Did I attach spring right?

[SteveM]

Apon opening my Tascam 38 tonight I discovered two wax strings near the take up arms, unattached to anything, which didn't make sense. Looking at the blown up charts in the manual, it appears they are supposed to be attached to the arms but it's unclear exactly where. I've attached a picture hoping someone might know if this is how they are supposed to be. The string wraps twice around that hub and then I attached the the little bell at the end of the string to the underside of the gate. The other string for the right take up arm is missing that little bell.

[evm1024]

Steve that looks right. How do the "hubs" turn? There should be some type of grease/lube in the hubs that dampens the arms as the tape pulls and releases.

The waxed thread should not slip on the hub but rather the hub rotates and acts as a shock absorber. The lube sets the degree of dampening.

The first one I came across has the strings off and the hub frozen. I used a little machine oil and then is was just too loose. I've been thinking that a little white grease (vasoline) would be about right.

Does anybody out there know how to service these hubs? I have a 34 that I need to work on.

--Ethan

[SteveM]

Hey thanks EVM, I'll check that out. I think it's not turning at all. I tried turning them and for sure the string just slides around it when I pull the take up arm. It's probably why they fell off in the first place.

[SteveM]

I got the left side attached and the cylinder turning. They both were completly stuck. I used just a little bit of electrical lube. I spent about two hours trying to attached the right one with no luck because it's missing the bell. It was the BIGGEST pain in the ass. It's impossible to devise any kind of replacement for it that it won't slip out from under the gate thingys slot once the spring is attached. I'm going to call Tascam, hopefully they have replacement parts for those.

[SteveM]

Just ordered the part from Tascam. Great they still had them. I ordered a couple.

[jpmorris]

Originally Posted by SteveM

Just ordered the part from Tascam. Great they still had them. I ordered a couple.

They've still got the string? I might have to get some for my '32, even though I don't use it much. Although it has about three other faults that really need servicing, and the cost will probably exceed the value of the machine, I must admit the string that the final straw which pushed me to Revox

[SteveM]

Originally Posted by jpmorris

I must admit the string that the final straw which pushed me to Revox

Yeah, I thought I was going to lose it myself with that.