HI All

I know it's very 'low-tech' by comparison with all this modern digital
stuff g - but it's the best thing that I have to copy my old
cassettes to cd for archive and to use in the car....

so.....

This 'ageing but virile' tape deck was thrown my way - and a quick
clean of the tape heads has restored it to reasonable condition.
Playback levels were slightly down on the left channel - but there are
presets inside the cavernous case to adjust such things - and now it's
looking and sounding much better.

Only slight snag is that the machine isn't very keen on
fast-forwarding, and just sulks when asked to rewind tapes. Playing at
normal speed is fine. on rewind the motor engages, then drops out
again after a few seconds (?some kind of 'tape-not-moving' detect
circuit?).

I'm thinking that it's probably a mechanical problem - before I dive
in there and wreck it completely - can anybody please give me some
pointers as to what might be wrong ?

Many thanks in advance
Adrian
Suffolk UK

In article , Adrian
Brentnall wrote:

Only slight snag is that the machine isn't very keen on
fast-forwarding, and just sulks when asked to rewind tapes. Playing at
normal speed is fine. on rewind the motor engages, then drops out
again after a few seconds (?some kind of 'tape-not-moving' detect
circuit?).

I'm thinking that it's probably a mechanical problem - before I dive
in there and wreck it completely - can anybody please give me some
pointers as to what might be wrong ?

The capstan (the little silver post that moves the tape) is
normally driven by the motor from a belt. There is then a set
of rubber idlers, belts, and clutches that drive the take up and
feed reels. These things can get dirty and the rubber parts can
get hard with age. Either will cause the problem that you are
seeing.

More advanced decks have a motor that directly drives the capstan,
and a 2nd or even 3rd motor to drive the reels. You may have a
mechanical or dirt issue, but might just as likely have an
electronic problem in this case.

Dig in and see what you find.

-john-

--
================================================== ==================
John A. Weeks III 952-432-2708
Newave Communications http://www.johnweeks.com
================================================== ==================

HI John

Many thanks for the reply

I took a quick look inside the mechanism last night. There is indeed a
'tape moving' detector - driven by rubber belts, and linked eventually
to the mechanical tape counter on the front panel.

I FIXED IT ! g
I think it was a combination of some grubbyness on the detector shaft
(which was causing the belt to slip, and the 'non-movement' to do its
job, causing the main solenoid to stop the motor) and a very 'dry'
bearing on the shaft itself which was making it more difficult for the
shaft to rotate.

Tiny amounts of cleaner and lubricant seem to have done the trick -
many thanks for the suggestions.

Regards
Adrian
Suffolk UK