A cool little gem I stumbled upon...

[VESSEL2020]

Quick little story.
I live in a neighborhood where people buy new stuff, and just put their 'old' out on the sidewalk for the trash men or recyclers.
I was driving by a couple streets away from my own, and came across this guy carrying what looked to be a Reel to Reel recorder. (this is not the first time this has happened, nor will it be the last)
He was carrying a bunch of stuff from his house out to the curb, and I slowed down and pulled over to ask him what he was doing with all that stuff on the curb...(speakers, stereo cabinet, stereos, VCR's, etc.)
He said he was puttin' it out for the trash!!!
Well,...You know the saying, "One man's trash is another's treasure"???...
Low and behold,..This little gem! A TEAC 2300S!!!

Needless to say, it was in "poor" condition, as it had cat hair all over it, and inside it...along with a few dead critters inside too. Loaded with spider webs.
I took it apart last night, cleaned it from inside-out and went through these emotions while doing so.
Well, Here's my problem...
I got everything workin' fine with the exception of the pinch roller assembly.
Can anyone tell me what to use on the pinch roller assembly to get it to disengage?
The recorder works like a charm. It records, plays, ff., rw etc. It will engage properly as well.
The only thing is,..the pinch roller will not DISengage, unless I do it manually.
The pinch roller assembly is connected to the head base / tape guide in which that engages as well.
I do not want to use the wrong lubrication on this deck, as I believe it has another life left in it.
Can anyone tell me what to use on the assembly and tape guide?
The tape guide inside the recorder looks similar to a cassette transport, the way it is mechanically used.
Do I use some type of grease? oil?
I thought about putting it up for sale, as I have enough R2R's, but after cleanin' this 2300S inside & out,...I'm gonna keep it. It matches well with my TEAC 360s, and a couple others.
Thanks

 

[nate_dennis]

SOOOOO SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great find man!!!! No one in this state even knows what a reel-to-reel is, much less has the wherewithall to throw one out for me to scavenge!

 

[sweetbeats]

Nice lookin' dumpster gem there vessel...

Two things that come to my mind:

1. Either its gummed up grease on the pinch roller pivot bushing, or
2. A gooey solenoid cushion

In the case of #1 you've got to do what you can to get in there and slide the pinch roller arm off of its pivot bushing and clean it up really good and then you can use turbine oil, tri-flow or sewing machine oil or 3-in-1...whatever...I think just about enything will work there as it is not a rotational joint nor high heat or anything. That's a common thing I've read about on that vintage is the grease they put on at the factory hardens.

In the case of #2 you've got to get in there and follow the pinch roller arm back through the linkage to the solenoid and see if there is a rubber washer in there that cushions the solenoid piston when it retracts. Its just a rubber washer that makes the solenoid go *thup* instead of *THAK* when it engages. These cushions can go gooey/sticky just like any rubber roller. If it is sticking then you've got to take the solenoid out so you can remove the plunger and get it cleaned up. Last I checked Teac in Montebello, CA. had the cushions for under $1 each.

You got manuals with it?

I've never had a 2300 apart or anything but you'll want to get in there and do what you have to do to

 

[jjones1700]

Wow man, that cleaned up very nice!!! Way to go and good luck getting her back to 100%!

 

[SteveM]

Noice! .........

 

[VESSEL2020]

SOOOOO SICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great find man!!!! No one in this state even knows what a reel-to-reel is, much less has the wherewithall to throw one out for me to scavenge!

You wouldn't believe what people in my neighborhood consider to be "trash".
It's outrageous that they don't even make an attempt to bring it to a Goodwill box, or Salvation Army thrift store!
Then again, there are these guys that ride around in their pickup trucks every week at the same time to pick up people's "garbage".
So I suppose they already know someone will pick the stuff up.
I just hope I don't turn into one of "those guys" after this find!
I've already gripped up quite a few "scores".

 

[VESSEL2020]

Nice lookin' dumpster gem there vessel...

Two things that come to my mind:

1. Either its gummed up grease on the pinch roller pivot bushing, or
2. A gooey solenoid cushion

In the case of #1 you've got to do what you can to get in there and slide the pinch roller arm off of its pivot bushing and clean it up really good and then you can use turbine oil, tri-flow or sewing machine oil or 3-in-1...whatever...I think just about enything will work there as it is not a rotational joint nor high heat or anything. That's a common thing I've read about on that vintage is the grease they put on at the factory hardens.

Thanks for chiming in Cory
I'm thinking you're spot on with this ^ right here.
If I had to guess,..this would be the problem.
It seems as if the grease has turned to goo, and it cannot disengage itself any longer.

In the case of #2 you've got to get in there and follow the pinch roller arm back through the linkage to the solenoid and see if there is a rubber washer in there that cushions the solenoid piston when it retracts. Its just a rubber washer that makes the solenoid go *thup* instead of *THAK* when it engages. These cushions can go gooey/sticky just like any rubber roller. If it is sticking then you've got to take the solenoid out so you can remove the plunger and get it cleaned up. Last I checked Teac in Montebello, CA. had the cushions for under $1 each.

This ^ also sounds like it needs to be analyzed. I will be taking her apart again this weekend to check this also. So far I've only cleaned up the circuit boards, reconditioned the belts with rubber cleaner, cleaned and demaged the heads, and scrubbed the outside casings, wood panels, and face plate. Much more to be addressed.

You got manuals with it?

I've never had a 2300 apart or anything but you'll want to get in there and do what you have to do to

No,..no manuals. A service manual would do nicely right about now though.
I'll be on the hunt throughout the week.

 

[VESSEL2020]

Wow man, that cleaned up very nice!!! Way to go and good luck getting her back to 100%!

Thanks John!,...I think I'm about 80% of the way there,..so, hopefully after following Cory's advice I'll have her up and runnin' 100% this weekend.

 

[VESSEL2020]

Noice! .........

......Thanks!

 

[moresound]

You wouldn't believe what people in my neighborhood consider to be "trash".
It's outrageous that they don't even make an attempt to bring it to a Goodwill box, or Salvation Army thrift store!
Then again, there are these guys that ride around in their pickup trucks every week at the same time to pick up people's "garbage".
So I suppose they already know someone will pick the stuff up.
I just hope I don't turn into one of "those guys" after this find!
I've already gripped up quite a few "scores".

Where do you live Vessel?

I need to do a drive by!

 

[VESSEL2020]

Where do you live Vessel?

I need to do a drive by!

I'm a couple states down from you moresound,...in Pa.
Trash day is on Tues,...but Monday night is when you'd want to get here.
There's plenty of trash for everyone.

 

[moresound]

I'm a couple states down from you moresound,...in Pa.
Trash day is on Tues,...but Monday night is when you'd want to get here.
There's plenty of trash for everyone.

Woo Hoo!!!!!
I'm there!

Maybe I'll stop in on my way to Jamfest!

 

[VESSEL2020]

Here are some "before" pics.
A bit nasty.