i found a Teac A-3440

[Maldoror]

3.99 at goodwill today. along with a sony 4 track which was also 3.99.

so now that my search is over what do i do?
how do i figure out if this thing works?

it powers on. the belt rotted. nothing inside moves when i press play.
i don't have any tapes?

how can i test it to see if it can be restored...where do i begin?
thanks,
Maldoror

[Vintage Texas]

$ 3.99 ? That's a super deal for a 3440 !
For a simple test lift the R-tension arm carefully and press play,
that should start the capstan-motor and fforward + rewind function.
BUT take out the bad drive-belt first before you do this test, a crumbled up belt flapping around on the motor-pulley can create damage.
Here is a page showing the same model with nudies included:
http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2...eacA-3440.html

Let us know what you find after the test

[Maldoror]

not working.
nothing's moving.
when i press pause the light doesn't come on either.
is this possibly an electrical problem under the play buttons?

[Vintage Texas]

Sorry to hear the first test didn't come up positive.
There are two switches control power on functions for the transport and capstan-motor behind R-tension-arm, sometimes these breaks.
Check for broken plastic pieces first, then lift the tension-arm with your finger and see if the switches engage a small red or white spring-loaded plastic moving in/out when tension arm is lifted.

[Maldoror]

i think you've hit on the problem.
looks like something is broken off in the bottom right corner of the case.
also there are the two spots where things might have been connected?

[Maldoror]

just need 5 posts in order to post the picture

[Maldoror]

one more post

[Maldoror]

[Vintage Texas]

Yes, the bottom of the switch is broken, there are two switches mounted, are both messed up or ?
Make a jumper on each switch between the two connections for a temporary solution until you got the deck checked out properly.

[Vintage Texas]

Here is a picture showing the complete switch assembly

[Maldoror]

i don't see any switches...on the right side of the black case right?
looks like they both must have broken off from the inside of the case b/c there's nothing there. should i open the case and try to switch it on?

[Vintage Texas]

The black plastic assembly is a switch, make a jumper between the two spades on top.

[Maldoror]

i don't have any jumpers..
i'm a novice at this kind of thing..
is there some kind of wire i can use?
i have solder wire. could i rig it with that?
do i need a particular grade of wire?

also...if i get a jumper on it will it just be stuck in play until i get a switch..or what exactly would i need to do beyond that?
thanks a lot for the info.

[Vintage Texas]

OK, unsolder one of the wire and solder to the second spade connection.
Then you can test the other functions like rewind, fforward.
Did you take off the old drive-belt ?

[Vintage Texas]

After looking at your picture, the white wire need to be solder to the brown wire spade

[Maldoror]

the drive belt is desentigrated.
so i need to move the white wire to where the brown wire is?
do i remove the brown wire?
can i just wrap some wire between the two to see if it will work before i detach the solder?

[Vintage Texas]

Wouldn't wrap a wire between the two connections, please solder the white wire to the brown instead if you can.

[Vintage Texas]

or you can use a jumper by alligator clips if you want:

[Maldoror]

i don't have an iron...but i have the white connected to the brown now...
i've got sparks but no movement

[Vintage Texas]

Check if the inner-switch is OK on the bottom, the transport section + capstan motor is controlled by both switches.

[Maldoror]

i appreciate you sticking with me...

i pressed the switch on the bottom inward and it clicked...and the white is touching the brown...same result.

earlier i used a steel banjo string to connect the top two spades and thought i heard movement before it sparked. hope i didn't short anything. fuses on top are fine.

[Maldoror]

oops....it is working!

[Vintage Texas]

Spark is not a good thing, I suggest try the better method solder the wires together instead and check again.
Be careful

[Vintage Texas]

No flames or smoke right ?

[Maldoror]

no flames or smoke...just normal small sparks from rubbing together.