Hi Friends,
My Panasonic RX-5350 got the new belts and I already cleaned all the contacts with Deoxit. It use to stop once in a while when I play the tape deck. If I wait for say 15 minutes and try to turn the power on I hear the tape section make a noise like when you hit the stop when it is playing. The power light stays on when the tape section fail or stop to work. When you re-connect to the AC power say after 15 minutes the deck section makes a noise like it disengages from tape, almost like the noise when you hit stop. Then the tape starts to work. Now the problem is that the tape section speed slowed down a lot and the shut off continues. Radio and line in works so good. Please let me know what could be the issue. Based on Skippy's recommendations I cleaned the power switch and changed belts. I don't know what to do to make the tape section work fine. Do I have to forget the tape malfunction and love the set for the rest of the features it got? Is this easily fixable? If so how can I do that?

Please help me with the tape section shut off and slowing issue. Have a nice day!

When I rewind and fast formward the tape couple of times, stopping while playing is not happening anymore. But now the tape speed slows down quite a bit. If I stop and play sveral times, sometimes it works normally. Just wondering what could be the issue. Any suggestions?

Sounds like it could be either belt too tight or too loose. I always change the pinch roller too.
Maybe you've put something back together wrong??

Thanks Roddy! I will check it again to see if everything is okay with the belt tension and pinch roller like you mentioned.

I checked the pinch roller and the tension. It looks fine. I replaced all the belts with new ones. It was a little tricky to open it up and put all back together. I was so careful and did an excellent job! I cleaned the pulleys and flywheel rubber track surface with alcohol to remove any residue. Now the tape plays fine and once in a while it slows a little for a few micro seconds. I lubed the capstain and the pinch roller carefully with very little oil. The power switch contacts were cleaned with Deoxit. I don't know why this speed variation for a few microseconds is happening. Any thoughts or suggestions are most welcome.