...
What you're describing typically points to a bad capstan drive belt.
I'd make sure first of all that the tape is loaded correctly and that the pinch roller move fully up to contact the capstan. Likewise, if you raise the right tension arm up about an inch the capstan should spin CCW.
The capstan belt is not a mega tough job, but it's a moderate teardown. The faceplate of the deck should be removed. Often times the top "bonnet" cover is removed, which includes the back and bottom covers too, for easy access, but that's not 100% hard and fast rule. Lets say, for the sake of argument, that you remove the front face plate by itself, which is tricky but doable. The minimum of stuff to remove would be the "head cover" and knob for "pitch". The Pitch knob is tricky to remove at first, but no big deal as it requires a small pair of needle nose pliers to remove the nut that holds it.
Once you have the 38 naked in the front, there are 4 more screws that hold the entire head plate on, including the heads themselves. Remove these 4 screws and swing the head plate/heads out of the way to access the capstan belt. From this vantage point, it's easy to replace. Reassemble in reverse order of disassembly.
I'd say it's a moderately tough job for anyone less experienced with tearing stuff down and rebuilding it.
To the best of my recollection, the belt used in the 38 is 14.5" total length flat rubber belt.
What part of Los Angeles are you in? TEAC/Tascam America Hdqtrs is down the 5 off the Slauson exit. They have the main service depot there. In Canoga Park there used to be an audio service on Sherman Way named "Adrian". I'm an old DIY'er up in Palmdale. I've not done any fixit jobs in a while, but I have a few under my belt.
Hey Guyz, wasn't there a good pictorial reference of a belt job on a 30 Series deck somewhere here on the forum???
Thanx and good luck!
/Edit/ I see, LA~Hollywood area. It's an even shot for you in distance to either Adrian or TEAC itself.
Hey, there must be at least one audio service place in Hollywood! "Media Capitol of the World!" Haha, we all know that's Burbank anyway, but you get it!/Edit/
/Edit/ Found this:
Adrian Proaudio Service,
21431 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, California 91303 (818)347-9271
and
Repair Facility Type: General Repair
GUITAR TECHNOLOGY & RESEARCH CORP.
5527 CAHUENGA BOULEVARD
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91601
(818) 755-2801
Repair Facility Type: General Repair, DTRS
MUSICTEK SERVICES
12041 BURBANK BOULEVARD
N. HOLLYWOOD, CA 91607
(818) 506-4055
Repair Facility Type: General Repair, DTRS
STUDIO ELECTRONICS
424 NORTH NIAGARA STREET
BURBANK, CA 91505
(818) 843-7981
Repair Facility Type: General Repair, DTRS
AUDIO INTERVISUAL DESIGN
1155 N. LA BREA AVE.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90038
(323) 845-1155
Repair Facility Type: General Repair
AUDIO REPAIR SPECIALISTS
6603 INDEPENDENCE AVE, SUITE E
CANOGA PARK, CA 91303
(818) 346-3762
Repair Facility Type: General Repair, DTRS
AUDIO INTERVISUAL DESIGN
1155 N. LA BREA AVE.
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA 90038
(323) 845-1155
Repair Facility Type: General Repair
AUDIO DESIGN & SERVICE, INC.
10764 VANOWEN STREET
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91605
(818) 754-0467
Repair Facility Type: General Repair
AMERICAN REPAIR SPECIALISTS, INC.
2212 PICO BLVD.
SANTA MONICA, CA 90405
(310) 450-4577
Repair Facility Type: General Repair, DTRS
ALIVE SOUND, LLC
3808 WEST BURBANK BOULEVARD
BURBANK, CA 91505
(818) 845-5103
and of course,
TASCAM Parts (323) 727-4840
TEAC America
7733 Telegraph Rd
Montebello, CA, 90640
(323) 726-0303
/Edit/
