Help with Ta@#$% MSR 24 Tape machine

[Leadfinger]

Hi Turtlerock folks, this is my first post on your forum - I feel awful cos it's a request for help rather than a helpful reply but it's a start, here goes...I am relying on a Ta@#$% MSR 24 track Tape machine to do a recording session in about 3 weeks - trouble is it's now refusing to roll/play and the capstan on the right is not engaging. Any tips or tricks that could get it working or is it due for a service (last service was about 6 months ago).

2nd question, is there anywhere in Sydney metro area that I can take it for a service/repair?

Ok, thanks heaps for your help.

[Howard Jones]

Welcome to the forum. Questions aren't a problem, answers may be!

[1] The capstan is the metal shaft that is driven by the capstan motor. The pinch roller is the rubber wheel that should move forward against the capstan when 'play' or 'record' modes are engaged. Since the tape travels between the capstan and the pinch roller, the pinch roller holds the tape against the capstan. Because the capstan motor is rotating, the tape is then drawn across the head block.

[2] Therefore, you need to determine if the capstan shaft is, in fact, rotating. Second, is the pinch roller pulling in correctly against the capstan? Is the pinch roller in good shape? Not spongy, tacky or, in worst cases, degenerated to gorilla snot?

[3] The single biggest issue we see these days in our workshop is related to shedding tapes. Are you familiar with how to clean tape oxide from the head block, tape guides and tape lifters? Do you know how to recognise when a tape is shedding? Check all the metal parts in the tape path with which the tape comes in contact - do these areas show brown, black or white buildup of gunk? Such tape shedding is easily enough to stop a tape, even from fast wind modes.

Have a look and let me know what you find.

Howard

* If you find tape oxide buildup through the tape path, you must clean it all off very thoroughly with Isopropyl Alcohol which you can purchase at a chemist shop. Tape machines also require periodic demagnetising.
** A shedding tape is an old tape. See the other thread on this forum for details of where you can buy new tape stock.

[Leadfinger]

Thanks Howard, will get back to you about the condition of pinch rollers and capstan but it is a pretty clean machine in good nick, we'ver only had it for 6 months...using second hand but pretty good cond tapes.

So you are obviously in Sydney and in a workshop so that sounds like a good thing if we need some work done....

[Howard Jones]

Also, make sure you haven't accidentally engaged the edit switch (if there is one) as this would disengage the takeup drive.