Tascam MS16 tension adjustment help

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fgonza2

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Hi, i am in the process of restoring an MS16 recorder. I am at the point where i am adjusting tension. The procedure is not very clear as it is on the TSR8 manual for example. Where you actually hold the reels and measure tension, so i have the following questions:

1. Is the tension adjustment for playback and fast winding done with the tape on movement or holding one of the reels ?
2. The value for playback is 210-230g according to the manual, are there suggested values for FF, RW, etc ?

As a separate issue, i am trying to adjust the right guide height, but the screw is all way in, not enough to stop the tape curling in its totality. Should i readjust the reel table height. ?

thanks a lot. Value your opinions, to get this baby running.
 
fgonza2,
Adjusting the tension on the MS16 is somewhat involved. All the values are in the manual. Are you having a tension problem ? If not I wouldn't mess with it. In regard to the tape guides only the center guide is adjustable. The outer guides are fixed. Perhaps you mean the rollers ? They are adjustable up and down. You shouldn't have to adjust anything "all" the way in unless something is really wrong. You can check the reel height first to see if that is out of spec. Regards, Dave
 
yes, i am following the values on the manual which calls for 210g with a tentelometer. can a worn pinch roller cause the tape curling ? i find that changing the right tape guide height has no effect on the curling - after adjusting the reel table height.. I also noticed that the pinch roller is "fatter" in the center, could that be the reason of why the tape curling can be cured with the tension roller height adjustment ?

thanks
 
Are you talking about tape curling on the heads - as in tape is not making full contact across the heads ? If the tape is running in the middle of the headstack, you should have adequate adjustment in the guides. Make sure that the tape is tracking as close as possible in the center of the heads with even pressure.

Use a grease pencil (China marker) to determine that by marking up the sync head top to bottom, pull the tape tight by hand and press play for about 30 to 60 seconds. There should be even removal of the pencil marks and the tape should track at same position at top and bottom. There should be no riding up or down- IOW, the tape should track the same height with no wobble - precisely.

A MS-16 is a rock solid machine. You will get her lined up. Otoh, if the pinch roller is not new, you are wasting your time. Have that rebuilt from the gitgo.
 
hilltop studios said:
fgonza2,
Adjusting the tension on the MS16 is somewhat involved. All the values are in the manual. Are you having a tension problem ? If not I wouldn't mess with it. In regard to the tape guides only the center guide is adjustable. The outer guides are fixed. Perhaps you mean the rollers ? They are adjustable up and down. You shouldn't have to adjust anything "all" the way in unless something is really wrong. You can check the reel height first to see if that is out of spec. Regards, Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave,

Did you get your meter bridge done ? Pictures please.

Danny
 
the curling is on the fixed tape guide on the right, the last one. THe heads are making good contact. I sent the pinch roller to Terry for rerubbering. Then i'll try again, heads seems to be well aligned at this point.
 
After Terry does the p. roller,you will notice that it is flat instead of barrel shaped.You will have to do the"fine tape path adjustment" procedure in the manual.Tedious and time consuming,especally if you have to go the the local hobby store for shim stock.The tension rollers can be rotated up and down for very minor tape height adjustment,but the left and right side interact-adjusting the right tension arm height will affect the left side height to a lesser degree.If the tape scrapes on the reel flanges, the the reel table height is not setup.Best way to check the tape path is to "rock" the tape back and forth with the FFD and RWD buttons,observing the tape movement when it changes direction.When the tape does not move up or down when it changes directions-your done.
 
thanks for the guidance, i wil try the RW, FW to track tape movement. Hopefully i dont need to do the capstan azimuth adjustment. Where do i get those shims if need them ? thx
 
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