Back into tape!!!

mamm7215

mamm7215

Member
Years ago I had a TSR-8 that I had integrated into my DAW setup. I loved that thing. I didn't use it all the time but I was just glad I had it. Ex wife used to prod about getting rid of it for taking space, maintenance cost, etc. and there were some good points since I didn't "need" it to record. Still, after I sold it I wished I never had. For years. FFW to now, just picked up another one. Price was right and it does need a bit of work but I'm happy to have one again. Weird. Pinch roller was complete goo when I got it, so that got replaced first. There's unusable wow and flutter when I record so capstan belt is next. Also the take-up hub table bushing is shot, wobbles way too much. Bushing is on the way, too. Heads in good shape, electronics seem good, counter counts, DBX works, record/playback/erase all good. Seller was a proxy for a music customer of his and said it was used in a recording studio until he thought a motor was going bad. Then it sat. I'm pretty sure the "motor" issue was the capstan belt/pinch roller/bushing problem. Motors are fine. In any case, it's a fun project to have back. Also grabbing a cheap local Soundcraft M8 to interface to it. Fun times again :)
tsr8.webp
 
Congrats.

it’s common for the rubber components to disintegrate and revert to their constituent components…turn into a tar-like substance.

What did you use to replace it?
 
I bought a pinch roller tire and capstan belt off of ebay. Not sure how oem they are but the roller tire seems to be fine. I haven't put the belt on yet. I also noticed that the counter roller tire is cracked in a few places. Not goo but just old rubber. Not sure if I should try something like rubber renue or just try to find another one. There's a guy in the UK who makes them as well as reel table bushings. I definitely need a bushing for the take up reel table. I did a recording last night just on channel 1 and 2 and still a bit of wow and flutter. When I had the cover off the existing belt seemed ok for not being gooey but didn't seem to be very snug around the roller so I guess I'll do that next. There's also a bit of crackling and more noise on the recording than there should be I think but I'll do more recording on the other channels tonight. I may have had the levels high and I haven't got an MRL tape yet to set biases.
 
My experiences with rubber ‘reconditioners’ hasn’t been favorable. New rubber is the way to go.
 
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