scored a tascam 688= repair question

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i have a unit that seems to need a play motor because it wont play or record just rewind and forward works. i was wondering could my local shop that does guitar amp and guitar repairs do this.how much am i looking at for repair.and if i use this as a mixer for the time being how would i set track one for my guitar. the 688 i got was in the original box and looks like it was taken care of so i would like to get some use out of it.
 
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I'd be wary about assuming it's a bad motor, vs. it being the belt. A capstan drive belt is a low cost repair item. $10. It requires disassembly from the bottom. Not too hard to take off the bottom and inspect it, vs. just turning it over to someone to fix. You'd save a lot of money if you DIY.:eek:;)
 
good tip i would rather try the belt first and hopefully that works.
 
Tascam 688 belt repair

Hi, I just bought a 688. My plan is to transfer my old 688 recordings into my Akai DPS24. The prior suggestion is correct. It's not likely to be a motor. Belt is much more likely because the rubber has surely stretched & weathered by now. My unit has a belt problem as well, and I'll describe the replacement procedure below. But I have a question first. Does anyone have a service manual on PDF. Doesn't have to be real clear, just barely readable is ok. If not, could someone please give me some Tascam part numbers? I need:

* Capstan drive belt
* Pinch roller
* FF/REWIND Reel Spindle
* Spring for the Reel Spindle above

OK, here's how you replace the belt. Access to the tape drive is from the top, not the bottom. As you take the unit apart, be careful not to pop and lose the sprocket spindle. It's spring-loaded and will fly. That's what someone did to the unit I just bought. They didn't even know it was missing.

1) Remove the right side casing panel, 2 screws. That's the big thick trapezoidal plastic part on the right side.

2) You might have to remove the top cover panel at the rear of the unit. It might interfere with the removal of the tape drive cover panel. It was one of the first things I took off and don't know if it really needs to come off. It's only a few screws though so it's easy. All these screws are not the same. Note, they are all black and some have spacers. It's important to put the ones with spacers back where they belong. You might have to remove the left side casing panel, 2 screws, to get the rear-top cover panel. It was only 2 screws, so off it went.

3) Remove the wrist rest pad. There are 2 + (meaning PLUS not MINUS) screws that you get at from the bottom near the front. The screws are not right on the bottom surface, they are further in and you have to reach them with a screwdriver. The wrist rest bracket has holes on the bottom to get at those screws. Every unit usually has one tricky part that determines a successful disassembly. THIS IS THAT PART FOR THE 688. If you don't do this, you can't get inside, period.

4) Next, you take the tape drive cover panel off by removing the screws near the front, the screws on the right side and the two screws in the middle under the cassette door.

5) Remove the vari-speed knob. The panel comes up and you have access to the tape drive.

6) The tape drive is held in place with + screws, one on the left, and two on the right. There is a small circuit board above the tape drive on the right that might need to come out. It is in place with 2 + screws. This board has two adjustments on it; I don't know what they do. Take care not to accidentally readjust the potentiometers.

7) To move the plastic panel out of the way, you might have to disconnect one gray shielded cable that plugs in with a small connector.

8) To remove & replace the belt, you have to take off the tape drive mounting bracket on the right side, 2 screws. Then take off the right side bracket, 3 screws. The bracket has one of the motors and a bushing for the capstan flywheel on it. You now have access to the drive belt.

To reassemble, do the opposite. Keep track of all the screws. They are not all the same and need to go back where they came from. You can draw an outline of each thing you take screws from, and scotch tape the screws to the drawing. That way you'll know where to put them back.


BTW, I used one of these in the mid-90s. It was a great machine. I made some really good recordings... and some bad ones, but those weren't the machine's fault. :) I kept my tapes, but like a fool, sold the machine. Now I've got a very nice Digital DPS24 with which I can fix all those recording "errors." So I'm scrambling to get one running and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Tascam 688 belt repair

OK, I called Tascam and got some part numbers:


* Capstan drive belt 580 073 5500 $9.80 B/O :mad:
* Pinch roller 580 109 1400 $5.49
* FF/REWIND Transport Table, Reel Spindle 580 073 1501 $3.10
* Spring for the Reel Spindle above 580 144 3400 $0.41 B/O :mad:

If anyone knows another place to get these parts, please let me know.
 
Ely, this is superinteresting. I would love to see some pics of the deassembly and repairs you do. Would that be possible? Sorry, but can't help you on the parts part. Maybe try a electronics store with the old belt and buy a new one a bit smaller? Or is it gone entirely? Good luck and keep us posted!
 
I know you put the ":mad:" smiley next to the B/O parts, but keep in mind you are ordering parts for a 15 ~ 20 year old piece of gear that uses cassettes and most people (excepting us folks here) have no respect for the 688 and its ilk. I think it is super-cool that you can call Tascam and even get any parts for these older units...I'll take back-order any day over "no longer available" or "discontinued" or better yet you never get a call back to the voicemails you leave or emails you send to the parts department. I get a live person at Tascam and they tell me right then and there the availability. If it is backordered I know it'll come in eventually. Try that with Fostex. Not knocking Fostex products at all but it is a different world when it comes to product support on legacy gear. I had a pinch roller assembly for my 234 that ws backordered. It took 6 weeks but I'm used to waiting for stuff. It was cheap, came as soon as they got it, and it looks great. I'm happy. Your ":mad:" smilies may have just meant ":(" but I felt compelled to pipe up.
 
:mad:

Yeah good point. What I should have said was :(

I just fixed an old Roland Axis-1 and tried that calling Roland thing. They said real simply, sorry, discontinued, not available. Of course the Axis-1 has another maybe 10 years on the 688. Found out that Korg can't supply parts for their Poly-800 any more either. Difference is that people might have a library of material on that Tascam media, so maybe Tascam feels a little more responsibility to make those old libraries readable.

It's been a long time since I've worked on a tape machine, so I don't know if there are 3rd party parts or another stocking distributor or what. Tascam told me end of July. Just don't want to wait that long.
 
Pix 'n stuff

Bobby,

Don't know about the taking pix & stuff. I need to get this done, & it will more than double the effort to do an illustrated step-by-step. Would trade that for a service manual, though. Other than that, if you don't understand what I mean or get stuck while trying to replace the belt, just post here. I'm monitoring this board and will try to reply promptly.

--Ely
 
I don't think I ever seen a service manual for the 688, only operating manual. Anyway, good luck man!
 
This Is Just GREAT having all your SUPPORT & more

Update: Yupper ,it's been 6 days since I posted my desparation note. Then it got a lot worse as my Tascam244's rubber capstan literally turned to a liquid-tar-like substance b-4 my eyes. My heart sorta broke as my brain's TV screens instantly replayed flashbacks from 1980: I was a road-warrier playing hotels 6/nights a week w/ comp room & 1/2 off food. I ate in the room (hot plates & toaster over) in order to SAVE $$ to afford my 144 & 244; ARP Synths, a Hammond X-5; Orchestron & twin Leslie 925's.
Yea, I ate a lot of TV dinners except for Sundays lol. I didn't do drugs-just music equipment & Scotch !
Anyway, I's sure i don't have to remind any of you just how EXPENSIVE those 4 tracks were! After I was misled , in 1976 by a Sunbury Pa. record co. for the total charge of my band's 1st 45RPM, for over $2,500 . . .Paying $862 for MY OWN PORTABLE studio was a wise investment. Anytime, anyplace clean recordings were then AND STILL ARE, a dream come true. Getting my own super-duper 8track w Midi--was like having a wife who wanted sex any time, anyplace-but WITHOUT the nagging & HER headaches. After sifting thru boxes & arriving to "rescue" all 3 recorders--only to find them all "unconsious" was worse than my spelling.
Now, it's Fro--I have a sh--load of work around the house but i had to come HERE and THANK ELK & DAVE for taking the time to answer me & encourage me to save the Titanic. So...THANK YOU. I'm sure some vacumn cleaner store has belts, or auto parts--cassett belts at RADIO SHACK perhaps ?? tho i hate paying their list prices for china stuff. Then again, UGH, the new Tascam digital stuff has made in china on them.
Ok off to start the day--than ks again. I'll try to take pics w/ my DSLR. Wish me luck.
Don:):):);)
 
Ps

I ment to type Ely & Dave. Gee, I need either more coffee or a little Scotch. God, if only we all had those 6-nighter's available to all of us NOW. A 1, duo or trio could record your own back-tracks & sound like B.S. & Tears, earth Wind & Fire, you name it. Then again, at my age, I'd sound more like the B.S. and I'd be causing tears. Thanks again all from rainy, steamy Florida. Don
 
3rd Party Suppliers

Thanks for the post. Vacuum cleaner belts will be much too big... they have much greater force requirements than cassette players... but good luck. Your best bet is to call Tascam parts, and order whatever they have in stock, and search for the other stuff online. Tascam parts are very reasonably priced, and shipping is also very reasonable. As for disintegrating rubber, don't use anything other that isopropyl alcohol when trying to clean rubber. Even then you're taking a chance.

I found two online suppliers for 3rd party parts. But first, I have a complaint about Tascam's new and improved parts order system. They recently changed their order entry system and here's how it works... For back-ordered parts, you can't place an order to be filled when the items arrive. You have to keep calling to see if they're in, and place an order only when they are in stock. So if you need several parts, some in stock and some not, you have to order what they have, and keep calling in hopes the back-order parts arrive. The springs I need cost $0.41 and will probably have to be ordered separately, so they will end up costing around $6, but I can't use a credit card for less than $10, instead I have to send a check, and the parts might be gone by the time my order arrives and is processed. So I don't know, do I have to order 25 springs just to put them on my card? I doubt they'll even have 25 springs. Yeah, maybe I'll order some more pinch rollers for my belly-up DA-88s.

What's most amazing is that they upgraded their order system from one that allowed you to place orders to be filled when all B/O items arrive to one that doesn't. Weird stuff in the 21st century. Am I allowed to say, ":mad:" yet?

OK, here's what I found for 3rd party parts...

1) http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/index.htm Big supply of various parts especially belts. They also carry rubber cleaners/restorers. Best thing is the prices are posted and seem very reasonable. Looks like they have a belt that fits. They also have some generic pinch rollers that might work. I will order and post the part numbers and results when they arrive.

2) http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/vintagetx/TascamParts.html This place lists some parts, but no prices. They also don't answer their email. I think this site is a waste of time.

So between #1 above and Tascam, I should be able to get everything I need except the springs. So that's my next search.

Still looking for that freebie service manual. :)

--Ely
 
Parts Update...

One of the Tascam part numbers that I posted above was wrong. I will edit the above so if someone doesn't get this far, at least they'll get the right part number.

580 073 1501 is not the spindle cap, it's the entire transport assembly... minus the cap and spring, of course. :)

580 023 6501 is the spindle cap.

The spindle cap spring (580 144 3400) has been discontinued. This is something that is not very critical to proper operation and a suitable substitute can probably be found at a good hardware store. It just needs to be the right size, and not too stiff.

You can buy a 688 service manual from Tascam for 24 bucks. They are in stock.

--Ely

umm... I can't edit the prior post any more, so hopefully everyone will read to the end. This also means I won't be able to update the replacement procedure if I need to clarify or add something. I will instead repost any improvements in this thread.
 
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dontaylor>

I wasn't aware you also had a 244! Thanx for the update. I'd just warn that if the 244's belt turned to that characteristic tarry goo, then I'd also carefully inspect the pinch roller & if you had the back off, try to get a look at the FF/RW tires. Those other rubber parts may have become similarly sticky, which will cause further stumbling blocks as you work thru the repair. The FF/RW can be tested without the main capstan belt, and the pinchwheel can be inspected visually & by feel.

Sorry I can't help more, but I agree that Tascam Parts should be called first. Other sources of belts might be eBay or any electronics parts shop that carries VCR repair parts. Also, a proper VCR repair shop might have the belt available. My first line of defense is Tascam Parts, but as we know most belts you get are PRB brand belts. I think PRB went out of business, though there are several sources for their belts as new-oldstock.

Ely has been an invaluable resource on the 688 repair details! Thanx!:eek:;)
 
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Thanks Reel.

Just want to add, do not hesitate to call Tascam parts. I have called them a bunch of times to buy parts for both my DA-88s and now the 688. They have not tired of me yet. By today's standards, you get a real (not reel) person on the phone fairly quickly. There is no robo-menu to navigate or anything. You get right to parts. You might be on hold for a few minutes listening to music. I'm sure it's all stuff that was recorded on Tascam gear. :)

They have been very courteous, and helpful. I tell them the machine, the part I need, and they tell me the part number. I then place an order, and if it's over ten bucks, they take my credit card, and add tax plus shipping. The parts I ordered for my DA-88s arrived very quickly. I just placed an order for 688 parts.

They probably have a service manual for your 244. Is it worth 24 bucks? That's up to you. If you have enough experience to be able to figure most of that stuff on your own, maybe not. But if you need pictures and instructions, then it might be a good investment. Betcha the part numbers you need are also in that service manual.

Good luck!
 
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For a really detailed tutorial of the 244 teardown & belt replacement,...

see DrZEE's website. (Link off his username on this BBS).:eek:;)

I can't remember if he details replacing the FF/RW tires, but I think so,... (or I've had that memory emblazened in my brain).:eek:;)

PS:... IIRC, the belt for the 244/246 was 11.7" total length, with appx 1/4" width. The tires that seemed to work best were .56" OD, which would stretch a fair bit onto the wheels. DrZEE states that a generic rubber washer of similar dimensions would suffice for the FF/RW tires, in a pinch. That's a good tip, but Tascam Parts is really the best first stop for these items. Granted, there's hefty markup on the parts prices, but it's one-stop shopping!
 
As for disintegrating rubber, don't use anything other that isopropyl alcohol when trying to clean rubber.
Click to expand...

no-no-no-no

DO NOT use alcohol or any solvents on the rubber parts.

Pinch rollers love being cleaned up using window cleaner or dilute soapy water, or even just straight water.
 
contd...

You are right. Alcohol is not so good on rubber, but I've used it "in a pinch." :) The biggest problem with using alcohol on rollers is it tends to dry them out and glazes the surface. Below is what appears to be an authoritative article on cleaning rollers, head and guides:

http://www.kvglabs.com/PDF/cleaning_and_demagnetizing.pdf

I've used alcohol when it really doesn't matter anyway. When the roller is gone and I'm trying to get a few more days out of it. I have never destroyed a pinch roller by using IPA, but then again, I never made one much better for very long. I would not use IPA for rollers on a regular basis. My new Tascam pinch roller is on the way, so I don't much care about the one that's in the machine right now.

BELTS FOR THE 688

I bought some belts from Studio Sound Electronics. I got the big assortment bag ($9.95) and the big bag 'o belts ($2.99). They have two belts that work. My preference is the FBS8.4 ($1.25). The FBS8.0 ($1.25) also works, but seems a bit too tight. I worry about excessive force on the motor bearings. You can find the belts here:

http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/cassette.htm#BELT

Just search for FBS8.4, it's near the bottom.

As for the spring under the spindle cap, I found an assorted small spring kit at Tractor Supply ($4.29) that has some springs that work. They are a little stiffer than what came out of the Tascam, but seem to be close enough. If anyone has a better source, please let me know. Here's the link:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_51972_-1______?rFlag=true&cFlag=1

Placed my Studio Sound order late Friday night, got my stuff on Monday. Still waiting for my Tascam stuff. Will post again as my 688 repair saga unfolds.
 
supercool ely, keep us posted, especially those websites and partnumbers! Haven't got the time myself I;m afraid, so this is beautiful. CHeers
 
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