Tascam 388 transport and alignment problem(maybe ? )

[frcake]

Hey guys!

I finally found the Tascam 388 , for 500 euros in what seems like a near mint visual state, its about to be decided what goes for the functional state!

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I started with an easy to fix problem. My tape did not rewind! , so i fixed the height of the left swing arm and now ti works!
If the Capstan motor hasn't run for long it makes a gittery sound as it recalibrates its height but it works!

Now one thing that seems fine to me but i'd surely like some opinions are the heads

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And for last , my main problem .
My tascam lays tape from one reel to the other in a pretty rubish way!

Ive had experience with studer machines and although i don't expect the same result , i think that it's so bad that it represents a problem.

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also when i record to channel 1 , i have a periodic volume variation ...


Thank you in advance

 

[sweetbeats]

First of all, greetings.

Secondly, please clean your tape path. That's #1. Your guides and lifters are caked with what appears to be old sticky-shed residue.

The channel 1 volume variation is probably because the tape is wandering in the tape path.

Something is not right with your tape path...the tape pack does indeed look like rubbish. I think you need to take care of that problem first and then the volume variation might be fixed as well.

If I recall correctly the tape guides in the headblock are fixed...no adjustment there, but whatever is causing the sloppy tape pack could also be skewing the tape as it passes over the heads. A capstan shaft that is not right can pull the tape up and down...if the pinch roller pressure is too high or the pinch roller needs replaced...bent tension arm...bent reel table or real motor shaft...overall tape tension too high OR too low...these are all factors that can contribute to a poor tape pack.

Do you have the service manual? Because your first step is to go through all the mechanical and electrical adjustments for the transport in order as they are presented in the manual.

And look closely to see if your reel tables wobble at all. Get a good carpenter's or machinist's square and check to make sure the tension arm rollers are vertical side-to-side and front-to-back...those assemblies are unfortunately too easy to bend out of alignment on the 388 and other machines (20, 30 and 40 series machines for instance).

And the capstan...I'm curious and concerned about your comment about the jittery sound as it calibrates its height...no...that should not be happening. Something is wrong with the capstan shaft and/or the pinch roller. When you press PLAY there should very simple and direct movement of the tape and no changes in the height of the capstan shaft. Can you post a picture of your pinch roller and a video of the capstan shaft when you engage PLAY mode?

 

[frcake]

Thank sooo much for taking the time to answer!

The jittery sound comes from the left swing arm an not from the capstan, but if i leave the machine on for a bit i think it gets better..

Ill surely take a very detailed video *after* i clean my tape path, so we can discuss about it!

Thanks again, see you soon!

 

[frcake]

Ok i did the job! , cleaned the heads , I also got photos of the swing arm position in the 4 states and got a video too

ok

Stop:


Play


FF


RW



the video is on its way!

 

[frcake]

First of all, greetings.

Secondly, please clean your tape path. That's #1. Your guides and lifters are caked with what appears to be old sticky-shed residue.

The channel 1 volume variation is probably because the tape is wandering in the tape path.

Something is not right with your tape path...the tape pack does indeed look like rubbish. I think you need to take care of that problem first and then the volume variation might be fixed as well.

If I recall correctly the tape guides in the headblock are fixed...no adjustment there, but whatever is causing the sloppy tape pack could also be skewing the tape as it passes over the heads. A capstan shaft that is not right can pull the tape up and down...if the pinch roller pressure is too high or the pinch roller needs replaced...bent tension arm...bent reel table or real motor shaft...overall tape tension too high OR too low...these are all factors that can contribute to a poor tape pack.

Do you have the service manual? Because your first step is to go through all the mechanical and electrical adjustments for the transport in order as they are presented in the manual.

And look closely to see if your reel tables wobble at all. Get a good carpenter's or machinist's square and check to make sure the tension arm rollers are vertical side-to-side and front-to-back...those assemblies are unfortunately too easy to bend out of alignment on the 388 and other machines (20, 30 and 40 series machines for instance).

And the capstan...I'm curious and concerned about your comment about the jittery sound as it calibrates its height...no...that should not be happening. Something is wrong with the capstan shaft and/or the pinch roller. When you press PLAY there should very simple and direct movement of the tape and no changes in the height of the capstan shaft. Can you post a picture of your pinch roller and a video of the capstan shaft when you engage PLAY mode?

https://goo.gl/photos/TxT3nVpAbKpMzvEcA

Mr sweetbeats , are you able to see that video?

 

[sweetbeats]

Yes.

I think you're going to have a hard time getting a good tape packs with that type of tape on fast wind. I think you are simply having float issues...the reel and tape are moving fast and air gets in between the layers as its winding and the tape shifts around. What happens if you use the spool wind mode?

Your pinch roller looks shot. If I'm correct, all bets are off getting even consistent record and reproduce performance on all tracks until it is replaced.

Also, clean the entire tape path...the impedance and counter rollers (the big roller to the left of the headblock assembly, and the one to the right of the capstan shaft) look soiled.

 

[frcake]

Yes.

I think you're going to have a hard time getting a good tape packs with that type of tape on fast wind. I think you are simply having float issues...the reel and tape are moving fast and air gets in between the layers as its winding and the tape shifts around. What happens if you use the spool wind mode?

Your pinch roller looks shot. If I'm correct, all bets are off getting even consistent record and reproduce performance on all tracks until it is replaced.

Also, clean the entire tape path...the impedance and counter rollers (the big roller to the left of the headblock assembly, and the one to the right of the capstan shaft) look soiled.

umm by shot you mean broken? nothing is broken :O , or shot doesn't mean broken...

Im currently searching for the material to use to clean the rollers , they don't sell them here in Greece so im looking for a substitute for rubber!

Ill get back asap!

 

[sweetbeats]

Use denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol (at least 91% strength) to clean the impedance and counter rollers.

By "shot" I mean needs replaced. It appears to be hardened and dessicated. No amount of rubber cleaner or restore is going to fix it. You need to purchase new or have it re-rubbered.

 

[frcake]

Use denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol (at least 91% strength) to clean the impedance and counter rollers.

By "shot" I mean needs replaced. It appears to be hardened and dessicated. No amount of rubber cleaner or restore is going to fix it. You need to purchase new or have it re-rubbered.

Hmm actually rubbers feel 'rubbery' but you might also be correct, ill look into that, till then im buying the alcohol an ill come back with results!

Thanks soo much!!!

 

[sweetbeats]

In the video the pinch roller appears to have light colored patches on it. It's your machine and I can't feel what you feel. If the roller feels rubbery that's good...it just looks bad in the video.