Hi,

it's pretty common for that gear to disintegrate over time, it doesn't seem to be able to take the forces.

I don't think it's possible to replace that part without breaking something along the way of disassembly, everything is cheap plastic. I would look for another Century with a working tape drive and swap it out.

Good luck!

Bill

I actually got down to seeing it by taking the piece of that covers it (the bit that goes up/down on play) off. It's just a snap fit that holds it so not too bad. And to get that cog out is pretty easy at this point really, if someone had a stock.

I agree about it being cheap though. I had a BeoSystem 5500 a few years ago which was 20 years older but had a far superior tape deck. I guess I'd rather live without than go through the hassle of cannibalising parts, especially as I'm in the US where B&O is rarer than it was in Europe. I just have a sentimental attachment, it was the first vaguely expensive B&O thing I bought (from Lee about 15 years ago!)

I came across an eBay seller who is selling some of the (more lucrative) bits to a century that was physically damaged. He thinks he probably has the tape deck in the pile of bits he didn't think were worth much.

After research, it seems that this was a Phillips deck that B&O bought in. I need to check on whether a Phillips community exists with the spares/parts to replace the cog as it surely must go a lot. It's a fairly simply 'plastic cog on an axle on a swivel' setup so if I get a replacement deck I'll keep the old one for potentially scanning and CAD modelling. If someone is reading this in a few years time then then PM me to see what happened.

Hello Calvin

I think you are right about that its a Philips taperecorder ( DCC300 / DCC600)

On Ebay is a seller ( appleoff666sodom) where you can order new gear weels for the century and they look similar as the Philips

I just orderd a set, let you no if they fit wel

Vr gr Peter