Recently took possession of an Otari MX5050 reel deck and noticed that the
heads and other tape contact parts are rather dirty. This is a rather old
unit and the "dirt" seems likewise.

This substance is a brownish colour, and not only dusty but chunky. I've
tried a moderate cleaning with 99% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips. I've had
some success, but the "chunks" are real stubborn.

How do I properly get the chunks off the heads? Does this dirt pose any
threat to my tape?

Thanks for any advice...

JK.

Could the "chunks" be rust...?

--
Steven Sena
XS Sound Recording
www.xssound.com

"Jeff Kucera" wrote in message
...

Recently took possession of an Otari MX5050 reel deck and noticed that the
heads and other tape contact parts are rather dirty. This is a rather old
unit and the "dirt" seems likewise.

This substance is a brownish colour, and not only dusty but chunky. I've
tried a moderate cleaning with 99% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips. I've had
some success, but the "chunks" are real stubborn.

How do I properly get the chunks off the heads? Does this dirt pose any
threat to my tape?

Thanks for any advice...

JK.

Some of the tapes that had sticky shed problems like ampex 456, left behind
nuclear grade deposites. Acetone will take it off. Use as little as possible
so it doesn't flow where it is not wanted.
Jeff Kucera wrote in message ...

Recently took possession of an Otari MX5050 reel deck and noticed that the
heads and other tape contact parts are rather dirty. This is a rather old
unit and the "dirt" seems likewise.

This substance is a brownish colour, and not only dusty but chunky. I've
tried a moderate cleaning with 99% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips. I've had
some success, but the "chunks" are real stubborn.

How do I properly get the chunks off the heads? Does this dirt pose any
threat to my tape?

Thanks for any advice...

JK.

"Jeff Kucera" wrote in message
...

Recently took possession of an Otari MX5050 reel deck and noticed that the
heads and other tape contact parts are rather dirty. This is a rather old
unit and the "dirt" seems likewise.

This substance is a brownish colour, and not only dusty but chunky. I've
tried a moderate cleaning with 99% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips. I've had
some success, but the "chunks" are real stubborn.

How do I properly get the chunks off the heads? Does this dirt pose any
threat to my tape?

Thanks for any advice...

JK.

scrape it off with the fingernail as much as you can... then reapply the
alcohol and Q tips. you can push hard. the swab will break before the head
does.

the main problem with the "dirt" is it lifts the tape away from the heads.

be sure to check and clean every point in the tape path.

It's almost certainly tape oxide. I have a 5050, and it seems to get dirtier
than any other open-reel deck I've owned.

A good scrubbing with swabs and 91% isopropyl alcohol should remove it. Just be
patient.

In article writes:

Recently took possession of an Otari MX5050 reel deck and noticed that the
heads and other tape contact parts are rather dirty. This is a rather old
unit and the "dirt" seems likewise.

This substance is a brownish colour, and not only dusty but chunky. I've
tried a moderate cleaning with 99% Isopropyl alcohol and Q-Tips. I've had
some success, but the "chunks" are real stubborn.

How do I properly get the chunks off the heads?

Scrub harder. There are some other head cleaners that might work
better, but unless the heads have actually become attacked by rust
(not likely) it's just caked-on oxide, perhaps enhanced by sticky shed
good if there have been some sticky tapes played on it. Elbow grease
will do it, eventually. You won't hurt the heads by scrubbing as long
as you do't use steel wool or sandpaper.

Check the Athan, ATR Serivce or JRF Magnetic Sciences web pages for
their formula of head cleaner (I think they all sell the same stuff)
and get some rubber cleaner from them while you're there.



--
I'm really Mike Rivers - )
However, until the spam goes away or Hell freezes over,
lots of IP addresses are blocked from this system. If
you e-mail me and it bounces, use your secret decoder ring
and reach me he double-m-eleven-double-zero at yahoo