Repairing Blaupundt Tucson cassette player...beginners advice needed

[jbclem]

I have some Blaupundt Tucson car radios, and I've always had problems with
their cassette mechanisms. I'd like to learn how to clean them and figure
out the mechanical problems. The first step is a power setup on my
workbench. I don't have a power supply, but I do have some old computer
power supplies which have 12v+, 12v- outputs (and others). Would they work
for my purposes?

Is anyone familiar with the Blaupundt cassette players...are they worth
repairing? If they aren't, is there a higher quality cassette mechanism
that could be substituted. I know the answer depends in part on the
problem, and it's been so long I don't remember exactly what it was, so I
have to bench test the radios first. But some general opinions would be
appreciated.

John

[e-nigma[_3_]]

"jbclem" > wrote in message
...
>I have some Blaupundt Tucson car radios, and I've always had problems with
> their cassette mechanisms. I'd like to learn how to clean them and figure
> out the mechanical problems. The first step is a power setup on my
> workbench. I don't have a power supply, but I do have some old computer
> power supplies which have 12v+, 12v- outputs (and others). Would they
> work
> for my purposes?
>
> Is anyone familiar with the Blaupundt cassette players...are they worth
> repairing? If they aren't, is there a higher quality cassette mechanism
> that could be substituted. I know the answer depends in part on the
> problem, and it's been so long I don't remember exactly what it was, so I
> have to bench test the radios first. But some general opinions would be
> appreciated.
>
> John
>
>

Hello John
Did you get the harnesses I sent you?
I'm not sure if the PC power supply will work or not.
I don't think any other tape mechanisms from other units will fit in yours.
Even other Blaupunkt units may use a different mechanism.
Without knowing the problem it's hard to know the cure...
If the tapes sound garbled, then the tape heads may just need cleaning.
This can be done with a cue tip and alcohol
If the tape is dragging or plays and slows down and speeds back up,
then it could be the belts need replacing.
also check the to make sure there is not any tape broke off inside the unit
from tape being broke off inside the unit
You have my email

[John Durbin[_2_]]

You'll want a source for new parts for replacing the main drive belt...
that's going to be the most common problem on any deck this old. Take
one off, cut it and measure its length, subtract maybe 5% (10% if it was
very loose when you removed it) to allow for it stretching over the
years. Measure the cross-section thickness. Look for PRB or other
replacement belt products at on-line parts sellers for new belts that
meet those dimensions. The Tucson should be a square belt by the way,
and probably in the 1.5mm square range.

Hardened pinch rollers will be tough if not impossible to replace but
you can probably salvage most of them with rubber rejuvenation. Look for
spray cans of stuff made for cleaning copy machine rubber rollers.
Apply, wipe off, repeat until the rubber is clean & pliant again. Some
people like to soak overnight, really depends on the type of rubber and
the solvent being used. Experiment on a really trashed one to see what
effect the solvent has on the rubber before you start using it on more
salvageable rollers.

Last, the mechanism will need some cleaning to free up & remove any old
hardened grease, followed by light lubrication so it moves freely again.
That includes any sliding sections as well as gear-driven stuff. You
need the tape loading and head block movements to be crisp & unimpaired.

These are decent decks and we didn't have a lot of problems with the
tape mechanisms when they were new. I don't know of many car decks that
still run reliably 20 years down the road without having been freshly &
comprehensively serviced.

Good luck!

John

jbclem wrote:
> I have some Blaupundt Tucson car radios, and I've always had problems with
> their cassette mechanisms. I'd like to learn how to clean them and figure
> out the mechanical problems. The first step is a power setup on my
> workbench. I don't have a power supply, but I do have some old computer
> power supplies which have 12v+, 12v- outputs (and others). Would they work
> for my purposes?
>
> Is anyone familiar with the Blaupundt cassette players...are they worth
> repairing? If they aren't, is there a higher quality cassette mechanism
> that could be substituted. I know the answer depends in part on the
> problem, and it's been so long I don't remember exactly what it was, so I
> have to bench test the radios first. But some general opinions would be
> appreciated.
>
> John
>
>

[jbclem3]

That's very useful information about the cassette repair, thanks. The
Tucson was so good for FM reception that I'd really like to be able to take
care of the cassette problems and get some use out of it (them).

John



"John Durbin" > wrote in message
...
> You'll want a source for new parts for replacing the main drive belt...
> that's going to be the most common problem on any deck this old. Take
> one off, cut it and measure its length, subtract maybe 5% (10% if it was
> very loose when you removed it) to allow for it stretching over the
> years. Measure the cross-section thickness. Look for PRB or other
> replacement belt products at on-line parts sellers for new belts that
> meet those dimensions. The Tucson should be a square belt by the way,
> and probably in the 1.5mm square range.
>
> Hardened pinch rollers will be tough if not impossible to replace but
> you can probably salvage most of them with rubber rejuvenation. Look for
> spray cans of stuff made for cleaning copy machine rubber rollers.
> Apply, wipe off, repeat until the rubber is clean & pliant again. Some
> people like to soak overnight, really depends on the type of rubber and
> the solvent being used. Experiment on a really trashed one to see what
> effect the solvent has on the rubber before you start using it on more
> salvageable rollers.
>
> Last, the mechanism will need some cleaning to free up & remove any old
> hardened grease, followed by light lubrication so it moves freely again.
> That includes any sliding sections as well as gear-driven stuff. You
> need the tape loading and head block movements to be crisp & unimpaired.
>
> These are decent decks and we didn't have a lot of problems with the
> tape mechanisms when they were new. I don't know of many car decks that
> still run reliably 20 years down the road without having been freshly &
> comprehensively serviced.
>
> Good luck!
>
> John
>
> jbclem wrote:
> > I have some Blaupundt Tucson car radios, and I've always had problems
with
> > their cassette mechanisms. I'd like to learn how to clean them and
figure
> > out the mechanical problems. The first step is a power setup on my
> > workbench. I don't have a power supply, but I do have some old computer
> > power supplies which have 12v+, 12v- outputs (and others). Would they
work
> > for my purposes?
> >
> > Is anyone familiar with the Blaupundt cassette players...are they worth
> > repairing? If they aren't, is there a higher quality cassette mechanism
> > that could be substituted. I know the answer depends in part on the
> > problem, and it's been so long I don't remember exactly what it was, so
I
> > have to bench test the radios first. But some general opinions would be
> > appreciated.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
>

[SMS]

jbclem3 wrote:
> That's very useful information about the cassette repair, thanks. The
> Tucson was so good for FM reception that I'd really like to be able to take
> care of the cassette problems and get some use out of it (them).

I read about these "cassettes" in a history book. They sounded very
interesting.

[bob wald]

lol....i can make chrome recording that sound every bit as good as
cds.....just so you know.

[John Durbin[_2_]]

I've heard of books... isn't that where people used to get their
information from before they had smartasses on the internet to provide it?

JD

SMS wrote:
> jbclem3 wrote:
>
>> That's very useful information about the cassette repair, thanks. The
>> Tucson was so good for FM reception that I'd really like to be able to
>> take
>> care of the cassette problems and get some use out of it (them).
>
>
> I read about these "cassettes" in a history book. They sounded very
> interesting.