[Scott Dorsey]

philicorda wrote:
I'm restoring an old four track cassette Teac 144 at the moment.
The pinch roller, idlers etc have certainly seen better days. They are
not melted or falling apart.

Replace them all.

I've seen this 'Rubber Renue' product recommended, but it seems to only
be sold in the US, and nowhere I can find will ship internationally.
(Mouser, MG Chemicals will not. RS and Maplin don't stock it.)

Does anyone know if there somewhere that sells it over here, or an
equivalent?

If it's what I think it is, it's methyl acetate, and it works well on
some kinds of rubber to soften them. There is another popular product
called "Fedron" which was a chlorinated hydrocarbon, which worked well
on neoprenes and natural rubber.

The problem is that there are hundreds of things called "rubber" which
are all chemically different.

Replace the pinch roller and idlers, and expect to replace them again
in another five years. None of the rubber softening agents will really
do what you want. The parts should not be expensive. Russell Industries
in the US should stock them if you don't want to buy from Tascam.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."