I just bought a beocord 5500 cassette deck from ebay and there seems to be something wrong with it. The front panel slides open and closes like it should and stand by light turns on. But if I put in a cassette and push play (or any other button), the lights in the front panel turn on for a couple of seconds and then power turns off completely. Does anybody know what could cause this? 

I do not have a din-rca adapter so I can't connect the deck to my amplifier. But the deck can't be so smart that it turns itself automatically off if not connected to a amplifier, or can it?

The seller claimed that the deck was working just fine when he sent it (but promised a refund if I send it back).

I would say that you should send it back.

They are so cheap now that they are hardly worth getting repaired. Buy another and see if your luck changes.

Classic symptoms of perished belts. Most BC5500's will have this problem now so unless the seller has changed them you are likely to find the next one will have the same problems sooner or later. Member Dillen (Martin) can supply an excellent set of new along with fitting instructions.

Chris.

Didn't send it back, instead I opened it. Apparently one of the engines was stuck (the one with the belt). Now the deck works just fine, but the engine won't stop spinning when power is on. Any ideas?

I also checked the belt, but didn't see anything wrong with it.

lonelyraider:

Now the deck works just fine, but the engine won't stop spinning when power is on.

Stupidly, that seems to be by design in these shoe box Beocords! After you start the deck, the motor will just keep on running until the whole system is put on standby.

The motor not starting initially is a bit odd, but at least this non-stop thing should be normal.

Ok, good to know that!

I'll have to open the deck one more time and check the belt. Maybe it was the belt after all that caused the motor not to start.