Need help and info on 238 please !!!

[TASCAM MAN]

Hello my analog friends,I have been having this Tascam 238S in storage for a while and when it was put up I had no pitch/speed problems with the motor. Now it drags at a consistent speed in "Fix" mode.I can change it to "vari" mode and get it to be in the pitch it suppose to be and seems without getting slower and slower. This seems to tell me that its not the motor but maybe a resistance issue are something like that?? Please if anyone can help me with this it would be much appreciated Oh also the 2nd issue(yikes) is when I put the unit in Dolby mode mainly TK 8 is pegged to are beyond +8 and also TK1 does sometimes. I cleaned the Dolby engage switches already so its not that......HELP cause I love this machine !!!

 

[TASCAM MAN]

Ok would it be wise (I think I can do it) to swap out the PC cards say like, TK8 with TK 5 for example and see if its pegging on TK 5 now???

 

[A Reel Person]

It's a start.

There's a small chance that these problems might be caused by tarnished & intermittent connectors, so a reseating of all the cards may be a first line troubleshooting point. If you have connector cleaning spray, use it. Alt, unless you're prepared to take this immediately to a tech, there's a fair bit of isolation you can do by swapping cards. Most people would probably do that for starters. Then, either you can fix it yourself or take it to the tech with a clearer idea of the problem. It's one of the biggest PITA's to find problems on gear that's been pampered and properly stored. I'm in the same boat as you, many times over!

 

[shedshrine]

You might find some of the things in this thread helpful..

The Tascam 238 Rocks!

 

[TASCAM MAN]

You might find some of the things in this thread helpful..
The Tascam 238 Rocks!

I have stumbled upon that blog and it was helpful thank you so much for that shedshrine

 

[TASCAM MAN]

There's a small chance that these problems might be caused by tarnished & intermittent connectors, so a reseating of all the cards may be a first line troubleshooting point. If you have connector cleaning spray, use it. Alt, unless you're prepared to take this immediately to a tech, there's a fair bit of isolation you can do by swapping cards. Most people would probably do that for starters. Then, either you can fix it yourself or take it to the tech with a clearer idea of the problem. It's one of the biggest PITA's to find problems on gear that's been pampered and properly stored. I'm in the same boat as you, many times over!

Well I have it opened again in the middle of my living room so I probably will get brave and re-seat (one at a time) the cards very slowely and carefully !!! I'll send a pic of it while I have it opened up soon k ?!?!

 

[TASCAM MAN]

Well I have it opened again in the middle of my living room so I probably will get brave and re-seat (one at a time) the cards very slowely and carefully !!! I'll send a pic of it while I have it opened up soon k ?!?!

UPDATE:
I got brave late last nite and pulled one card out at a time, so they wouldn't get mixed up(didn't know if that matter'ed)and there was no visible corrosion on the cards are the pin sockets but I never did swap card 8 with another to see why it (TK8) is pegging out on the LED when encoding Dolby on group 5-8. It seems that without Dolby on, that all the levels on playback(had some recordings done without Dolby encoded)sound perfect. Also I doodled with the pitch problem without taking out the capstan motor(not brave enough yet)cleaned around the main adjustment screw behind the motor. It speeds it up and slows it down but never could get it to play at the right pitch in "Fix mode" so I played a song back that I am very familiar with the song with my singing and guitar,drums,bass etc. and used the pitch control to get it in the right key and it stayed consistent so.......any input or sugestions here is welcome PLEASE ???

 

[TASCAM MAN]

Here is one pic of the 238S opened up last nite...

 

[TASCAM MAN]

Ok hopefully a bigger and better pic of the 238S