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One thing I did figure out for sure: the channel card for track 4 WAS bad - but that didn't seem to be the root cause of the issue. When I swapped channel 3's good card with channel 4's, 4 didn't work at all and 3 recorded with a weak, distorted sound. Changed them back and took out 4's card...

Nothing. When the tape is flipped and track 5 is playing what track 4 ought to have recorded, it doesn't play anything. So when I record on track 4 + 5 and the tape is not reversed, track 5 will play back the recorded signal and track 4 will not. when the tape is flipped, neither 4 nor 5 will...

When I did this, track 4 was silent and the meter did not show any signal. (Though there was definitely something on the tape.

No - it's actually the worse scenario - track 4 neither records nor plays back anything. No audio will be recorded or reproduced on track 4 no matter what's on the tape. I'm hoping the problem is to do with the channel card. How best can I access them on the R8? like - how is the best way to...

Ok SO - It's seeming like track 4 doesn't play back anything (whether the 4th track on the head recorded it or otherwise). So we're left with the possibility of either a bad channel card or a fault in the connection to the head? What does it mean if the head is open circut? Could this be...

I'm pretty sure that it has to do with a record card or a PCB track. Going to swap some cards and see if the fault moves with the card or is tied to the track. In that case - I don't know where to look for broken connections. Doesn't seem like it would be the head... but I'm not sure.:facepalm:

Ok. I didn't have time to fully remove the channel cards, but I did briefly check to see if it wasn't in place. It seems like it is but a closer / slower look might reveal otherwise. I'll give the technique you mentioned a try tonight and report my findings with more pictures. I want to get to...

OK. So I got the R8 today. Unboxed it and set it all up. Gave the heads and tape path a cleaning. Testing was going swell until... Track 4. Every track records and reproduces excellently (super quiet and accurate) but track 4 does absolutely nothing. Here's what I've deduced: 1) it's probably...

Thanks for the advice - I'll consider that for sure and likely make a decision based on the results of testing everything out once I get the R8 (I'll be grabbing it from my US address in Michigan this Saturday). Though I'm wondering - have you gotten the heads re-lapped on an R8 before? What...

Pulled the trigger on the machine with the cleaner headblock! Fingers crossed I've nabbed a good one with plenty of tread left. Here's another photo, will post updates when I receive the machine! Thanks again for the help.

350 for the clean looking one - 250 for the dirty one.

Thanks sweetbeats, that's really helpful information and I'll use it with a grain of salt as you suggested. I don't want to wear out my advice-welcome - but here's another contender to make it an either / or decision. Details to keep in mind - this one is obviously dirtier - but it's also a good...

Thing is - It's being shipped to me so I can't run tape through. I trust the guy and he's demo'd the transport to my satisfaction and the machine is otherwise clean - just wondering about the life of these heads as that'll be the deal-deciding factor for me.

Hey all - I'm considering buying this R8. I've owned a few before and always regretted letting them go:facepalm:. Excited to have an opportunity to get another one, but I'd like some opinions on the condition of the heads here. Obviously pictures never do the reality justice - but if you had to...