MSR 16 Meltdown?

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dj9fingers

New member
Hello, I am new to this sight and have a troubling situation with my MSR 16. I was recording some vocal tracks tonight and as the tape was running the tension roller on the right side started to bounce up and down. After looking a little closer I noticed that the rubber on the pinch roller and the tape counter were soft and sticky. The tape was sticking to the pinch roller and popping off creating the bounce. Both the rubbers were starting to melt! The rubber on the tape counter (I think that’s what it's called) was really bad. It was so soft it was sticking to my fingers like tar. Weird. I ended up having to remove the rubber. The pinch roller was not as bad but very soft as well. Before I start my recordings I always clean the heads with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol and have never had a problem. I did spill some rubbing alcohol on the carpet tonight three feet away from the deck. Could this be the cause of my meltdown? Is rubbing alcohol a no no? Does anyone know where I could find new rubber?? Thanks...
 
This is a common problem, the rubber starts to "decure" over time. You will need to replace the rubber. I once destroyed an original pinch roller on my 48 after I used some rubber rejuvenator as it acted like a solvent to the rubber. In short use any cleaner sparingly on rubber. I'll let some else chime in on what to use on the rollers.
 
You can get the rollers rebuilt. There are often local firms which do this, though they usually deal with larger, industrial rollers.

If shipping is not going to be a problem, this guy specialises in tape machine rollers:
http://terrysrubberrollers.com/

**EDIT**
This was mine, for what it's worth:
https://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/tape/PinchRollerSoup.jpg
...I noticed it was getting tacky and accidentally left it on the window ledge one evening in midsummer. By morning it was like that.
 
Yep...any deck from that era is potentially prone to the rubber bits turning to goo.

Terry's rebuilds are top-notch. You may also want to contact Tascam parts directly...they may have the rollers in stock for less than a rebuild, though I bet Terry's rebuild would out-perform an OEM part.

To clean pich rollers, tach rollers or the like you can actually just use water, or window cleaner, or a very mild soap and water solution.
 
sweetbeats said:
Terry's rebuilds are top-notch. You may also want to contact Tascam parts directly...they may have the rollers in stock for less than a rebuild, though I bet Terry's rebuild would out-perform an OEM part.
Click to expand...
Since Terry was apparently having the counter wheels manufactured as OEM parts, I suspect that means they're long gone from TEAC.
Even if you can get a new replacement, keep the originals and try and get them rebuilt as spares.
 
WOW!!! :eek:

HAHAHA!! That is crazy!

Mine is coming with a brand new on fortunately (pic below). I've had my share of tacky pinch rollers, gooey solenoid cushions (pic below)...the pinch roller and original belts on a Tascam 234 I recently received are the consistency of a cheeseball. Wacky stuff.
 

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