Help with Teac Reel To Reel

[complicatedcrus]

Hi there everybody, super thanks for any advice that you have. I have purchased a TEAC A-4010S for a steal on ebay and am having trouble getting it to playback...
So far I have been able to 1) control the motor back and forth 2) get great recording levels in the VU if not a bit jumpy 3) Press record and roll the tape with the record lights on 4) Generally work the machine
However, when I go to playback the recording that I have just made what I get it on one channel what I think to be tape hiss and in the other a sort of low frequency rythmic rumbling... like the sound that a cell phone makes on speakers but 2 octaves down.
Just wondering if this might be the sign of a bunk machine, or am I doing something wrong.
Any help that you have is greatly appreciated!
Shit, I might even have the tape in upside down (i doubt it!)
Thanks a million!
Louis

 

[scrubs]

If no one comes along to answer, you might want to post this question in the analog forum at the bottom of the main forums page. Those guys love this kind of stuff.

 

[Grizzly]

Well howdy,
I had that same problem back in the 70's. Ended up having to put a set of heads in it. No you shouldn't try this at home. You can put them in but you will never get the alignment right with out the proper lab equipment.

Griz

 

[MISTERQCUE]

Hi there everybody, super thanks for any advice that you have. I have purchased a TEAC A-4010S for a steal on ebay and am having trouble getting it to playback...
So far I have been able to 1) control the motor back and forth 2) get great recording levels in the VU if not a bit jumpy 3) Press record and roll the tape with the record lights on 4) Generally work the machine
However, when I go to playback the recording that I have just made what I get it on one channel what I think to be tape hiss and in the other a sort of low frequency rythmic rumbling... like the sound that a cell phone makes on speakers but 2 octaves down.
Just wondering if this might be the sign of a bunk machine, or am I doing something wrong.
Any help that you have is greatly appreciated!
Shit, I might even have the tape in upside down (i doubt it!)
Thanks a million!
Louis

1st off are you sure of the model # you listed here as I can't find that model#
in my personal archives?

Several models of Teac R2R's contained 3 or 4 heads; 1-2 playback, 1 record & 1 erase. The common most prob in older R2R's were either the misalignment or dirty play-bk heads. If heads are dirty, use a recommended head cleaner (ck Radio Shack). If that's not the problem, your ply-bk aheads may need realignment but prior to delving in that subject can U provide a pic or re-ck your model#?

 

[dgatwood]

1st off are you sure of the model # you listed here as I can't find that model#
in my personal archives?

Several models of Teac R2R's contained 3 or 4 heads; 1-2 playback, 1 record & 1 erase. The common most prob in older R2R's were either the misalignment or dirty play-bk heads. If heads are dirty, use a recommended head cleaner (ck Radio Shack). If that's not the problem, your ply-bk aheads may need realignment but prior to delving in that subject can U provide a pic or re-ck your model#?

I'm assuming you don't have a prerecorded reel for testing.... No matter.

Does that model have a switch to allow you to play through the record heads? If so, try turning it on and see if you get something. If you do, your play heads have a problem. If not, it's either A. the record signal chain somewhere, B. the record heads, or C. the playback signal chain somewhere.

To narrow it down further, I recommend recording yourself clapping your hands several times, about a second apart. Then, take iron filings, place them on a piece of cellophane, lay the just-recorded tape down on a table with the recording sice up, place the cellophane down on top of it (with the filings on top of that) and move the cellophane over the tape.

You should be able to literally see the pattern when you hit the spot where the clap occurred. If not, you probably didn't get anything on tape, and this suggests a flaw in either the record heads or the record circuitry somewhere.

If you see a spot every 15 inches (or 7 1/2 inches, or 3 3/4 inches... whatever the IPS setting for the deck was when you recorded) where the filings start to dance on the cellophane, the problem is in the playback signal chain.