URGENT: Is the a good deal ??

[Alshalan]

Hi,

I am thinking to buy this Dragon
Item no: 250611573156
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250611573156&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_876

Is it a good deal for me? *scratchchin*

[Warped Bezel]

I don't know.

Can you fix it? Needs a belt from what I understood, maybe more.

I'm not sure I get the Russian by his lingo...the seller seems open though. You should ask them questions, all you need to. The seller will tell you, even when feedback does not. You must put anxiety aside and determine that.

[Alshalan]

I don't know.

Can you fix it? Needs a belt from what I understood, maybe more.

I'm not sure I get the Russian by his lingo...the seller seems open though. You should ask them questions, all you need to. The seller will tell you, even when feedback does not. You must put anxiety aside and determine that.

Also, the seller is selling mainly cloths, and never sold any cassette decks

[Dave Cawley]

If it was just a belt the vendor could fit it and get hundreds more? What the listing really says, is that it doesn't work and you would have no comeback at all.

Dave

[Alshalan]

I sent him a message, he syas

"Q: What city in Saudia Arabia and what is the postal code? I need this info to get the estimate. The package weighs over 35 pounds. The deck was fully serviced in 94 but since then it has been sitting in the collection. It starts up fine and the auto reverse works and plays, however, it does not play in the forward motion. I was told it needed new belts or some lubrication, but I am not very mechanically inclined. I hate to sell it but I need the funds for my new family. Thanks for the interest. I have received numerous emails about it. Please note- I just lowered the price for a quicker sale. Regards, Dr. Roger Liu"

I told him, got it fully serviced, then I will be much intersted.

[Alshalan]

He replied syaing
"A FULL service by a reputable service center costs approximately
$500 USD. I know this is a LOT but they do a complete servicing
and there are ONLY 4 places that do it in the United States that
are reputable.
Regards,
Roger"

I have to pay
500+625+shipping

Good deal???

[Warped Bezel]

Also, the seller is selling mainly cloths, and never sold any cassette decks

Boy, that happens a lot on eBay, ever notice?

I'm sorry about that. It's like the guy on Craigslist with a 500 car needing a timing chain, GM kit to reduce failure and of COURSE the water pump MUST be replaced to finish the job (Quad 4 engine)...instant 1500+ dollar car.

[perry]

The fact that it plays in reverse, but not forward, means it might just be a broken counter belt. The Dragon has a counter on each reel, the right hand one is belt driven. If that belt is broken, it may only work in one direction. Tom might know for sure. That is literally the easiest cheapest fix for a Dragon that exists, like $10. If it's NOT that then the problem could be a lot more serious, like on the motor control board. NO other belt could cause that issue. Personally, it's not a "deal", in my opinion. Dragons have just been high lately. In your case, the problem is finding someone you can trust to ship reliably to you overseas.

[Dave Cawley]

Will the person who services it guarantee for the $500 that you will have a 100% working unit?

Dave

[Socal Sam]

Depends what the serial number is. IIRC, later Dragons have a must have production line change. The cutoff serial number is here in TH somewhere.

[perry]

Basically anything over 10000 has all the changes. 20000+ and you're into the laast few years of production. Avoid less than 4000, in general, if you don't know the deck. In beween is more of a crap shoot

[Alshalan]

OK, I may go for this one instead

230461096897

Hope I can get it

[Nakdoc]

The decks' problem is a burned out lamp, not a belt. Minimum service would be to replace both reel sensor lamps. The worst problem a Dragon can have is an open play head, so there is some risk with this deck.
If you purchase the deck, have it serviced before it goes to Vladivostok. Willy Herman or I will repair it for much less than $500.
$650 is an enormous amount to pay for postage. What customs charges are added to the cost?
It is a good deck because it has the original box and supports. The seller is absolutely correct.

[perry]

See why I said Tom would know better? Burnt out counter bulb or belt, same effect. He's right, the bulb failures are abrupt. Of course if something else goes wrong a Dragon would be a lot harder to get fixed locally, than a CR-7. This is true anywhere, though.