A Reel Person
It's Too Funky in Here!!!
I don't doubt it. You may be on to something,..
that would fall under "other mechanical problem", of which it would be nearly impossible to determine over a bbs, sight unseen.
At least you've replaced the belt twice, and you can get that behind you. You get an "A" for perseverance and effort.
I think you're onto something, with a secondary drag being put on the tape from the left hub [prong]. If something's dragging on the left side's hub-mechanics, then it would surely induce speed fluctuations of the type you're getting.
You now need to 'think mechanical/be mechanical' and take a very close look at the cassette mechanics, the likes of which would be virtually impossible to properly describe on a bbs,...
or just-punt & refer the repair to a repair tech who's experienced in fixing mechanical cassette mechanisms. A person with legitimate-no-bullshit repair experience on cassettes may be able to spot something more quickly than your untrained eye,... no offense.
Anyway, just-give yourself an "A" for effort, and keep slogging away at it, up to & including getting it to the repair shop. That's my best recommendation. Good job anyway, having done the capstan-belt-thing.
If you want to discuss options for moderately low-budget replacement of your free Vesta-4-tracker, I'd say step up to a real Tascam Portastudio. That discussion's probably better for another post.
Hey, figure the 4-tracker's free, but the catch is that it needs repair, which might be the cost of another used unit, so as I see it,... it's a wash,... basically even on either side of the equation, relative to your out-of-pocket cost.
Justin, I don't doubt that your Vesta Fire can be fixed, but it's a matter of personal judgement to either do that or buy something newer.
BTW, I take it you're coming from a preferred $0-cost budget, because if you're willing to spend about $300, you have a very wide range of multitrackers to choose from. If you're coming from the "about $100" budgetary mindset, then there's still plenty of used Tascams for that price,... but keep in mind that any other used piece of gear you get may also need a little maintenance.
The older any piece of gear is, the more likely it is to need maintenance, even if minor. I guess that's an obvious point.
===================
Sorry I can't speak directly to the detail of the mechanical cassette mech, as there's numerous small levers, cams & springs, & such.
However, just-fyi, in the solenoid-driven-type of cassette mechanisms I am familiar with, each "prong", or left and right hub, would be driven inside the mechanics by a little rubber tire, that interfaces between a motor and the actual hub itself.
Point being, that this little rubber tire, [two of them actually], can get worn out and gooey, and will cause a sticking and malfunction of either or both of the two "prongs".
That's probably the best pointer I can give you about the mechanical side of the "prongs".
Good luck, keep slugging away at it, & keep asking those questions.
that would fall under "other mechanical problem", of which it would be nearly impossible to determine over a bbs, sight unseen.
At least you've replaced the belt twice, and you can get that behind you. You get an "A" for perseverance and effort.
I think you're onto something, with a secondary drag being put on the tape from the left hub [prong]. If something's dragging on the left side's hub-mechanics, then it would surely induce speed fluctuations of the type you're getting.
You now need to 'think mechanical/be mechanical' and take a very close look at the cassette mechanics, the likes of which would be virtually impossible to properly describe on a bbs,...
or just-punt & refer the repair to a repair tech who's experienced in fixing mechanical cassette mechanisms. A person with legitimate-no-bullshit repair experience on cassettes may be able to spot something more quickly than your untrained eye,... no offense.
Anyway, just-give yourself an "A" for effort, and keep slogging away at it, up to & including getting it to the repair shop. That's my best recommendation. Good job anyway, having done the capstan-belt-thing.
If you want to discuss options for moderately low-budget replacement of your free Vesta-4-tracker, I'd say step up to a real Tascam Portastudio. That discussion's probably better for another post.
Hey, figure the 4-tracker's free, but the catch is that it needs repair, which might be the cost of another used unit, so as I see it,... it's a wash,... basically even on either side of the equation, relative to your out-of-pocket cost.
Justin, I don't doubt that your Vesta Fire can be fixed, but it's a matter of personal judgement to either do that or buy something newer.
BTW, I take it you're coming from a preferred $0-cost budget, because if you're willing to spend about $300, you have a very wide range of multitrackers to choose from. If you're coming from the "about $100" budgetary mindset, then there's still plenty of used Tascams for that price,... but keep in mind that any other used piece of gear you get may also need a little maintenance.
The older any piece of gear is, the more likely it is to need maintenance, even if minor. I guess that's an obvious point.
===================
Sorry I can't speak directly to the detail of the mechanical cassette mech, as there's numerous small levers, cams & springs, & such.
However, just-fyi, in the solenoid-driven-type of cassette mechanisms I am familiar with, each "prong", or left and right hub, would be driven inside the mechanics by a little rubber tire, that interfaces between a motor and the actual hub itself.
Point being, that this little rubber tire, [two of them actually], can get worn out and gooey, and will cause a sticking and malfunction of either or both of the two "prongs".
That's probably the best pointer I can give you about the mechanical side of the "prongs".
Good luck, keep slugging away at it, & keep asking those questions.