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My trusted old Tascam 38 reel to reel has seen better days. All
functions work, however, in Play mode, the tape gradually slows down
as the tape is played. After about 300 feet (as measured by the tape
counter), it stops completely. I have tried getting it fixed locally,
with no success. Shipping to and from Tascam would be prohibitively
expensive.

So, I did the next best thing: I bought another used 38. Cheap. This
one plays fine, however, the Fast Forward and Rewind are both slow.

The simple solution, it seems to me, would be to replace the motors.
However, I have noticed that the simple solutions are not always best,
or even any good at all. Before replacing the motors, I would like to
avail myself of some of the great minds on this group, who have helped
me many times in the past. Any assistance will be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks

[Ian Thompson-Bell]

wrote:
My trusted old Tascam 38 reel to reel has seen better days. All
functions work, however, in Play mode, the tape gradually slows down
as the tape is played. After about 300 feet (as measured by the tape
counter), it stops completely. I have tried getting it fixed locally,
with no success. Shipping to and from Tascam would be prohibitively
expensive.

So, I did the next best thing: I bought another used 38. Cheap. This
one plays fine, however, the Fast Forward and Rewind are both slow.

The simple solution, it seems to me, would be to replace the motors.
However, I have noticed that the simple solutions are not always best,
or even any good at all. Before replacing the motors, I would like to
avail myself of some of the great minds on this group, who have helped
me many times in the past. Any assistance will be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks


The most common reason for a 38 to slow down is the capstan belt is old
and stretched and starts to slip. Basically it needs replacing.

HTH

Cheers

Ian

[Richard Crowley]

wrote ...
My trusted old Tascam 38 reel to reel has seen better days. All
functions work, however, in Play mode, the tape gradually slows down
as the tape is played. After about 300 feet (as measured by the tape
counter), it stops completely.

Are you saying that the capstan slows down and stops, or
that the tape movement stops while the capstan continues
to turn? How is the pinch roller?

I have tried getting it fixed locally, with no success. Shipping
to and from Tascam would be prohibitively expensive.

R2R tape machines are antiques. You likely won't find
much "normal" types of support around much longer.

So, I did the next best thing: I bought another used 38. Cheap. This
one plays fine, however, the Fast Forward and Rewind are both slow.

The simple solution, it seems to me, would be to replace the motors.
However, I have noticed that the simple solutions are not always best,
or even any good at all. Before replacing the motors, I would like to
avail myself of some of the great minds on this group, who have helped
me many times in the past. Any assistance will be greatly
appreciated.

Replacing the motors doesn't seem like the "simple solution"
to me. What about all the soft parts? Rubber rollers? Belts?
Brake pads, etc. etc.

Do you have service info on setting torques, etc?

[Scott Dorsey]

wrote:
My trusted old Tascam 38 reel to reel has seen better days. All
functions work, however, in Play mode, the tape gradually slows down
as the tape is played. After about 300 feet (as measured by the tape
counter), it stops completely. I have tried getting it fixed locally,
with no success. Shipping to and from Tascam would be prohibitively
expensive.

It needs a full lubrication, and a new pinch roller. You need to do the
cleaning and lube every year, the pinch roller every five years. If you
do not do regular maintenance, the equipment will not keep running.

So, I did the next best thing: I bought another used 38. Cheap. This
one plays fine, however, the Fast Forward and Rewind are both slow.

Probably needs a cleaning and lubrication. Almost certainly if you
bought it used, it needs a new pinch roller.

The simple solution, it seems to me, would be to replace the motors.
However, I have noticed that the simple solutions are not always best,
or even any good at all. Before replacing the motors, I would like to
avail myself of some of the great minds on this group, who have helped
me many times in the past. Any assistance will be greatly
appreciated.

Do the annual cleaning and lube procedure that is listed in the manual.
While you have it apart, redo all the solder connections on the main board
because they will fail sooner or later on these machines (which are famous
for wave soldering problems). Replace the pinch roller.

Oh yes, and make sure you aren't using gummy old tape with sticky shed
problems, which will also cause trouble.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."