424 mkII problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter lolumber
  • Start date Start date
L

lolumber

New member
Hey everbody,

I recently purchased a 424 mkII and just got finished cleaning it up. Everything seems to work fine except in order to play, record or rewind the tape you have to actually press the tape upward (towards the top of the machine). I'm guessin it has some worn parts which doesn't allow the tape to sit in it properly.

My local pro audio repair place told me (without even looking at it) that it may actually be cheaper to go through Tascam. Tascam's "Tier 1" repair package is $125 plus shipping. Wow. I could probably wedge something in there to reposition the tape, but I really hate doing things like that.

Has anyone else run into this situation? If so do you have any advice on how best to fix it?

Thanks!
 
Open the cassette door and look in up towards the top.There should be a couple plastic
tabs.These are called "cassette in place sensors".These make contact with the top of the cassette and push in when the cassette is seated.
Make sure they're not damaged in any way.
 
Thanks for the response, j.harv. Those sensors seem to be intact. There's no visible signs of damage. Perhaps the springs behind the plastic pieces are weak. If that was the case though, I would think that the tape would sit too far upward (towards the top of the machine). The problem I'm having is really the opposite. There are plastic pieces that the bottom of the tape rests on and it looks as if there may be a small gap between them and the tape. It doesn't feel like there are springs behind those pieces. Again, no visible damage but something isn't right. If I don't press the tape slightly upward, the machine will start to eat the tape and will auto shut off. Man, I'd like to gt this thing running. Any ideas?
 
This may be a shot in the dark, but what it sounds like to me is...
Someone may have used plenty of type I tapes in the machine, and the transport section got used to those tapes.
The 424 transport section was specifically calibrated & aligned for type II high bias tapes.
I've seen somethin' similar to this before where these guys in a practice spot, next to mine...called me in and asked why their machine kept eating their tapes,..and it was clear as day why,...they had a pile of type I normal bias tapes sitting all around their machine!:eek:
Not too mention all the dust surrounding the machine!:wtf:

After awhile the machine gets "used to those tapes",...and the shell of the cassette, and the transport section "become one with each other".
The machine has probably calibrated & aligned itself to those type of tapes after awhile of use.
You may have to have it aligned by a tech again,..don't know,..I could be wrong. Just a thought.:confused:
 
VESSEL2020 said:
Someone may have used plenty of type I tapes in the machine, and the transport section got used to those tapes.
Click to expand...

Based on that, would you say it's not a good idea to keep a cheap "for show" tape in the transport even if I never record or play the tape in that machine?
 
diggy_dude said:
Based on that, would you say it's not a good idea to keep a cheap "for show" tape in the transport even if I never record or play the tape in that machine?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't.
Matter of fact,..When see you people ebaying or craigslisting a Portastudio with a type I cassette in the transport,..You should stay far away from that machine. They're spec'd to high bias...therefore that is the only tape that should hit those heads.
That's just my opinion, and may not be for everyone else.
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I mentioned the normal bias thing to my local pro audio repair guy and he seemed to think that it shouldn't cause a problem.
I just ordered a capstan belt and pinch roller. I guess those things will need replacing anyway so maybe it'll help.
 
VESSEL2020 said:
I wouldn't.
Matter of fact,..When see you people ebaying or craigslisting a Portastudio with a type I cassette in the transport,..You should stay far away from that machine. They're spec'd to high bias...therefore that is the only tape that should hit those heads.
That's just my opinion, and may not be for everyone else.
Click to expand...

I just noticed the "When see you" part! HA! A touch of dyslexia!
Where the hell is the edit button?...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top