hi everyone,

I just picked up a swell Rising 20/20 friday. After getting it all cleaned up and tested, unfortunately the tape deck plays slowly. It's not the batteries, and it's not the tape. The speed it plays the cassette at sounds like when your batteries are dying. Slowed down to half speed, maybe. The mechanism actually started to "eat" the tape, between the capstan & pinch roller, actually (I rescued the tape just in time).

Tips? Help? Easy fix? (I can only hope).

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speed adjustment cassette boombox ( google search'd )

May I suggest Using a small Jewelers flat-tip screwdriver, then locating the Speed adjustment access in the rear of the Capstan Motor and adjusting it like in these video's ( first one is better )

GE General Electric 3-5254A Boombox Cassette Speed or Pitch Adjustment mono sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hun9yLtBZeU

How to Adjust Cassette Tape Deck Boombox Motor Speed Adjustment Conion CRC-H84FC http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQfJrr72wwo

If you cannot increase your motor speed or if you can only decrease your speed, then you probally have a motor that is getting tired.

There's no speed access adjustment on this motor. It was on a mount, which was in turn attached to the cassette deck frame inside. I took the mount off the motor, and you can see the motor below in the pics. 3 of the holes had screws in them, and I dont know what the other 3 holes are for, but my jewelers screwdrivers wont fit in them.

Are you Certain that there NOT a access hole behind that sticker?

Did you check for 12 volt's going to this motor while in any mode? if it's less than 12v then there may be a speed controller on the mainboard for the motor, I have seen this rarely...dont remember where. 

      Am not too certain but have seen in some sharp's where there is a speed controller behind the rear plate of the motor but it was fixed. therefore another motor was needed and replaced with.

Er, ahem. What do you know. There was an access hole hiding behind that sticker, after all. It never even occured to me to look behind the sticker. Who is a big dummy?

Ok, the whole machine has been thoroughly cleaned, adjusted, put back together and seems to be working...?  I'm not totally sure about the cassette deck yet. It's adjusted to the right speed, but seems to be wavering a bit; slowing down then quickly coming back up to speed. The tapes play fine for a minute or two at first, then start doing this. It's pretty constant and happens on every tape I try.

When cleaned thoroughly did you clean the cassette belts pathways?  and check for easy turning of every pully that the belts travel on as sometime's the bearing's that these are riding on have 'old' grease and that could give the motor ideas that it need to go faster to overcome the extra stickyness of the old grease and once it does then  it needs to slow down to the proper speed and then  it cycles again.  Just because it has belts and they work, doesnt mean you can pass them over for checking and cleaning - has been my experience, may help you in yours, I dont know.

Ok, I will check the pathways. If the bearings do need to be greased, how do I get to them? That motor seems to be sealed up pretty tightly.

Motor bearing's is the Last thing to check.  First the pathways, must be free-turning with no drag, grease or light machine oil when needed.  Gee maybe I should tear down my Rising 20/20 and take a look inside to see or emulate your's.  If you feel the need to tear-down your motor.... It's gonna come apart from  the rear ... I would suggest looking for a New motor rather than trying to rebuild your own motor.  All I would attempt with the motor would be to 'light machine oil the front bearing as I have no idea how to get to the rear bearing - or how that end come's apart.  Looking for new motor would be the last thing to do.  Whom is 'Rising' made by? from being inside of your's is this a generic motor.... p.s. oh yeah those extra screw holes in the front are just there for different applications mounting.

Ok! I cleaned every pulley & pathway in there. 7 total. Also got some light machine oil around the pulley on the motor. Fine-tuned the adjustment on the motor. Contact cleaned all pots & switches. Super-glued the broken mounts inside the radio for those protective side bars. And... so far so good! I'm quite pleased. This is the 2nd boombox now that I've brought back from the dead. Feels good. Thanks so much for all your help!

Yes! It's  a terrific feeling when Overcoming a classic Boombox back to life. 

Super glue is great for little things, like walkmans. 

Suggustion though would be to Use Plastic epoxy on larger item's like the 'protection bars' as you can add gusseting to your mend like in welding for a superior hold rather than just a spot hold with super-glue.

I'll do that if they break loose again, thanks!

Er, well, I spoke a little too soon.  The tape counter has apparently decided to not function at all anymore. Is there something I can do to make that belt grip the pulleys better? Or is it just an issue of needing a new belt? Would this loose/non-working belt cause the slow-down-speed-up issue I was having before with the motor? I swear sometimes it sounds like that is still happening, too.

New belt but can't be too tight and the loose belt won't cause warble. I would also check your pinch roller for dryness, wear, dirt and cracks as this can cause same issue.