Tascam 388 Squealing Help

[cats&warriors]

Hi Everyone- I recently bought a 388 in pretty good shape, and sent it to Tascam in Montibello CA for a check-up. They replaced the belt and pinch roller, as well as brought everything up to spec. I got it back and it works fine for 5-10 min, but after pressing play and stop a few times, it all of a sudden starts squealing pretty loud. I think it is coming from the capstan but am not sure. I'm not sure if something needs to be lubricated, or if in the shipping back to me if something slipped. Not sure why it works though for 10 min, and then it makes that sound so loud the only way to get it to stop is to turn it off. After it is off for a while, and I turn it on, the squealing stops. But if I try to turn it back on right after the noise, it makes the squealing sound again. Please help me if you can. Thanks- Adam swalz1@hotmail.com

 

[Beck]

What kind of tape are you using; did you buy it used or new and how old is it?

 

[cats&warriors]

I am using new reels of RMGI LPR35. 1/4" X 1800FT.

 

[cats&warriors]

I've had the tape for 3 weeks. New stuff.

 

[cats&warriors]

Sorry if this is confusing, but it starts squealing when I hit stop. When the tape lifts off is when something makes the loud squealing sound. Sometimes I hit play and it stops the squealing. Not sure if that helps the diagnosis.

 

[Rhys9]

Its the belt...the pinch roller belt needs replacing.

Its the belt...the pinch roller belt needs replacing.

 

[cats&warriors]

When I got it back from Tascam yesterday, they taped my old belt and pinch roller to the top of the unit. I assume to show they replaced it. Could the belt be bad then? Or can it happen if the belt just needs to be broken in?

 

[cjacek]

It's hard to say. Either someone screwed up the service or it was damaged in shipping (if shipped of course). Could be something simple or complex. Sorry to have no solution but you're dealing with a complex mechanical / electrical machine and it could be a number of things.

 

[cats&warriors]

I took the back off, and cleaned the belt a little with rubber rejuvenator. The more I use it, the less it makes that noise. I know it is from the capstan, since when the noise is made, if I lightly touch the capstan the squeal changes pitch. Would anyone recommend lightly/carefully lubricating the base of the capstan? The belt is new and is aligned correctly. Thanks-Adam

 

[Beck]

Two most common things that will cause squealing of the capstan:

1. It needs to be oiled. There is an oil ring at the base of the shaft. You lift it up with a small screwdriver and put in a few drops of sewing machine or 3-in-one oil. The rub is you have to remove the inside panel that covers the the transport to get to it.

2. Thrust clearance: This involves getting to the underside of the capstan, beneath the flywheel. There are two allen screws that hold the capstan shaft within the flywheel. There needs to be a clearance of 0.1 – 0.3 mm between the base of the flywheel and the thrust plate beneath it. It could be rubbing.

Tascam Service should have checked all this.

 

[Hi_Flyer]

can new belts squeal sometimes? I know the new belts on our check sorters at work will squeal like a bitch for awhile until they break in...

 

[cjacek]

2. Thrust clearance: This involves getting to the underside of the capstan, beneath the flywheel. There are two allen screws that hold the capstan shaft within the flywheel. There needs to be a clearance of 0.1 – 0.3 mm between the base of the flywheel and the thrust plate beneath it. It could be rubbing.

I now recall a previous TASCAM 246, which I owned a couple of years back and you know that vinyl / plastic thing which protrudes from the middle of the flywheel? Well, the previous owner of that 246, rather than changing the belt by just slipping the belt off and unscrewing the bracket a bit, well, he tried to unscrew that vinyl thingie. He must have realized but never got it back to normal, actually tightened the thing a bit too much that it made that EXACT SAME SQUEALING SOUND as the the original poster's 388. I then, through trial and error, set it so that no more squealing was heard. All I'm saying is that you're right and it could very well be the thrust clearance and could it be that TASCAM service tried to get a belt on there but didn't do it right and tightened those allen screws too much? Very likely indeed.

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[cjacek]

can new belts squeal sometimes? I know the new belts on our check sorters at work will squeal like a bitch for awhile until they break in...

I doubt it. I changed the belt on my 388 and it was fine. I'd do as Tim (Beck) suggests.

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[cjacek]

something makes the loud squealing sound.

Adam, with the machine off, while you have the bottom off, try to temporarily slip the belt off of the flywheel and then, using your fingers, spin it [the flywheel] a couple of times. Does it rotate freely and easily without apparent friction or noise? It should spin very freely, smoothly and gradually come to a stop. Look and listen closely to what it does. This should give a better indicator if it's the flywheel or not.

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[cats&warriors]

Thanks for all your help guys. I was working a little on it today, and no squeaking noises. I'm waiting to see if I hear them soon, but when I do, I will turn it over and spin the wheel like you mentioned. I bet you are exactly right about the screw stuff. I was actually a little unimpressed with the tascam service. I wouldn't be surprised if the guy working on it did a mediocre job. I sent it in and after 4 weeks called to get a quote, thinking they just forgot to call me. They finally gave me the estimate, which I payed right then. Waited another 4 weeks to call then I could never get through to anyone when I called. When I did they told me it would be worked on and sent out the end of the week. I've never been one to get upset, just figured it would arrive soon, so I never said anything. I would just call to see if they sent it each week and I got the same response over and over. Weirdly enough it took me close to 3 months before I got it back. I wouldn't be surprised if they just were like get this out of here. I knew there were an issue or two from the previous owner, and instead of really trying it out, upon arrival just decided to leave it in the packaging and sent it to Montibello. I know there were fuses and lights out, which they replaced, but htey certainly didn't really clean it at all. I sure they set it up to spec, but they seemed a little unprofessional. Don't they like 388's any more?