Tascam 22-2

[themaddog]

Hi,
I just got a Tascam 22-2 off of eBay that the seller said was in excellent condition. Of course, I got the thing and there is a major problem with it! On playback at 7.5 ips, the speed is not constant and starts to slow down. It doesn't playback properly at 15 ips at all, it plays much slower than at 7.5 ips. However, the rewind and fast forward work flawlessly.

Any ideas? The guy offered to refund me $30. I've been trying to get in contact with an electonics repair shop nearby. Does anyone know of any honest repair shops in the Boston area?

Thanks for any and all help,
-MD

 

[Herm]

How old is your tape? It could be so old and sticky that it is dragging on the heads. Check and see how much tape build up there is on the heads.
Sorry if you have already done this, Just not sure how much exsperince you have with reel to reels.
I have three of these and they are great little recorders when working.

 

[themaddog]

The tape was recorded on this summer. I bought it new about a month before it was recorded on, so I know the tape should be fine. Also, the machine shouldn't be playing 15 ips slower than its 7.5 ips, so it's gotta be something with the machine.

-MD

 

[FALKEN]

what a fugger.

 

[A Reel Person]

When something like this happens,...

it's usually the capstan belt that's shot.

(Given the assumption it's absolutely not the tape).

 

[themaddog]

I opened up the machine, after reading about capstan belts elsewhere on the forumn (thanks again Reel Person). As best I can tell, there is no belt on the machine. I think it only playsback for a short time because I'm coming right out of fast forward. Otherwise, it doesn't really play back at all. There is a belt on this model machine, right? It is a Tascam 22-2.

Thanks,
-MD

 

[Beck]

I opened up the machine, after reading about capstan belts elsewhere on the forumn (thanks again Reel Person). As best I can tell, there is no belt on the machine. I think it only playsback for a short time because I'm coming right out of fast forward. Otherwise, it doesn't really play back at all. There is a belt on this model machine, right? It is a Tascam 22-2.

Thanks,
-MD

Yes, it does have a capstan belt. You have to take the front panel off to access it. Tascam parts still has the belt in stock last time I looked - Part # 5534468000. Measures 382mm X 8.0mm X 1.0mm. Same for the 22-4, 32, 34B and many TEAC X-series.

-Tim

 

[cjacek]

Sounds like the capstan belt alright ..

~Daniel

 

[themaddog]

Hi everyone,
I opened up the front and ran tape through the machine to watch what was happening. It definitely is the capstan belt because I can see it coming loose when I put it into high speed, which stretches it out more than usual and causes it to slow down to a stop.

Thanks to everyone for all of your help and advice. Does anyone have any suggestions for removing and replacing the belt? I just ordered the part from Tascam, I couldn't find any electronics store around here that carried capstan belts, let alone know what one was, he he.

Thanks!
-MD

 

[A Reel Person]

I haven't looked at the guts of the 22-2, so take this FWIW.

On the 38, once you've removed the front panel, you can view the mechanics and belt. There's a mounting plate that the heads are attached to. There's about 4-5 screws that hold this mounting plate onto the chassis. Removing that mounting plate that the heads are attached to gives you free access to the belt. The heads remain attached to the plate, so it doesn't affect head alignment.

I'd have to assume the 22-2 is a smaller version of what I described on the 38. Give it a look, or post some pics if you can. Maybe someone with first hand knowledge of the 22-2 belt will come along.

 

[themaddog]

It is just as you described, except there is a spring attached to the top that I can't seem to remove. This spring engages the pinch roller when play is pushed, bringing up the whole mechanism. Once I remove the screws, I just have to figure out how to get that spring out of there. If I can take a picture of what I mean in the next few days I will.

On a side note about the 22-2, I guess it uses the same belt as the 38, but not the same belt as the 388. I would have thought it would have been compatible with the 388 since they're both 1/4", but apparently they're not. Otherwise, I would have taken the belt from a broken 388 that I have.

Thanks for everyone's help so far,
-MD

 

[A Reel Person]

Dang, I forgot,... what's wrong with your 388??

...............

 

[A Reel Person]

Other general advice:...

Work around or partially remove anything that's difficult to remove completely.

 

[Beck]

It is just as you described, except there is a spring attached to the top that I can't seem to remove. This spring engages the pinch roller when play is pushed, bringing up the whole mechanism. Once I remove the screws, I just have to figure out how to get that spring out of there. If I can take a picture of what I mean in the next few days I will.

On a side note about the 22-2, I guess it uses the same belt as the 38, but not the same belt as the 388. I would have thought it would have been compatible with the 388 since they're both 1/4", but apparently they're not. Otherwise, I would have taken the belt from a broken 388 that I have.

Thanks for everyone's help so far,
-MD

MD,

The following is the official Tascam way:

Now that you have the front panel off you must also remove the back, which I think you may have already done. To replace the belt you need to pull the capstan out through the back.

1. First slide the aluminum ring and rubber washer off the front of the capstan, so they won't roll away when the capstan is pulled in.

2. From the back, remove the two screws in a bracket that that hold the capstan flywheel in place.

3. After removing the screws, pull the flywheel back and out.

4. Now you can lower the belt from the top front and slide the capstan back into place with the belt around it.

5. The other side of the belt slips over the motor pulley, but it's a tight squeeze between it and the head assembly plate. Loosen, but don't remove the four screws holding the front head assembly for easier access.

You can also take the entire head assembly off as Reel described. But on the 22-2 it's a royal pain because of the solenoid (attached with the heavy spring). Trying to align the capstan (which now has tension from the new belt) and the solenoid plunger at the same time will have you speaking in strange tongues before it's all over. If you try to take the solenoid off (two screws) the two delicate wires attached to it will likely twist off at the solder point, which you will have to solder back on. Yeah, I've done that.

-Tim

 

[Beck]

I was looking over my previous post and realized I forgot to mention something very important. Another reason you don't want to remove the solenoid (thing with spring on it) is that the hold-down screws are also the adjustment screws for the pinch roller. If you just simply remove them you will need a spring scale to readjust the pinch roller-to-capstan tension -- one of the more critical settings on a tape deck.

-Tim

 

[A Reel Person]

Good point, Beck,...

but if he marks the original position of the solenoid with marker, then it's very easy to drop it back in without adjustment. I've done similar maintenance, and that's exactly what I did. It's a no-brainer.

 

[Beck]

but if he marks the original position of the solenoid with marker, then it's very easy to drop it back in without adjustment. I've done similar maintenance, and that's exactly what I did. It's a no-brainer.

Quite true, generally speaking. But you would need an ultra fine tip marker for the 22-2 because that particular adjustment changes by hairs -- hardly any movement at all between one side of the hole and the other. If that wasn't bad enough the screw has a washer on it that doesn't fit the screw shaft tightly. Too many things movin' around. You could mark a line down the side of the solenoid itself, but with a standard marker one side of the line to the other is a huge difference. That's why I personally wouldn't touch it without a spring scale. The adjustment range is between 1.8 kg and 2.2 kg -- not much to work with.

I've done a few of these -- two 22-2s, a TEAC X3 and a Realistic TR-3000. The first time I replaced the belt from the front, which seemed reasonable at the time. After I grabbed the service manual for a song on ebay some time ago I did the others by pulling the flywheel out from behind. Really a breeze compared to what made sense before. I agree it's counterintuitive to open up the back to sevice something you can only see from the front, but that's how Tascam/Teac does it.

 

[themaddog]

Thanks for the advice about trying it through the back. I was afraid about taking that spring off, not too mention I couldn't get it to budge. As for my 388, the first one I bought from eBay arrived broken. There was a nice dent in the back where the cards and inputs are. It was insured by UPS, but they wouldn't pay because they said the seller didn't pack it properly. The seller wouldn't pay either. When I threatened some sort of legal action, he outright threatened me, so I figured I'd just keep this one (which I got really cheap, now I know why) for spare parts. It's already come in handy once with a missing knob or two on my new one, which I bought locally.

As soon as I get the belt, I'll let you all know how it went. Thanks again everyone!
-MD

 

[A Reel Person]

...It was insured by UPS, but they wouldn't pay because they said the seller didn't pack it properly.

That's typical!!

...The seller wouldn't pay either. When I threatened some sort of legal action, he outright threatened me...

That sucks, outright!!

...so I figured I'd just keep this one (which I got really cheap, now I know why) for spare parts. It's already come in handy...

Well, that's some consolation!!

...my new one, which I bought locally.

Smart move!!

...As soon as I get the belt, I'll let you all know how it went.

I think we discussed this earlier,... the 388's belt is accessed from the bottom.

...Thanks again everyone!...

Thank you!... & good luck!!/DA

 

[Beck]

Thanks for the advice about trying it through the back. I was afraid about taking that spring off, not too mention I couldn't get it to budge.

-MD

You're welcome. I was afraid I wouldn't get my long-winded explanation posted in time. I hope all goes well.

-Tim