AT-RMX64 problem - help please!

**famous beagle** · 02-12-2013

Ok, you tape machine heads. I need your help on this one.

I bought this AT-RMX64 ultra-cool 4-track deck several months ago. It had an issue where it was very sluggish on FF and RW. I thought I fixed this by sanding a little rubber wheel that was hardened and therefore not gripping well when it was supposed to. (Forgive me, I don't know what it's called.)

However, last night, RW abruptly stopped working, and the transport got really loud all of the sudden during any operation (play, record, FF, etc.). RW is the only transport function not working. Everything else does, but the transport is really noisy (kind of clicky).

Here's a video so you can see/hear it in action.

AT RMX64 - YouTube

Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

**famous beagle** · 02-16-2013

Ok, so I took the front panel off to access the transport. There were four screws holding the cassette housing in place. I removed them and lifted back the housing so I could see the flywheels, etc.

I put a tape in and tested it out. It worked! Everything worked: RW, FF, Play, etc. And the obnoxious rattly sound was gone too. I scratched my head, tried to see what I may have freed up/moved to make it work, but I couldn't see anything.

So I put the screwed the housing back into place and tested it once more before I put the front panel back on. And it wouldn't work again. Same issues as before.

So ... it has something to do with the housing. I have no idea why this would have happened all of the sudden. But I repeated the process two or three more times with the same results: full function when the housing was removed, and malfunctioning when the housing was in place.

Here's a video to demonstrate.

AT RMX64 Pt 2 - YouTube

I'm stumped. I can't find out what would be causing this.

Anyone have any ideas???????

Thanks

**famous beagle** · 02-17-2013

Another (and hopefully final) update:

I fixed it ... I'm hoping!

I discovered that the idler wheel (found out what it was called --- this is the same rubber wheel that I removed and filed with fine sandpaper to make it grip again) was a little too high and barely making contact with the wheels that turn the reels. I'm not exactly sure why putting the cover on made it not function. But when I moved the idler wheel down a bit so that it was perfectly centered and replaced the cover, it worked like a charm.

I'm just hoping that this isn't a recurring problem and that it stays put where it should now. If it does mess up again, I think I can hopefully rig something to keep it at the height it needs to be, but hopefully I won't have to do that.

Anyway ... I'm extremely happy now!