fixing a tape deck

[stephen Bishop]

I have a Tascam 122 mark II tape deck that has an odd problem - press 'play' and the tape starts fast-forwarding! I could live with this if the fast-forward button had decided to follow suit with a role reversal and just play tapes, but no, it still wants to fast-forward as well. So I have two fast-forwards, no play function!

Oddly, the 'play' button's behaviour doesn't quite match the other button - it seems to FF at a slightly slower speed, judging from the sound.

I pulled the cover off to have a look, and all I can seem to tell is that the large wheel with the belt on it isn't going around - as it should? Press 'play' and it seems to try and jerk into motion, but it just stops while the tape starts FF'ing. I don't know what this belt and wheel are supposed to do, but the machine obviously has no problem going backwards and forwards through a tape at high speed, so I'm assuming that the wheel and belt are supposed to kick in just for the playing stage?

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

[AKN]

Hi,

That large wheel with belt is capstan wheel mounted on capstan axle to provide smooth tape transport during playback. Sometimes capstan wheel is also used to push tape head bridge/pressure roller in place for playback and then released for its main duty.
Your problem is probably a worn/dry capstan belt that is slipping. The takeup reel has probably a separate motor and now tape run freely without the control from capstan, resulting in FF all time.

[stephen Bishop]

Hi Anders,
so are you saying that the only problem may be that the unit needs a new belt? That would be great. I know the problem is common enough with belt-drive turntables, I never realized that the same could apply to tape decks.

I actually tried pulling off the cover to my Mark III unit to see if it could give me any clues, but it's an entirely different set-up inside. Couldn't see any belts or wheels anywhere, so I figured it's either well-hidden or the Mark III is a direct-drive unit.

Would the belt be easy enough to get hold of if it needs replacing? Is it an easy enough DIY fix, or do I need to get a technician to do the job?

Thanks for the feedback.

Tim

[AKN]

Tim,

Note that it can be the belt, check if motor is spinning while flywheel tries to spin.

Is it an easy enough DIY fix, or do I need to get a technician to do the job?

It depends, as always...

I have been i electronics service for many years in past and seen tape decks that changing a belt could be everything from nothing to take out the whole mechanism and disassemble it. Unfortunately I have not serviced (as I can remember) your model of tape deck so I cannot advice regarding your model.

Maybe some other here has more knowledge about your model?

Would the belt be easy enough to get hold of if it needs replacing?

Service shops or Tascam representative should have replacement belts.

[stephen Bishop]

Hi Anders.
Thanks so much for that information. It's much appreciated.

Tim

PS - what part of Sweden are you talking about? I've been through 'the middle' many years ago.

[AKN]

Hi Tim!

I hope you will have a working tape deck soon.

PS - what part of Sweden are you talking about? I've been through 'the middle' many years ago.

Mail me and I share info.

[dangus]

FYI, if you're talking cassette deck (not real-to-reel or DAT or Elcaset or 8-track or Playtape), you can pick up some nice used ones at thrift stores and pawn shops these days for very little money.

A few weeks ago I adopted a clean low-mileage harman/kardon TD262 for $15 from the Salvation Army Thrift Store. There was a Nakamichi there too, but it looked like it had seen heavy use, and another low-mileage deck that I passed up because it didn't have manual settings for EQ etc.

[stephen Bishop]

I'm well aware of that, thanks.

The Tascam 122 is a particular unit I've long wanted, which is why I've been trying to sort out this one's problems. They don't come much better in terms of sound reproduction or build quality, which is why they were virtually the industry standard for so many years in both broadcasting and recording studios.

[unmibh]

Hi Stephen,

check if your pinch roller is engaging when play is press, the slower FF motion is normal if somehow the capstan and the pinch roller do not engage, the take up wheel hub is just doing its job.

I think, the main belt for the capstan is broken as mostly the mecahnical action for the pinch roller to engage are taken through the capstan. the slow FF motion is using diffrent motor.

I have a diffrent problem when I service one long time back.

There must be a deteriorated belt there may be lying beneath the mecahnical.

I hope this help.

Cheeers
unmibh

[stephen Bishop]

Hi there,
I've been playing around with it to see if I could spot anything.

I was actually a little wrong in stating that the main belt is slack. It turns out that it actually seems quite fine normally, it's only when 'play' is pressed that it goes slack. There's some sort of big black indented wheel inside that turns part way (some sort of control clutch?) and it's this that seems to be disengaging something and slackening the belt.

I have been told by a technician that the capstan on this model is often a source of complaint and replacement. Could this be the problem?

What I do know is that they're telling me it will cost about $80 an hour to fix this, and I don't know if it's worth it to me, particularly as I already have a fully functional Mark III version. I hate seeing nice equipment go to waste, but it may just not be cost effective to get this unit fixed unless I can do it myself somehow.

Thanks though to everyone who has offered their views and help so far. It's been much appreciated.