Hey peeps, Just picked up an entry-level deck from TEAC (V-390CHX) which is in superb condition but the rewind and fast forward seem to slip. It works, but only slowly to begin with and you sort of have to 'jimmy' the buttons to get it to properly rewind if you understand what I mean. It works but it takes abit of tinkering. Does anybody know what could be causing this? I'm thinking the drive shaft bits need oiling? Or perhaps the belts are slipping? Thanks
I'd open it up and look for any pieces of belt or old tape material, it's amazing how much crap gets stuck in the mechanics.
Thanks so much. I'll get some compressed air in there and blow it out! I've had a look inside and it seems like theres two little plastic gears that aren't making enough contact to allow FF to engage. Not sure how to go about fixing this.
New belts is a Must!!! Check for hardened grease in its mechanism, usually a drop of fresh oil softens it.
Thanks alot! what kind of oil could you reccomend? I'm worried to spray contact cleaner or oil anywhere near the mechanism incase it gets on the belts and they have no friction whatsoever! I remember spraying WD-40 on my bike brakes as a child and they didn't work for ages hahah thanks
I posted these links in the tech section, they're older than some of my socks but they still apply to refreshing the tape mechanism. http://www.stereo2go.com/forums/threads/keep-your-cassette-recorder-sound-new.3120/
You are absolutely right, whatever you do, do not spray WD40 onto it! Quart of synthetic 5W30 oil from your nearest gas station should be the cheapest/easiest way to go: http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=61111
Excellent! Thanks so much for the guidence. And just to clarify, I shouldn't apply this to the belts should I? Just mechanism..?
Correct!!! And read thru the guides posted by @Mister X: there is a "million-dollar advise" there that less oil is safer than too much! Motor oil should be off rubber belts and for plastic gears use white lithium grease, but even better just thorough cleaning. Naphta works magic for rejuvenating pinchrollers and rubber tyres. But all the belts Must be bought new. Tapeheads.net gives a few solid sources, buying cheap 50-100 belt kits off eBay was a total waste of time for me. Some of those are just badly cut rubber bands, W&F over the roof and they go bad in about a year
This deserves mention, folks: WD-40 is NOT a rust penetrant, nor a proper lubricant. The name is an abbreviation of "Water Dispersent Formula #40", the technical name originally given to the product when it was developed by NASA as a way to remove moisture from riveted and tightly-fitted parts on rockets & missiles, to prevent rust formation.
Have no idea how true this is, but my son warned me that WD40 is a water-based thingy, not a real oil
WD-40 attracts dust, I don't know if you have it over there but I use it for cars and other rusty crap but not on a mechanical music reproduction box. Search out the best oil, tapeheads has some great information and those guys really get into it and test it. Use it sparingly and don't get it on the heads or tape path. This equipment only needs a small spritzer compared to anything else.