[Tom Sullivan]

My DA30 sat idle for a few years and this weekend when I went to copy
some of my old tapes into the computer, it started destroying tapes.
I took the machine apart and the problem seems to be with the FFD and
RWD
modes of the machine. It works in play mode and it will scrub fwd and
back in play mode, but when put into FF or RWD, the head keeps spinning
but the tape sprockets (small reels) do not turn. There doesn't seem to
be a
problem with the belt, as the motor and belt are moving in these modes,
it just
can't seem to move the spindles for the actual reels on the tapes. So,
the
head keeps spinning along a static portion of the tape, wearing the tape
out
quickly at that spot.

So, I think I just need to replace the transport, but Tascam says they
no longer sell the whole transport unit, but may have some parts.

Anyone have an electronically DOA DA30 that they don't need that has a
working transport but maybe shot electronics?

Anyone encounter this problem themselves and know of a fix?

Please email, as I rarely check this forum these days (not enough time
to read them all anymore!).

Thanks much.

--Tom
)

[Scott Dorsey]

Tom Sullivan wrote:
My DA30 sat idle for a few years and this weekend when I went to copy
some of my old tapes into the computer, it started destroying tapes.
I took the machine apart and the problem seems to be with the FFD and
RWD
modes of the machine. It works in play mode and it will scrub fwd and
back in play mode, but when put into FF or RWD, the head keeps spinning
but the tape sprockets (small reels) do not turn. There doesn't seem to
be a
problem with the belt, as the motor and belt are moving in these modes,
it just
can't seem to move the spindles for the actual reels on the tapes. So,
the
head keeps spinning along a static portion of the tape, wearing the tape
out
quickly at that spot.

Sounds like the brakes are stuck and/or the belts are slipping. You
certainly want to replace the belts at the very least whether or not
they are an issue.

So, I think I just need to replace the transport, but Tascam says they
no longer sell the whole transport unit, but may have some parts.

Anyone have an electronically DOA DA30 that they don't need that has a
working transport but maybe shot electronics?

No, your deck just needs the usual PM that it ought to be getting annually
anyway. New belts, new idler, lubrication on moving parts and tape path
cleaning. Send it to Eddie Ciletti and have him do a PM and it will probably
be just fine.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Nono]

On 9 jul, 23:14, Tom Sullivan wrote:
My DA30 sat idle for a few years and this weekend when I went to copy
some of my old tapes into the computer, it started destroying tapes.
I took the machine apart and the problem seems to be with the FFD and
RWD
modes of the machine. It works in play mode and it will scrub fwd and
back in play mode, but when put into FF or RWD, the head keeps spinning
but the tape sprockets (small reels) do not turn. There doesn't seem to
be a
problem with the belt, as the motor and belt are moving in these modes,
it just
can't seem to move the spindles for the actual reels on the tapes. So,
the
head keeps spinning along a static portion of the tape, wearing the tape
out
quickly at that spot.

So, I think I just need to replace the transport, but Tascam says they
no longer sell the whole transport unit, but may have some parts.

Anyone have an electronically DOA DA30 that they don't need that has a
working transport but maybe shot electronics?

Anyone encounter this problem themselves and know of a fix?

Please email, as I rarely check this forum these days (not enough time
to read them all anymore!).

Thanks much.

--Tom
)

I've had the same problem with my DA-30MKII, which I didin't even use
that frequently.
I managed to find one company here in The Netherlands that still had
some loading mechanisms for €300.
But luckily - I thought - it wouldn't be necessary to replace the
whole mechanism, so some parts were replaced what amounted to, say €40
in material, but together with the labour costs I was still set back
€240.
Anyway, I hope it can be of some use to you if I mention the replaced
parts, as stated on my invoice:

- Belt loading DA-30MK2
- Bearing thrust FM-177-33
- Pinch roller DA-30MK2
- Gear Idle DA-30MKII
- Cleaning material / miscelanious

Best regards,
Norman.

[Tom Sullivan]

Thanks Scott for your recommendation. I haven't been around this group
regularly for about 10 years or so but its nice to see that you and guys like
Mike Rivers are still here. Your advice is and has always been very valuable
to this forum.

I received the message below from a current member of this forum in
response to my query:

lol what a jokester. " I have a question but I don't want to come back
and
check my own thread for the answer"
Has the word Narcicist ever been used in your presence before?"

I won't name the dufus, but my apologies to the other members of this
group if a request for info via email was considered as my being arrogant.
Couldn't be further from the truth. Now that I've got a family (4 kids!),
and a day job, my time for recording is much less than it was 10+ years ago.
I'm somewhat behind the curve on the digi stuff, though I'm now starting to
catch up, and figured pulling out some old masters and playing around with
remastering them would be one good way to start... then the DAT machine
problem!

Anyway, this used to be a pretty nice place to hang, and I assume it still is
for the most part (one bad apple and all that). I'll try to come around more
often.

Thanks again Scott!

--Tom

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Tom Sullivan wrote:
My DA30 sat idle for a few years and this weekend when I went to copy
some of my old tapes into the computer, it started destroying tapes.
I took the machine apart and the problem seems to be with the FFD and
RWD
modes of the machine. It works in play mode and it will scrub fwd and
back in play mode, but when put into FF or RWD, the head keeps spinning
but the tape sprockets (small reels) do not turn. There doesn't seem to
be a
problem with the belt, as the motor and belt are moving in these modes,
it just
can't seem to move the spindles for the actual reels on the tapes. So,
the
head keeps spinning along a static portion of the tape, wearing the tape
out
quickly at that spot.

Sounds like the brakes are stuck and/or the belts are slipping. You
certainly want to replace the belts at the very least whether or not
they are an issue.

So, I think I just need to replace the transport, but Tascam says they
no longer sell the whole transport unit, but may have some parts.

Anyone have an electronically DOA DA30 that they don't need that has a
working transport but maybe shot electronics?

No, your deck just needs the usual PM that it ought to be getting annually
anyway. New belts, new idler, lubrication on moving parts and tape path
cleaning. Send it to Eddie Ciletti and have him do a PM and it will probably
be just fine.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mike Rivers]

On Jul 9, 5:14 pm, Tom Sullivan wrote:

I took the machine apart and the problem seems to be with the FFD and
RWD
modes of the machine. It works in play mode and it will scrub fwd and
back in play mode, but when put into FF or RWD, the head keeps spinning
but the tape sprockets (small reels) do not turn.

Replacing belts and cleaning might get it back to working condition
again, but you might be better off just putting it on the shelf and
finding another DAT deck that works to take care of this project. It's
not likely is it, that you'll continue mixing to DAT? If you send it
to Eddie Ciletti or Pro Digital it'll probably cost you $250-$400 to
have it repaired, if it actually can be repaired. I'd think that
working DATs should be going for under $200 through eBay. As long as
you buy from a seller who will guarantee your satisfaction, you should
be safe.

Please email, as I rarely check this forum these days (not enough time
to read them all anymore!).

Yes, that is kind of rude. Even with kids and a job, you can check a
newsgroup every couple of days for replies. You don't have to read
every message in the newsgroup, just look for this thead and it will
only take you a few seconds to see if anyone has a useful suggestion
for you. It's polite to reply to at least the significant posts, but
not required.

[Scott Dorsey]

Mike Rivers wrote:

Replacing belts and cleaning might get it back to working condition
again, but you might be better off just putting it on the shelf and
finding another DAT deck that works to take care of this project. It's
not likely is it, that you'll continue mixing to DAT? If you send it
to Eddie Ciletti or Pro Digital it'll probably cost you $250-$400 to
have it repaired, if it actually can be repaired. I'd think that
working DATs should be going for under $200 through eBay. As long as
you buy from a seller who will guarantee your satisfaction, you should
be safe.

This isn't repair, though. This is routine maintenance that has been
long delayed.

You need to clean, lube, align, and replace belts every year or two. If
you buy someone else's old machine off of Ebay, you'll STILL need to do
preventative maintenance on it. There is no escaping it. It is entropy.

Please email, as I rarely check this forum these days (not enough time
to read them all anymore!).

Yes, that is kind of rude. Even with kids and a job, you can check a
newsgroup every couple of days for replies. You don't have to read
every message in the newsgroup, just look for this thead and it will
only take you a few seconds to see if anyone has a useful suggestion
for you. It's polite to reply to at least the significant posts, but
not required.

Agreed. Back in the days when bandwidth was more expensive, it used
to be standard for people to ask for replies by e-mail with the expectation
that they would post a summary of the replies afterward. Nobody does that
any more, so asking for direct replies these days is indeed a little rude.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Richard Crowley]

"Tom Sullivan" wrote ...
Thanks Scott for your recommendation. I haven't been around this group
regularly for about 10 years or so but its nice to see that you and guys
like
Mike Rivers are still here. Your advice is and has always been very
valuable
to this forum.

I received the message below from a current member of this forum in
response to my query:

lol what a jokester. " I have a question but I don't want to come
back
and
check my own thread for the answer"
Has the word Narcicist ever been used in your presence before?"

I won't name the dufus, but my apologies to the other members of this
group if a request for info via email was considered as my being arrogant.
Couldn't be further from the truth. Now that I've got a family (4
kids!),
and a day job, my time for recording is much less than it was 10+ years
ago.
I'm somewhat behind the curve on the digi stuff, though I'm now starting
to
catch up, and figured pulling out some old masters and playing around with
remastering them would be one good way to start... then the DAT machine
problem!

The information-sharing benefit of newsgroups is lost if key parts
of the dialog are conducted in private. That is why asking for email
replies is considered arrogant or at least anti-social.

If you have limited time, you need check only your own thread for
replies, you don't have to slog through the 100s of other messages
this newsgroup gets daily.

[Mike Rivers]

On Jul 10, 9:58 am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

This isn't repair, though. This is routine maintenance that has been
long delayed.

When it needs maintenance so badly that it doesn't run, then I'd call
that needing repair. And if, as I suspect, it's for one-time use and
then the DAT will go back into the closet, he'd be better off just
getting another DAT that works, or maybe even renting one.

The good thing about RENTING for a week is that you'll get the job
dones in a week. g

[Tom Sullivan]

Scott Dorsey wrote:

Mike Rivers wrote:

Replacing belts and cleaning might get it back to working condition
again, but you might be better off just putting it on the shelf and
finding another DAT deck that works to take care of this project. It's
not likely is it, that you'll continue mixing to DAT? If you send it
to Eddie Ciletti or Pro Digital it'll probably cost you $250-$400 to
have it repaired, if it actually can be repaired. I'd think that
working DATs should be going for under $200 through eBay. As long as
you buy from a seller who will guarantee your satisfaction, you should
be safe.

This isn't repair, though. This is routine maintenance that has been
long delayed.

You need to clean, lube, align, and replace belts every year or two. If
you buy someone else's old machine off of Ebay, you'll STILL need to do
preventative maintenance on it. There is no escaping it. It is entropy.

Please email, as I rarely check this forum these days (not enough time
to read them all anymore!).

Yes, that is kind of rude. Even with kids and a job, you can check a
newsgroup every couple of days for replies. You don't have to read
every message in the newsgroup, just look for this thead and it will
only take you a few seconds to see if anyone has a useful suggestion
for you. It's polite to reply to at least the significant posts, but
not required.

Agreed. Back in the days when bandwidth was more expensive, it used
to be standard for people to ask for replies by e-mail with the expectation
that they would post a summary of the replies afterward. Nobody does that
any more, so asking for direct replies these days is indeed a little rude.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Understood, but I think there are nicer ways to express this to people than to
call them a narcicist. I see a lot more excessive quoting in these groups that

is more annoying to slog through to get to the meat.

At any rate, yes Mike, I agree. I'm not likely to use the machine much more
except for perhaps setting it up for a more lengthy live two-track recording
at some point (I still don't trust laptops and the like not to "burp" on me).
I did pick one up on ebay yesterday for the purposes of just getting these
transfers done. I'll still look into getting this machine on its feet though,
its in
nice condition otherwise and if it doesn't end up costing me an arm and a leg
to
get it up and running again, then its worth it to have it around.

Thanks for your input folks.

--Tom

[Mike Rivers]

On Jul 10, 1:34 pm, Tom Sullivan wrote:

At any rate, yes Mike, I agree. I'm not likely to use the machine much more
except for perhaps setting it up for a more lengthy live two-track recording
at some point (I still don't trust laptops and the like not to "burp" on me).

If you're only going to be using it for 2-track recording (which is
all you can do with a DAT anyway) there's nothing to fear from a
laptop. I still don't trust mine for multitrack work and don't use it
for mixing, but when all you're doing is streaming a stereo track to
disk, not recording 40 tracks, not moving faders, and not loading down
the CPU with plug-ins, even a modest computer works fine. And just
about any inexpensive USB or Firewire audio interface has better A/D
converters than any DAT.

I did pick one up on ebay yesterday for the purposes of just getting these
transfers done. I'll still look into getting this machine on its feet though,

That's a smart approach. The one you just bought is probably
depreciated all it's going to, so when you get the DA-30 going again,
you can get your money back, and maybe a little more.

[Michael R. Kesti[_2_]]

Mike Rivers wrote:

Snip

The good thing about RENTING for a week is that you'll get the job
dones in a week. g

Yes, there is NOTHING that inspires like a deadline!

--
================================================== ======================
Michael Kesti | "And like, one and one don't make
| two, one and one make one."
mrkesti at hotmail dot com | - The Who, Bargain