TASCAM 244 / 246 pinch roller change

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cjacek

cjacek

Analogue Enthusiast
Has anyone, successfully, changed the pinch roller on those things and how much of a pain is it, when one has the service manual, to actually make it happen? Are we talkin' major disassembly with hair pulling stress here? :confused: :eek:
 
It’s not too bad. I changed the one on my 246 and I didn’t have the service manual at the time. It comes as an assembly, so you get the arm and everything together. It’s been a while, but if I remember right you only have to remove the plastic headblock cover and open the lid to get to everything.

There is a snap-ring on a shaft holding the assembly in place. The only tricky part (if there is one) is making sure the spring is resting in the right place as you slip the assembly on.
 
Aha, so everything's done from the top-front ... That's good! BTW, which tool is used to take out the pinch roller assembly? [Any other tool recommendations?] Thanks Tim! :)
 
cjacek said:
BTW, which tool is used to take out the pinch roller assembly?
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Thumb and forefinger. :D

I use a small jeweler's screwdriver to remove the snap-ring... very slowly and carefully lest it fly off and disappear into some opening where you can't get it back. You could use a snap-ring remover, but that would take much of the excitement out of the repair. This is where one actually sees evidence of the spirit world, so try to look on the bright side. After all, you’ve momentarily crossed over to the other side where repair demons manifest themselves. Some people go to a lot of trouble seeking the counsel of mediums and going through costly séances and stuff to see the things we see during basic repair and maintenance. :p

Maybe snap-rings were designed to zing out of control and lodge in inaccessible places. The idea to use them to hold things in place was probably an afterthought, but there is still something about them science can’t explain. ;)

Anyway, once the snap-ring is off just lift the pinch roller assembly straight up while being mindful of where the spring was resting so you can get the replacement back with the right tension.

:)
 
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