Tascam ATR60-16 Not Erasing!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter ron-e-g
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ron-e-g

ron-e-g

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I've posted about this problem previous. Actually the post started one way and quickly went another.:facepalm: Seems most of my post do that!:)

Anyway, I got sick over the Holidays so I lost contact.

Recap; I've discovered my ATR60-16 will not erase any tracks.
It does Record all tracks.
All lights function correctly upon entering and exiting record function.
When inputing a signal from the console oscillator and the recorders input is set to Sync. Tracks 1-8 do not register on Recorders meters when Rec/Ready button is engaged. Tracks 9-16 DO! Is that right?

Any Help or advice greatly appreciated. As I don't have any Techs anywhere close. I'm left to my own on this. :facepalm:
 
what did you do? Fish this thing out of the bay to have another go at it?
 
:laughings: Naw..figured this guy is just too nice to leave in the middle of the street. Dang! after I got the tape tracking sooo good to!

You got any ideas I might check or try? Must be something isolated as all tracks don't erase. And what about that meter registering thing that make any sense? (baiting the hook) :)
 
Last time I suggested you check the 24V power supply. It operates relays on the audio board that switches in the erase.
 
I couldn't find that. I thought you were going to look up something in your manual a few week-ends ago.;)
 
I did. You read your old thread?

Do you have a board extender for that machine?

There are only a couple of things that cause an erase problem on all 16 channels. One is the 24 volt supply on the audio boards to operate the erase relay. Another is the erase oscillator located on a different board.
 
Regarding the meters: are the meters connected using cables and are they in groups of 8, or are the connections all internal? If they are cable-connected I was wondering about cables being swapped. Or is this a new problem that *poof* just started one day?
 
And regarding the erasure, there should be test points on the amp cards to scope tone from the bias amps. Might very well need that board extender. But I'd check that first...see if the bias amps are putting out tone...then make sure the power supplies are all healthy...you did reseat any head connectors right?
 
mdainsd I do have the board extender. I remember looking for a 24V supply from the power amp. Seems it was actually a different voltage. I'll look again today. I removed the screws so I could pivot the deck-plate and all the transport workings up. This so I could see and follow the erase head wires. In an attempt to trace them to their source. I didn't complete that task yet.:p I studied the schematics and have found myself getting lost in the erase head trace that way.

sweetbeats Thanks for your response on this. As for the meters connection I'm not sure what you are asking (sometimes the simplest things elude me)!:D
As this is a fairly new machine to me. I didn't really take the time to completely check the functions before starting my restore, & calibrate process. I assumed they all worked. Bad call on my part! I'll need some advice where to test the cards or card. I did re-seat the heads including the erase.
 
TP-2 on the audio card for scoping rec bias (it looks like) and TP-3 & 4 on the same card for Erase.
 
What is your opinion on the meter issue. I'm not sure it is a issue, but it don't seem right, and this might be related.
 
You should be able to get at the backplane,(where all the R/P cards connect). There is a pin out in the manual for the backplane.You can scope the pins for erase bias,erase/record commands.Comparing 1-8 with 9-16 should resolve that.You should also be able to see whether the erase relay is getting the logic command to operate the erase relay and verify supply voltages.
 
If by "backplane" you mean Motherboard wkrbee. This is the schematic of it. Could you point out where and how I would make the necessary measurements that would be great!

File 2.webpFile 21.webp
 
For some reason I can't open the schematic.The schematic of the R/P card has the pinout on it.You would measure the +24 volts. The record and erase are"active low/true",i.e. when the pin is at ground or zero volts.that's what the bar over the command means. When the command is not true the voltage would be whatever the logic supply voltage is being used
 
Put your scope on the yellow connector on the motherboard numbered P3. Probe ground goes on pin 2 or 4. The tip of the probe goes on pin 1 for erase bias waveform and on pin 3 for record bias. There should be a high frequency signal on both of them anytime the machine is on (45Khz). this is where to start as it is right off of the erase/record oscillators. Report back.
 
wkrbee Thanks..now I'll have to go and try and decipher what you said!:D Is that how real technical people talk?:confused:

mdainsd Thanks I'll try and give-er a go... tomorrow.
 
yes, you found the correct plug. now hook it back up and probe from the back of the connector. Report back.
 
The ATR60-16 is nothing to do with a word processor- who comes up with such stupid comments.
The deck needs to be gone over by a Tape Deck Technician who understands this equipment. There are a number of things that can go wrong and they are all repairable. In my years of experience one of the reason I have seen that erase does not take place is that person using the deck rarely clean the erase heads off and that can be a very fast fix. Scrub with Denatured alcohol. Yes the head on the left does do something and now you are finding out what.
If a section of channels do not work or are missing a function it can be a control section issue as a power supply issue should affect all the channel in the entire deck- it does not pick out groups.
Where are you located? There are some Technicians still operating that were head people at the Teac Factory Service facilities in Chicago and New Jersey. There is a Video Technician that I know is good in LA, CA.
 
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