MRS 16 uneven tape packing

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gerard

gerard

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Hi all. First post, great group here! Just got a Tascam MSR 16 that needed some TLC. One problem is the tape will not "pack" even on the reels during fast foward or rewind. Checked the manual and performed a tape travel adjustment via tension roller adjustments but it didn't help. Checked for bent reel tables and table height but all seemed OK. The tape only touches the bottom (VERY lightly) of both tape guides per the book and also checked the take up and loaded reels and hubs. I realize it's not gonna pack "perfect" but the machine packs real bad. Can anyone help a fellow analog head out?

Thanks in advance!

Jerry
 
gerard said:
Hi all. First post, great group here! Just got a Tascam MSR 16 that needed some TLC. One problem is the tape will not "pack" even on the reels during fast foward or rewind. Checked the manual and performed a tape travel adjustment via tension roller adjustments but it didn't help. Checked for bent reel tables and table height but all seemed OK. The tape only touches the bottom (VERY lightly) of both tape guides per the book and also checked the take up and loaded reels and hubs. I realize it's not gonna pack "perfect" but the machine packs real bad. Can anyone help a fellow analog head out?

Thanks in advance!

Jerry
Click to expand...


The only way to get a smooth tape pack is by using the "spool" mode, assuming your machine has one, or playing the tape off. An uneven pack from fast winding is pretty much par for the course in all but a few machines. Tascam never built one that fit the description to the best of my knowledge.
 
Yeah, using the spooling mode and playing the tape off, as Rick suggested, is the best way to assure a smooth pack but there's another way, which actually works in all modes, and that is to use 6 screw precision reels.

--
 
Welcome! :D

Rick's right...don't expect a perfect or even near perfect pack in fast-wind.

I got my 58 adjusted so that it is pretty good but if I want it nice I need to use spool mode or play mode.

Tape tension can be a driving factor too but you're opening a can with that one...see how it packs in play or spool mode and report back.

Cjacek's right too...I love 6-screw reels...standard thin-flange reels rotate so eccentrically which can mess with the pack...plus the precision reels with the thicker flanges really force you to get your tape path and reel tables really lined up (i.e.there is a closer tolerance between the flanges on a 6-screw vs. a 3-screw so you've gotta get it spot on to keep the tape from rubbing on the flanges).
 
Thanks guys!

Well, played out the tape amd it packs great, put it in spool mode (about 80 IPS) and it packed kinda good. I'll go with play it out. Thanks again! All in all the machine seems to work good now but the packing thing was the last issue I needed to address, and that was a EZ "fix"!

One more question, tape. Need 10" X 1/2" .Been out of the loop for years so what's available new these days? Don't know what the machine is set up for. It came with a reel of GP9 but the last owner said she never had the machine set up. Thanks again for the help!

Jerry
 
If the machine was never setup for GP9 then it is likely still setup for 456 equivalent tape (+6 1.5mil tape). I'm sure it could use a calibration if it hasn't been done in a long time, but if you are just wanting to know what tape to buy, I recommend getting what the machine was designed to use which would be the 456 equivalent. The only thing new that corresponds is made by RMGI and it is their SM911 line. Good tape.
 
gerard said:
Well, played out the tape amd it packs great, put it in spool mode (about 80 IPS) and it packed kinda good. I'll go with play it out. Thanks again! All in all the machine seems to work good now but the packing thing was the last issue I needed to address, and that was a EZ "fix"!

One more question, tape. Need 10" X 1/2" .Been out of the loop for years so what's available new these days? Don't know what the machine is set up for. It came with a reel of GP9 but the last owner said she never had the machine set up. Thanks again for the help!

Jerry
Click to expand...

Tape will pack better if the machine is not operated in the vertical position.

Assuming it's in usable condition, go ahead and try the GP9. It will probably sound a bit bright if the machine is in the 456 ballpark but that's not such a bad thing. I used to under bias my 1" and 2" Machines from time to time and get very good results.
 
Yeah-yeah...I wasn't suggesting don't use the GP9...SM911 is just my advice for purchasing new...Rick is spot-on.
 
Vertical? Dang!

It was! Ya learn something new every day! Will build a nice wood rack when i have some time and put the machine on a angle. Just started putting a small "artist/hobby" studio together in my house, all analog except to burn CD's. The shipper just call and my console (Tascam M3500) will be here within the hour. I'm a old geezer, can't mix with a mouse. Thanks again for the help and info gents, have a good holiday!

Jerry
 
Yeah, another benefit of placing that machine on an angle, closer to horizontal, is that you're gonna extend the life of those plastic reel hubs. This is an especially big deal when you're using 1/2" and wider tape, as they are heavy and can place way too much force in one area of the hubs, cause damage over time. In horizontal, that force is equally spread out.
 
I agree with cjacek’s note about using balanced 6-screw reels. Even though BASF did have more consistent slitting, part of the nice pack is due to the fact they used 6-screw reels for ½” tape and above. When putting Ampex/Quantegy tape on BASF (or other 6-screw) reels I notice a significantly more even pack in fast wind.

I also recommend putting these machines horizontally or at least angled back for better tape handling and longer reel clamper life.

:)
 
Hey, Tim, just spreading the knowledge that I've learned from you, with regard to the precision reels and the horizontal thing. ;)
 
My machine had a broken reel clamp ( the seller "forgot" to tell me).The "fingers" wouldn't clamp down tight on the reel so the reel would wobble around the hub. I bet the machine spent most of it's life vertical. Could only find compleat hub and table assemblies and the pricess ranged from $80 to $125 each used. Managed to fix the clamp but will hunt around for the 6 screw reels and transfer my tapes. What a great pool of knowlage here!

I'll share the fix on the hubs if anyone is interested. Don't know if it's a common problem with the plastic Tascam hubs.

Jerry
 
Was that complete table/hub/reel adapter assembly from Tascam?

Did you contact Tascam parts directly to try and source the reel adapter? They've got brand-new adapters for all the 1/2 inch decks going way back and they're cheaper than eBay.

I always check with tascam first.
 
gerard said:
My machine had a broken reel clamp ( the seller "forgot" to tell me).The "fingers" wouldn't clamp down tight on the reel so the reel would wobble around the hub. I bet the machine spent most of it's life vertical. Could only find compleat hub and table assemblies and the pricess ranged from $80 to $125 each used. Managed to fix the clamp but will hunt around for the 6 screw reels and transfer my tapes. What a great pool of knowlage here!

I'll share the fix on the hubs if anyone is interested. Don't know if it's a common problem with the plastic Tascam hubs.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Yeah, we've been through the old reel clamper issue a few times on this forum. The plastic stretches and cracks inside from stress.

Tascam Parts Dept. still had them last time I checked.
(323) 727-4840

Part #5740003400 (Reel Clamper)

See below for more discussion:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=2936448&#post2936448
 
Beck, thats what happend to mine, cracks (big) in 3 places on the inside (supply reel side). Jammed JB Weld in the open cracks and clamped the hub togther for 48 hours. So far, so good but I'm just testing gear out right now, the machine is still on my bench. Not sure how the fixed hub will hold up under normal use. Will contact Tascam and get 2 new ones (I hope).

Hope you guys don't get tired of hearing this, but thanks again for the links and info! Seems like all the tape machine issues are solved, now on to the console problems with questions. Will start a new thread.

Thanks,

Jerry
 
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