JVC Victor TD-V931 - This Flagship Tape Deck Needs Help

At the start of 2024, my plan was to buy two top of the line cassette decks to see if I could find one that out-recorded the rest of the collection. The first of those was the A&D GX-Z9100, which immediately knocked everything else down a peg. It's been my #1 machine for months now.

Today's deck is a JVC TD-V931, which is often regarded as the best JVC made in any era. Like the A&D, this is a Japanese domestic market only deck, and you can expect to pay about the same price as an A&D in nice condition. But can mine hang with a top of the line beast that showed up with flawless heads? That's the question, and I intend to find out today.

But good golly, do I have some repairs to do first.

Fast wind/control gears: Fix Your Audio
Playback idler tire: 22x17x2mm
Belt: PRB FRSP8.97
Pinch rollers: 11x8x2mm & 10x8x2mm

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My Favorite 5 Cassette Decks for Sound Quality:
1 - JVC TD-V931
2 - A&D GX-Z9100
3 - Aiwa XK-007 / Carver TD-1700m (tie)
4 - Technics RS-B755m
5 - Teac V-900X

Music:
Scott Merritt - Are You Sending? (www.scottmerritt.com)
Captain T.V.舰长电视 - Worth It - 2 - 4 1 a m (plasticresponserecords.bandcamp.com)
*This video is intentionally demonetized

0:00:00 - Intro
0:05:00 - Checking operation
0:07:32 - Transport removal
0:13:24 - Comparing transports with the TD-X501
0:16:55 - Head condition
0:19:20 - Capstan motor diagnosis and fix
0:24:44 - Belt and capstans
0:35:50 - Take up idler condition
0:39:37 - Pinch roller service
0:51:02 - Tape entry guide alignment and head alignment check
0:53:24 - Control and fast wind gear replacement
1:02:41 - A problem with the idler
1:04:39 - Idler fix, new tape path issues
1:08:22 - Wow and flutter check
1:11:11 - Azimuth adjustment issues
1:15:08 - Record test
1:24:49 - Alignment Thoughts and Future Plans