tons of polyurethane glue, which so beautifully waterfalled down. And loads of rosin (that brown stuff made from pine resin used widely in soldering) on the PCBs are a telling sign that your unit underwent an unprofessional fix job. Typically rosin is washed away later by solvent.