Cleaning, did I do damage

  • Thread starter Thread starter LonelyBeat
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LonelyBeat

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I use a 488MkIII and dont clean it as much as I should probably.
A while ago I noticed that after cleaning everything the manual said to clean ( heads, rollers, capstan) with what I was told by several sources to be no problem, isopryl alchohol, I heard the tape squeaking every time i pressed play.
I am realizing now that this is probably due to the fact that I used alchohol to clean the rubber. I was sparing with it and dried it quickly with swabs. but I cant help but wonder if I now have compromised the quality of every future recording. I mean, what effect is this gonna have and why.
Any help any of you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated. You can also hit me on AIM, im heematobicRAS.
 
If you've only done it a couple of times, then you should be ok, as long as you use rubber cleaner in the future.....

What happens is that the alcohol will eventually dry-out the rubber and cause it to crack, causing improper motion of the tape (which causes many issues!)

Once the pinch roller is dry/cracked it would have to be replaced.
 
thanks man, I needed to hear that

Hey, by the way do you know why when I mix down to by rackmount cd burner, I also get more sound comming out of the left side, even though everything is equal. I have to pull the left side of some of my tracks, especially the drum and lead guitar, down when mixing to not be too hot on the left side.
 
I've actually seen the alcohol gum up a pinch roller on a Revox machine so bad it had to be replaced....after one cleaning.:eek:
Never use alcohol on rubber parts.

You might want to keep an eye on it.
 
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