My 388 problem.

  • Thread starter Thread starter j.harv
  • Start date Start date
j.harv

j.harv

@#$%
Ok.I have a feeling that I'm going to be quite a nuisance with my 388 questions/problems.
This is my first issue for now.
I just put reel of tape in my 388,threaded in correctly.Now as soon as I threaded it around the right tension and lifted the arm up when putting the tape to the take up reel,something started to run.Its now making a noise constantly like a motor kinda softly whirring away.It rewinds but doesn't fastforward until I light pull down on the right tension arm.So i'm thiking this has something to do with a tension adjustment.When I push play it engages but doesnt spin and the right tension arm drops a little lower than the left.
Im new to this,so there will probably be more to come.
Any suggestions?
Greatly aprreciated.
Jason.
 
...as soon as I threaded [tape] around the right tension and lifted the arm up when putting the tape to the take up reel,something started to run.Its now making a noise constantly like a motor kinda softly whirring away.
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That's a good thing. The motor noise is normal. That's the capstan motor. The right tension arm acts a switch to turn the capstan motor on so that it doesn't run and run and run if tape is unloaded. The key question I have is do you see the capstan shaft spinning when you hear the motor noise?

It rewinds but doesn't fastforward until I light pull down on the right tension arm.So i'm thiking this has something to do with a tension adjustment.When I push play it engages but doesnt spin and the right tension arm drops a little lower than the left.
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  1. Take the tape off the machine.
  2. Find a way (with a rubber band or a helper) to raise and hold both tension arms all the way up.
  3. Press PLAY.
  4. Slowly lower the left tension arm...what do the reel tables do? Be specific.
  5. Raise the left tension arm all the way back up and hold it there.
  6. Now slowly lower the right tension arm...what do the reel tables do? Be specific.

I have a feeling that I'm going to be quite a nuisance with my 388 questions/problems.
Click to expand...

Mmmmmmmnnnnnnnope.

Everybody wants to help. Its just a matter of availability of time and expertise. We'll do what we can.
 
Sweetbeats I can't thank you enough for your time(and anybody else who chimes in).
Well.The captan shaft isn't spinning.I dont think this is gonna be a good thing.

Also I raised both arms as you said and pushed play.When I slowly lowered the left the reel tables started to spin when the arm was about a 1/4 way down.Nice and smoothly.
Raised that back up and lowered the right.I reel table started to spin when the am was a little closer to the bottom then it disengaged the play function and stopped spinning when at its lowest point.
Im hoping this is normal.
 
Oh.1 more thing.I had the back off a few days ago and the capstan belt is on and looks to be in good shape.I have ordered a new one along with a pinch roller too.
 
Sweetbeats I can't thank you enough for your time...
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You're welcome!

The captan shaft isn't spinning...I had the back off a few days ago and the capstan belt is on and looks to be in good shape.
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With the 388 powered OFF, how does the capstan shaft feel when you spin it by hand? Is it free to spin? It will feel "heavy" but I just want to make sure it isn't bound up somehow. This would be REALLY rare. I really recommend you tip the machine on its side, take the bottom back off, power it up and raise that right tension arm up so you can SEE what is happening underneath. Belts can look good but have lost resiliency and don't grip. I'm sure you noticed the nice heavy flywheel underneath the capstan shaft and that takes a little grip to get that going. Here's what I want you to look for when you power it up looking at the capstan drive: is the pully on the motor spinning, and what is it doing with the belt? My hunch is that the motor pully spins but the belt just slips on the motor pully. If this is the case give Tascam Parts a call at (323) 727-4840 for a new belt. Around $10 IIRC.

When I slowly lowered the left the reel tables started to spin when the arm was about a 1/4 way down.Nice and smoothly.
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Okay that's good. Just to confirm: did the left reel table spin clockwise and the right reel table spin counter-clockwise?

lowered the right.I reel table started to spin when the am was a little closer to the bottom
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Can you clarify what you meant by "I reel table"? Am I right that you meant to say the "right reel table"? If so, I suspect you have a tension setting that is out of whack and there is a simple procedure for coarse adjustment of the tensions on the 388 that doesn't require any special equipment except for a non-conductive screwdriver. The trick is that we've got to address the issue with your capstan drive first so we'll need to set this one aside for the moment.

when the [right tension] am was a little closer to the bottom then it disengaged the play function and stopped spinning when at its lowest point.
Im hoping this is normal.
Click to expand...

Indeed it is. That's the auto-stop feature that shuts the transport off when tape runs out. The left tension arm just sends tension information to the servo system (in addition to guiding tape and buffering the tension on the tape). The right tension arm does triple-duty (capstan switch, auto-stop AND tension sensor).
 
Ok.I took the bottom off and the belt had somehow slipped off.I put it back on and raised the right tension arm and now the capstan is spinning.I ordered a new belt,3 week wait.The belt on now seems fine,not dried or cracked and not floppy loose or anything.
Left wheel is spinning clockwise,Right counterclockwise...Check.
I did mean right reel table spun,when lowering the right arm from my last post.
So your saying I could do a quick tension adjustment.If and when you have time,Sweetbeats,I would appreciate a quick lesson if possible.
Thanks so much again.
Jason.
 
Crap.Seems as thought the belt has slipped off again.No capstan spinning.I guess the belt is pretty slack then.Time to open'er up again.


Update:just put the belt back on,spins good and stays on when 388 is on its side.I have a feeling when I put the bottom back on and lay it down flat,it;s gonna slip off again.The only thing is, the belt really doesn't seem too stretched out.Maybe the earths gravitational pull is just extra strong today ;)
 
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Jason, do you have a manual?

The tension adjustment is easy but you'll need a small non-conductive screwdriver.

Regarding the belt, yep. Its old and stretched out. Notice the crowned surface on the motor pulley...with enough tension that crown keeps the belt centered. Once the belt starts stretching with age gravity does indeed cause it to drift off the crown and once it starts to go it gets kicked right off.

Nothing more to do now but wait for the belt.

Let me know if you have the manual and then post back when you get the new belt on as well.
 
Once again, Thanks!!!!
I have a pdf manual but not printed out yet because the guy I bought it from has the original,but he's still looking for it.:(
But I can work with the one I have "in" my computer.
Yep the belt slipped off again,so I'll have to wait the few weeks till it comes in.Then I'll get back to ya on that adjustment.
I hate waiting.
Thanks.
 
A concerning question...

j.harv, you say that when you have both tension arms held all the way up and you lower the left tension arm then BOTH reel tables spin simultaneously?

I'm curiously concerned about this...I tested this on mine and only the supply reel table spins when I do this. The takeup reel table spins when I lower the right tension arm.

Can anybody else with a 388 do that same test and post the results?
 
Did I say both.?Whoops...No,left spins after left arm lowered and right after right lowered.
Still waiting on the bel, then hopefully I can get the basic tension adjusting lesson from you.
Thanks again.
Jason.
 
Okay. That's good. You'll be back in the saddle once you get the belt installed and can check the tension. Just post up again when the belt is in.
 
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