Hello All,
I recently brought my Teac V-1010 3-head cassette deck “out of storage” to listen to some old tapes. The unit hasn’t been used for about 2 years, and at last use worked just fine. The Play, pause, stop, rewind, forward, digital counter, the return to zero, Dolby B/C, headphone jack and volume control all function and work perfectly fine.
When I popped in a cassette the music starts out just fine with full frequency, speed, and sound, then suddenly starts to sound very muffled and the sound level reduces significantly. I can’t say for sure, but on a couple of songs I “think” the speed may have slowed down just a little but can’t confirm. If I press pause or stop, then start playback again the sound is ok for about 10 seconds until the sound once again sounds very muffled with considerably less volume.
I’ve cleaned the capstans and heads with alcohol and a q-tip as I’ve done in the past with no improvement. I’ve not yet demagnetized the heads because I can’t find my head demagnetizer. I’m thinking from what I’ve read online that the capstan drive belt may need to be replaced. I’ve even gone ahead and preemptively ordered a replacement belt.
Any thoughts or suggestions to get my deck up and running would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I recently brought my Teac V-1010 3-head cassette deck “out of storage” to listen to some old tapes. The unit hasn’t been used for about 2 years, and at last use worked just fine. The Play, pause, stop, rewind, forward, digital counter, the return to zero, Dolby B/C, headphone jack and volume control all function and work perfectly fine.
When I popped in a cassette the music starts out just fine with full frequency, speed, and sound, then suddenly starts to sound very muffled and the sound level reduces significantly. I can’t say for sure, but on a couple of songs I “think” the speed may have slowed down just a little but can’t confirm. If I press pause or stop, then start playback again the sound is ok for about 10 seconds until the sound once again sounds very muffled with considerably less volume.
I’ve cleaned the capstans and heads with alcohol and a q-tip as I’ve done in the past with no improvement. I’ve not yet demagnetized the heads because I can’t find my head demagnetizer. I’m thinking from what I’ve read online that the capstan drive belt may need to be replaced. I’ve even gone ahead and preemptively ordered a replacement belt.
Any thoughts or suggestions to get my deck up and running would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
The pinch roller will have aged some, and can allow the tape to walk around and skew, giving symptoms like you're seeing. Replacements may be difficult to find, so some experimentation with cleaning and (last choice) rubber treatments may be in its future.
All good fortune,
Chris
All good fortune,
Chris
YES ...
Old 'swollen shiny' pinch rollers do cause this problem.
A solution that does actually work is to (patiently) use the right grade of wet&dry sand paper
to gently wear-down the 'shiny bulge' of the pinch roller, and then use minimal amounts of cleaning fluid.
This process is done in 'play', without a cassette inserted.
Old 'swollen shiny' pinch rollers do cause this problem.
A solution that does actually work is to (patiently) use the right grade of wet&dry sand paper
to gently wear-down the 'shiny bulge' of the pinch roller, and then use minimal amounts of cleaning fluid.
This process is done in 'play', without a cassette inserted.
Another technique is to remove the pinch roller, or rubber idler, etc. Place a clean 600 grit sandpaper face up on a tabletop; hold it with weak hand. Hold rubber roller in dominant hand, rotating it while burnishing surface lightly and keep it square to tabletop surface. Clean with isopropyl alcohol, or maybe just water.
Clean internal sleeve bearing and post with alcohol, light oil lube, keep it off rubber. Good luck finding the teeny tiny keeper C-clip.
All good fortune,
Chris
Clean internal sleeve bearing and post with alcohol, light oil lube, keep it off rubber. Good luck finding the teeny tiny keeper C-clip.
All good fortune,
Chris
Please don't use sandpaper inside a precision mechanism like this, it will get everywhere and trash bearings and marr surface finish.
Roughing up a pinch roller can be done safely using a sharp edge gently scraping - no abrasive particles will fall into the works...
Or better still simply replace it, rubber doesn't last forever.
Hi Chris, I really appreciate your insite. I tried playing a tape and your answer seems to be what is most likely happening as at times when the sound becomes muddiest I can hear the side B tracks also quietly playing in reverse as if the tape is being pulled out of alignment with the tape head. I will begin the search for a replacement head while I explore options for cleaning/restoring the rubber on the pinch roller.
I’m currently trying to source out a new pinch roller. The company that I sourced the belt from also sells a replacement but is currently listing the part as out of stock. As I've never attempted this kind of repair and don’t have any experience, are there generic roller replacements that can be installed into the pinch roller assembly? I ask because I’ve downloaded the service manual from HiFi Engine and it appears to be one intact unit and not two pieces. If the rubber rollers are “generic” and you have a source to buy them it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!
Unfortunately not.
Can you share a clear picture of it (them) in case it's a dual capstan?
Hugo
You might have some luck here but you will need to take it out and measure it.
https://fixyouraudio.com/product-category/spare-parts/pinch-rollers/pinch-rollers-size/
https://fixyouraudio.com/product-category/spare-parts/pinch-rollers/
Hugo
https://fixyouraudio.com/product-category/spare-parts/pinch-rollers/pinch-rollers-size/
https://fixyouraudio.com/product-category/spare-parts/pinch-rollers/
Hugo
Hi Hugo, it isn’t the dual capstan model. Here is a picture.
Attachments
Hi Hugo, thanks for that link. I’d already reached out to them asking for guidance under the suggestion from an old post I read on TapeHeads. I didn’t know at the time that I would need to measure the size, which thinking back makes sense. I will see what information they may offer.
Another thought, as I’ve read the V-1010 is also part of the same series as V-3010 and V-5010 and the machines are also visually almost identical. I’ve downloaded the service manuals for these machines as well and the blowup of the assemblies “seem” identical. Although the part number is slightly different is there any possibility that the pinch roller is interchangeable?
I've seen worse, but if the surface shines as this one does, it needs replacing.
Good luck, I'm pretty sure you'll find one over there.
Careful when taking it out, the capstan will most likely be in the way.
In that case you'll need to remove the pinch roller 'housing'. There's a spring at the back.
Take your time and a deep breath 🙂
If part numbers are different, I wouldn't bet on it, pinch rollers are very precise parts.
Hugo
Good luck, I'm pretty sure you'll find one over there.
Careful when taking it out, the capstan will most likely be in the way.
In that case you'll need to remove the pinch roller 'housing'. There's a spring at the back.
Take your time and a deep breath 🙂
If part numbers are different, I wouldn't bet on it, pinch rollers are very precise parts.
Hugo
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Figuring that had nothing to lose at this point I tried a suggestion that I read on an old Tapeheads thread to try cleaning the rubber on the roller with Windex. After two cleaning and dry cycles I can confirm that the playback has improved although not 100%. The Windex clearly removed a lot of dark residue from the rubber after the first cleaning, then less on the second cleaning. I think I’ll let it dry some more and try a third to see if there’s any improvement.
Thank you to all the responded and offered help!
Thank you to all the responded and offered help!
This product might also help:
https://cpc.farnell.com/af-international/pcl100/rubber-platen-cleaner-platenclene/dp/SAPCL100
https://cpc.farnell.com/af-international/pcl100/rubber-platen-cleaner-platenclene/dp/SAPCL100
As a technician that worked on tape decks for decades, including an entire duplication plant,
I can assure you that - without replacement - *sand paper is the very best solution to your problem.
The particles removed simply fall down into the insignificant lower part of the mechanism 🙂
(* just make sure to use wet&dry , not 'sandy paper' )
No, this is just a second hand information. I use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton bud. Some people warn against it saying that alcohol will soften the rubber and it will become barrel shaped or sticky. They recommend warm water. I never experienced any problem with IPA.