Tascam 488 mk II tape transport not working

[Stu02]

Hi, first post here, hope someone can help me!

When I turn on my 488 mkII, there is a disconcerting whirring noise coming from the tape transport and then the play/pause/record button lights all light up and started flashing. It cannot perform any tape operations.

I have opened it up and checked the capstan belt - it is intact, but could of course be stretched and slipping, but I wanted to make sure this is the problem before I order a new belt. Would the unit make this horrible whirring noise if it is just the belt, or is it a different problem causing this (eg a motor?).

Can anyone help with this? Thanks!

 

[A Reel Person]

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The head is driven up/down by a motor and a gear. I've read here where the gear breaks or loses teeth. If the head can't drive down to it's lower-most station (home position) at power up, the entire recorder won't initialize properly or work any further. From the description of it giving a whining noise at power up, I'd assume this to be the cause. I've read that this gear is a common point of failure & not expensive or difficult to replace. You may find more detailed info by searching this site.

 

[Stu02]

Many thanks A Reel Person, that could be it, will look into that!

 

[A Reel Person]

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Maybe it got bumped or jammed into a position & won't move (and maybe isn't broken).

Was this unit shipped or just sitting unused for a while?

 

[Stu02]

It has been sitting in my studio, i've just been using the mixer for ages, not used the tape transport for some time. I had just started a new project using the tape recorder - it worked fine for a day or so, then stopped working mid-operation.

 

[A Reel Person]

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If you're lucky it's just jammed and not broken. You really don't know until you get inside & look around.

 

[thunderstation]

I have a 488 - the original not the mkll -I don't think it's the belt. usually when they go the tape slows up & down because it's slipping. the whirring noise most probably is the captain motor - . - the idea of teeth missing that sweet beets referred to sounds very logical and might account for all the lights lighting up as if it's jammed.