fm mod. vs tape deck?

992 Views 19 Replies 15 Participants Last post by Rudy, Jun 15, 2009

dburnash

Discussion Starter · Jun 13, 2009

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Have a 95 1500. I use an mp3 player most of the time. I have it running through a tape deck adapter. Question is, while I am using the tape apapter I believe the tape deck motor is always running. Am I wearing out the tape deck motor by running it constantly ,or should i wire a FM modulator into the antenna for the mp3 player and save the wear and tear on my Deck? Any opinions appreciated. thanks Mike

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Rudy

· #2 · Jun 13, 2009

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You are running it when the cassette adapter is in and yes it is adding wear to it.
You are better off with one of the other options, IMO.
Here they are:
http://goldwingtech.info/auxradio/

dburnash

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 13, 2009

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Thank you sir, Exactly what I was looking for!!

Matt G

· #4 · Jun 13, 2009

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Do the radio mod and you will not look back, I have tried them all and the radio mod is the best by far. It is easy to do if you take your time and are handy with a soldering iron.

razor

· #5 · Jun 13, 2009

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I have a question about the radio mod. Why use the relay? Why not come out of the radio with the 4 wires that attach to the caps and their corresponding through holes and attach to a DPDT switch?

FitzAl

· #6 · Jun 13, 2009

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That should work too, but would there be a risk of interference or noise that way?

Oregonwinger

· #7 · Jun 13, 2009

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FitzAl hit the nail on the head. Elimination of any possible noise, +, a lot less wire clutter.

wing ding

· #8 · Jun 13, 2009

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I use a little FM modulator that plugs into the I-pod. The I-pod powers it. I just slip it in my jacket or one of the front pockets. No wires. The only draw back is I have to get it out to change playlists or to turn it off.

Bikeman

· #9 · Jun 13, 2009

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I too use a tape deck adapter but lately it has not been working for me. It switches between a right arrow and a left arrow five or six times and then both arrows flash together and I get no audio. What's up?

oharaLTD

· #10 · Jun 13, 2009

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This works well on my 1200
http://cgi.ebay.com/IPod-FM-transmitter-Belkin-MINT_W0QQitemZ280355563449QQcmdZViewItemQQptZOther_MP3_Player_Accessories?hash=item41467e67b9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1234|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A2|294%3A50

OldNewbie

· #11 · Jun 14, 2009

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i have one of those but find that the volume is very weak
even with ipod set to a high output.

Rudy

· #12 · Jun 14, 2009

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OldNewbie wrote:

i have one of those but find that the volume is very weak
even with ipod set to a high output.

Clean the heads on the cassette deck. Your adapter will not make head to head contact if dried tape oxide is holding it away.

You will need to get down in there and clean the deck head face with alcohol and Q-tips.

Bagmaster

· #13 · Jun 14, 2009

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Bikeman wrote:

I too use a tape deck adapter but lately it has not been working for me. It switches between a right arrow and a left arrow five or six times and then both arrows flash together and I get no audio. What's up?

Broken drive belt in the tape deck.

chesterwgunn

· #14 · Jun 14, 2009

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Bagmaster wrote:

Bikeman wrote:

I too use a tape deck adapter but lately it has not been working for me. It switches between a right arrow and a left arrow five or six times and then both arrows flash together and I get no audio. What's up?

Click to expand...

I took my cassette adapter apart and removed the drive wheels, as my belts were slipping but not broken. It has just bought me some time, but I am quickly approaching decision time..

mikef

· #15 · Jun 14, 2009

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I look at it this way. I don’t listen to tapes in my cassette player; I doubt many of us do. I am not “saving” my bike for the next owner, so why would I care about wearing anything out? Then I might as well park it in the garage, so nothing wears out.

I will continue to use the cassette adapter, until it wears out, if it ever does, while in my possession. Then, I’ll do the wired in FM modulator.

OldNewbie

· #16 · Jun 15, 2009

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@ the guys with flashing arrows....
could be that the wire that comes off the corner of the cassette is not allowing the cassete to seat fully in the player unit. noticed this today on mine.

@ rudy; had not thought of that since tapes play at normal volume

noyb72

· #17 · Jun 15, 2009

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Why not just run a small amp? You can buy line-level to RCA connectors for most MP3 players. You will have to wire in a speaker A/B switch, or run the speaker wire to hi-level inputs on the amp. I've used this as a solution in quite a few cars and it has worked well.

Ron

T.Hambley

· #18 · Jun 15, 2009

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I fitted an in line FMmodulator and it works fine the only issue as mentioned earlier is that to change a track/play list you have to stop the bike, no big issue really.

Select the music you want and put it on shuffle and away you go.

Terry

oharaLTD

· #19 · Jun 15, 2009

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OldNewbie wrote:

i have one of those but find that the volume is very weak
even with ipod set to a high output.

I have not used mine much without onboard head set. So volume may be weak through the speakers. Some small ipod units like the shuffle will not make enough volume to work properly.

Rudy

· #20 · Jun 15, 2009

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OldNewbie wrote:

@ the guys with flashing arrows....
could be that the wire that comes off the corner of the cassette is not allowing the cassete to seat fully in the player unit. noticed this today on mine.

@ rudy; had not thought of that since tapes play at normal volume

Then it is possible that the cassette adapter you have has it's head misaligned with the one in the deck. Try another adapter.

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