Tascam 38 Reel Height Adjustment

[celluloid love]

So my Tascam 38 fell over in my car the other day, onto the hubs. Tape reels no longer fit properly onto the hubs (ie. they're rubbing against the front plate). Apparently I need to adjust the reel table height, I'm not really sure how to do this though. As far as I understand it has something to do with the 2 screws under the hubs.

Anyone know how to fix this?

thanks

 

[sweetbeats]

Here's some info from the Service Manual. Hope it helps!

 

[celluloid love]

Thanks for posting that for me...unfortunately it doesn't explain exactly what I have to do (but that may be because I'm stupid or am misunderstanding it).

I've tried loosening those screws but it doesn't appear to do anything. I don't understand what I have to do after the screws have been loosened. I guess what I'm saying is, I don't know what "moving the reel table on the motor shaft" means. Or maybe I do but it's not doing anything on my machine?

 

[M1Fanatic]

Sometimes they can be difficult to move after the screws are loosened. If yours fell over onto the reel tables they might be slightly jammed on the motor shafts.

The first thing you need to do is get them to move. After they're moving, them you can adjust them on the shafts to be level and at the correct height.

It ain't rocket science. It's just a large spool held to a motor shaft with two set screws.

 

[jjones1700]

I almost want to say (although I've never done it) that you could mount up an empty reel onto the reel table you are working with, and then gently pull (by putting your fingers through the triangular windage holes and grabbing the centermost portion of the reel, NOT THE OUTER PART OF THE FLANGES) the platter up a little bit that way. I would thing that the leverage from having a mounted reel on there to pull with might help it along.

Of course, it's just a theory.

Worst case scenario, make sure it's an empty reel you don't care about, just in case you do bend the flanges a little.

I had to adjust my table height on my 38, but it moved relatively easily. Just work with yours a bit and it should break free and move along the shaft.

 

[M1Fanatic]

Good idea.

 

[celluloid love]

I managed to get the actual reel table OFF the shaft, by taking off the washer and three screws holding it to the motor. Am I meant to be doing that? I just can't figure out how to actually adjust the thing. I'll give it a shot again tomorrow but I'm just not getting anywhere with it. Sorry, I know it's something simple but for whatever reason I can't grasp the exact things I'm supposed to be pulling or screwing.

 

[M1Fanatic]

All you're doing is adjusting the height to make sure the tape tracks properly across the heads.

The second task is to make sure the reels don't wobble like a top on the motor shaft using the set screws. Make both of these adjustments with tape spooled on the machine.

Make a preliminary adjustment by turning in the screws an equal amount until they grab the shaft securely. Place the deck in play and note any wobbling of the reels. Note where it is wobbling and stop the deck and adjust the appropriate screw(s) in or out to stop the wobbling.

Repeat as needed.

 

[sweetbeats]

All you're doing is adjusting the height to make sure the tape tracks properly across the heads.

I apologize for taking this on a tangent, but on a 38 (as well as many of the machines we discuss on this forum) setting the table heights is NOT for the purpose of getting the tape to track properly through the headblock; it is to make sure that the tape doesn't rub on the reel flanges.

The tape guides in the block are there to ensure that the tape tracks properly across the heads, then the tension arm roller heights make sure that the tape doesn't skew over the impedance or tach rollers as well as through the capstan and pinch roller during the different transport modes (i.e. PLAY, FFWD, REW) coming INTO those guides in the block, and then finally, once all that stuff is working right you set the table heights if the tape is rubbing on a flange. May need to go back and forth a time or two to get everything to cooperate if things are significantly out of adjustment. I'm talking specifically about the 38 in this paragraph but much of it applies in general to many decks.

 

[M1Fanatic]

Yeah, you're right. To make sure it's fed into the guides properly. Not across the heads. The guides take care of that aspect of operation.

 

[celluloid love]

I managed to get the right reel table (where the takeup reel goes) to come out a bit, but the one on the left won't budge. I cut my finger pretty badly twice trying to pull it off, I don't think it's going to move. It does come out very slightly but then it bounces back straight away. Here's a couple of pictures of where I'm at. Really not sure what to do next though, if someone can offer advice that'd be great. I'd really love it if I didn't have to take it to a tech just for something as simple as this.

Right table

Left table

Left hub with the actual table taken off

 

[analogkid]

I hate to even say it - but have you considered a gear puller? Kind of drastic I know - Sweetbeats could that approach cause damage?


AK

 

[sweetbeats]

1. The reason it pulls out a little bit and then goes back is because there are two cupped washers in the motor to keep tension on the assembly...makes it a little springy.

2. So let me get this straight...you have lossened the set screws? If so then what's happened is that the screws that were tight on the shaft burred up the shaft when the table assembly got dislocated. Its just gonna be tight to get off.

3. Puller...this would be okay, you'd just want to be careful and proceed slowly. The hub is aluminum and will just get scored up a bit coming off. Because it is aluminum though it should keep coming fine once you get started. Most pullers have a large hex nut at the end of the threaded shaft and typically once you get the puller on there you can turn that shaft by hand and if you can do that my opinion is that you aren't damaging anything. Stay away from having to tap/pound/beat on anything. Motor shafts are surprisingly susceptible to getting bent. Using a puller is not an impact action so its good. Gear puller, steering wheel puller...just go to your local auto parts store.

 

[celluloid love]

Thanks a lot for the help sweetbeats. I'll get ahold of a puller and let you know how I go.

 

[sweetbeats]

Also, and I hate to say it, but you're going to have to carefully try to straighten out that brake band. They don't work well if they're kinked up like that.

 

[celluloid love]

Really? It was totally fine before I got my stupid hands in there and tried to pull off the reel table. Fuck...so are those easy to replace? It's pretty difficult to straighten them out once they're bent, unless you know a way.

 

[celluloid love]

Also what do you think of just opening up the machine more and actually removing the motor itself? Any point in doing that over getting a gear puller?

 

[sweetbeats]

They are easy to replace (just look and see where it screws on), and they CAN be repaired. They are never like new but its kind of like trying to take the creases out of a piece of paper...the same kind of task. If you can get it straightened up enough it will work. When its all kinked up like that it won't sit on the brake felt right and/or will drag when the brake is supposed to be released. You'd have to check with Tascam to see if they have any in stock.

You can't remove the motor with the hub on the shaft...won't fit through the hole in the deck plate. Gotta pull the hub with the motor installed.

 

[celluloid love]

Ok thanks to you guys for the gear puller suggestion - I think it worked!

It was difficult as hell to get the damn thing to move but with some patience it came out enough to work. The two tables aren't at the exact same height (it's really difficult to do!) so on the takeup reel the tape isn't sitting in the middle, but rather on the edge of the reel - is this ok? Am I going to have problems or should I just try to adjust it as precisely as possible? It was just so tough I said screw it and put everything back together. Thoughts?