First off MOST Otari tape recorders use Standard Bearings, that can be easily found.
BUT in some machines they used a CUSTOM Non-Normal Bearing.....
Which means they are No LONGER available anywhere...
BUT there are a few things you need to know about them...
These Non-Standard Bearings are a type used Only in the MR-1H DC Brushless Capstan Motors For some reason Otari built a Capstan with a shaft that was a non-normal size,
and had Custom Built Bearings for them...
The real problem, which I must add has NOT yet happened much, but alas will,
is that these bearings will wear out and require replacement to keep Wow and Flutter to original Specs.
But the last person with these bearings - Jeff at PrecisionMotorWorks -
said in December 2024 that he no longer has any to sell... and that "no more exist on the planet".
Otari has none, Jeff has none, I do not have any myself.
The Otari Capstan MR-1H was used inthe MX 80,
and the MX 55 machines as well as others...
Check your manual to see if your Capstan is the MR-1H !!!
This Custom Otari Bearing was a 629(X) ZZ type.
The "(X) indicates it is a CUSTOM Size not a normal 629 ZZ bearing !!!
Years ago I pulled a bad capstan motor out of a parts MX55 machine
and put in a 'normal' 629ZZ bearing to see what would happen -
Wow and Flutter went way up beyond specs....