Tascam 38 Need help to replace Capstan Belt

[johnbilben]

Hey guys,

Well it seems as if the capstan belt on my 38 is shot. I found this out because when my machine is all spooled up with tape and i press play it just clicks as if i pressed stop. so i took the tape off and checked to see if the capstan shaft was spinning in play mode when i held the tension arms up and the capstan shaft was totally still, bringing to my attention that the belt is not doing what it needs to do. i know its not the motor the works the capstan because i DO hear a motor when i lift the tensions arms.

So, ANY help on replacing the capstan belt would be the best thing in the world. thanks alot

 

[stevevdb]

hi

First of all: unplug the machine for the power!!!!!

Ready to do a bit of unscrewing?

Step 1:
removal of all the screws that are on front of the machine: you need a special screwdriver to do that. Nr of screws: 8 pieces.

Step 2:
removal of the plastic cover on the digital counter: you need a special screwdriver to do that. Nr of screws: 2 pieces.

Step 3:
Removel of the tape rollers.
First is the small tape glider on the left. Just unscrew the plastic top by hand. The tape roller can now be removed. Make shure that you don't lose any of the copper rings!!!!!
Second is the big tape glider: unscrew the plastic cover by hand. The roller can now be removed. Make shure that you don't lose any of the copper rings!!!!
Third: removal of the pinch roller: unscrew the plastic cover, take out the pinch roller and also the metal roller under the pinch roller
Fourth: repeat the first step but on the right side (small tape glider). Don't lose the copper ring!!!!

Step 4:
removal of the pinch control knob. First set the pitch control to on (lift up the know). Turn it completely to one side so the little whole is visible. Inside it also a little screw. Unscrew it slightly so you can lift up the knob.
Now one more screw. Just around the potentiometer of the pitch control know is a plastic ring. You will see two edges where you can put a something in to unscrew it.

Step 5: put the machine on his backside.
On the edges of the front cover you will see 2 or 3 screws. Unscrew them.
Now the front can be lifted. When you lift the cover: be carefull. You have the disconnect the cables inside the cover for their socket.
Once disconnected: there is the inside.

Step 6:
Go the headblock.
Unscrew the four screw of the headblock.
Lift up the headblock a bit (start lifting it from the bottom). You can now remove the worn out belt and replace it by a new one.

Step 7: putting back the headblock.
Headblock: be shure that the headblock is firmly in place. The two wholes on the right side of the headblock should be in the correct position (you will see that they have adges and they have to fit exactly on the screwholes.

Step 8: putting back the rest of the machine.
Be carefull and don't loose any screws!

Good luck with this one. You can do it but you have to be carefull and patient.

 

[Herm]

Take the bottom screws off of the face plate first. start with the machine on its back.
Also it doesnt take a screwdriver to take the face plate off, It takes metric hex wrenches. You might as well get a whole set of those cause it takes at least two sizes maybe 3. also You will need a pair of needle nose pliers to take a nut off that is under the speed control knob.
And dont get to shook if you loose one of those little washers under the rollers. They are not that big of deal.
Also if you put the machine on its back you dont need to disconnect the face plate control plug. Just hang it off of the left take up reel if the machine is on the edge of the table.
I dont like disconecting stuff unless you really need to.

 

[stevevdb]

Take the bottom screws off of the face plate first. start with the machine on its back.
Also it doesnt take a screwdriver to take the face plate off, It takes metric hex wrenches. You might as well get a whole set of those cause it takes at least two sizes maybe 3. also You will need a pair of needle nose pliers to take a nut off that is under the speed control knob.
And dont get to shook if you loose one of those little washers under the rollers. They are not that big of deal.
Also if you put the machine on its back you dont need to disconnect the face plate control plug. Just hang it off of the left take up reel if the machine is on the edge of the table.
I dont like disconecting stuff unless you really need to.

thanks for adding some comment, didn't know all the correct english words (i'm dutch speaking )

Replaced my capstanbelt yesterday and oh boy, what a machine! Bought my tascam 38 for 50 us dollars but it was a real disaster. Capstanbelt wasn't ok, the pinch roller was melted rubber, the interconnect pcb inside wasn't ok, the motherboard on the back of the machine had some bad parts...

Now, in working order and really ok now.

I don't understand why brands use the capstan belt. Revox never used a capstan belt inside their machines, and therefore you never have problems with the capstan.