what tape to use instead of CrO2

[canuckjones]

I have recently acquired my first 4 track. A yamaha MT120. The
manual is very specific in saying to use only cr02 tape:

"this unit is designed to be used only with chromeposition tape and will not work properly with ferrichrome tape formulations. CrO2 (Bias high, EQ 70 us) should be used."

As far as I have been able to determine, CrO2 tape is no longer
manufactured.

What tape should I use instead?

 

[Lt. Bob]

It's still made.....but you should be able to use any high-bias tape

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Yup - what the Lt. said!

 

[muzboz]

Yamaha MT120

Hi,

I have just gotten a Yamaha MT120.

I tried to put a normal Type II cassette in there, but the spools are too large for the winders!

Do I require a special tape size that fits in there? A normal audio cassette fits in there, but the winders don't touch the spools, so it doesn't go around.

Any help would be much appreciated!

- Muz

 

[rayc]

The tapes should work - if the sproket doesn't mesh with the tape there's a problem with the machine - it may be that there was something in there that broke/wore off the winders bits.
I have the MT100 & as with all porta/4track cassette machines - they're made to run chrome tapes.
I'd have a chat with the person from whom you acquired the machine.
Oh, you'd have been better off starting a new thread - you do realise you've ressurrected a thread from 2003 don't you?

 

[muzboz]

Wrong winder size

Thanks for replying.

Here's two photos of the problem. The winder is just too small to meet the tape sprockets.

Is something missing? Or do I need a different tape?

Any help would be great. I bought it second hand from eBay locally, so if there's some part missing, it'd be great to know what to ask the guy for...

Any ideas?

- Murray

 

[Massive Master]

Looks like you're missing parts allrighty.

 

[Lt. Bob]

yep ...... that groove at the top of the spindle would be where a circlip would go to hold on the spoked wheel that would grab the tape sprocket.
Don't know what exactly it would be called and I don't know where you'd get one.
Hopefully someone with some parts supplies knowledge will be around soon.

 

[heatmiser]

Yeah, there's a sort of plastic sleeve that goes over the top of the spindle, the sides of which are shaved off giving it a hexagonal appearance if viewed from the top. This sleeve increases the diameter of the spindle which grabs the tape sprocket.

I'm afraid I don't know what it is called, but whatever it is, you're missing it. Does the other spindle not have one of these either? If you get nothing here, you might try to the analog only forum, where parts and repair questions for decks are commonplace. Good luck .

 

[haymedic]

i was looking on the net to see if i could help... couldn't find anything...

anyways... you should be able to find a part like that on a tape deck, no? just look in used stores and pawn shops for a cassette player... i don't know how to go about extrication and transplantation of such a device but it might be your best bet.

i don't know for sure... just making a suggestion.

s

 

[muzboz]

Thanks!

Thanks very much everyone!

Very helpful to get confirmation of that! I'll try to see if the guy I got it off has the parts somewhere. If not, I'll have to get him to give me some money back!

And go and find the parts myself somehow. THANKS!

- Murray

 

[muzboz]

More details, just for completeness!

Oh, and yes, the part is either missing, or broken off, on both sides.

Seems very strange.

- Murray

 

[M1Fanatic]

As haymedic said, you might be able to 'transplant' a reel sprocket from another cassette deck. You might have to modify it some, maybe with a Dremel or other hand tool, but you should be able to get it working one way or another if the schmuck who sold it to you can't come up with the correct part.

Let us know how it turns out in a new thread.

 

[muzboz]

Thanks guys!

Yes, transplant successful!

I pulled a few of the tape rollers out of my old stereo in the kitchen... as you can see, the rollers have been whipped out of the one on the right here. I just pulled them with some plyers, and they slid off quite easily.

...and my brother glued them straight onto the base of the winder things that were already in the Yamaha MT120. Worked great straight away!
(My brother did the gluing, because he's an Araldite master. Araldite and me don't really mix).

Here's the winders glued in to the Yamaha MT120...

I had a bit of a jam on it after that. I recorded some Roland 606 beats into it, overloading them a bit, and riding the fader at times to get some ebbing beats, and then just played it back with the various tracks I had on the tape from years ago (a "radio mix I'd been making" of random things on the radio), and I had a distortion and reverb guitar pedal set up through the AUX SENDS and played with those a bit, and also fooled with the tape speed at times. FUN! Stupid, but fun. Don't expect too much if you bother taking a listen!

Muz's Yamaha MT120 Jam.mp3 (5.7mb)

Hehe. Doing my DJ face while mixing it up! Boom!


Thanks heaps for your help!

- Murray

 

[stevieb]

Yup - what the Lt. said!

I salute you, Lt. Bob!

 

[haymedic]

pretty bass

s