Tascam TSR-8 help: Replacing Capstan Belt

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ChouxGazer

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Hello!

I purchased a Tascam TSR-8 from a friend about a year ago. I've been using it in conjunction with the Tascam M-216 board and it has been great.

Anyway, about a month ago it stopped working. I took it apart and realized that the capstan belt had slipped off. I put it back on, it worked for 2 weeks and happened again. Then again. Now the belt has got a little bend/nick in it. I ordered a replacement and just got it in. Now I am trying to figure out the least intrusive way to get in so I can run the belt around the drive, since it seems like the whole drive peice needs to come out. From the front and take out EVERYTHING or is there an easier way?

Also, is there any way to help prevent the slippage in the future or should the new belt take care of that problem?

Any help would be very, very appreciated!
Thanks!
~e
 
I've never actually done this, and the maintenance manual doesn't go into details, but I think the only way it can be done is by removing the front.
Years ago I did remove the tape lifter assembly which is much the same thing.

First, with the front off, you should then see something like this:
http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/tape/?action=view&current=tsr8_naked.png
(I put the rollers back on it in this picture - they have to be removed first to get the faceplate off.)

I think what you do is remove the plate which the heads are attached to - there's about 4 screws and the whole thing comes out as a unit.
Then you remove the assembly beneath, which is what the capstan itself is attached to. This comes out, and at that point the belt will fall off. How you get it back on, I can't quite remember :rolleyes:
 
I put a new capstan belt on my TSR-8 about 6 months ago, you have to take the front plate off like JPM says. Apart from that it's not too hard to do

Putting the old belt back is no good because it has stretched too much!!!! It will just fall off again!!!!
 
Thanks!

Thanks for your help JPM & TD! I'm gonna go ahead and go for it.
Thanks again! I appreciate it! I'll let you know how it turns out.
~e
 
Tascam TSR-8 - replacing capstan drive belt - help needed please!!

Hi ~e, I've just purchased a Tascam TSR-8 and have replaced the pinch roller which had deteriorated. I now need to replace the stretched capstan belt to finish the job and get the unit working perfectly. Unfortunately I've been unable to find a definitive description of removing the plate that the heads are attached to - it seems the counter spindle (left) and the tape guide spindle (right) need to be removed (as well as the four screws, one in each corner) before the plate can be pulled forward enough to exchange belts. The spindles are smooth and therefore impossible to unscrew, so there must be a different way of detaching them, perhaps from the back side? Any tips you can offer will be gratefully received! Thanks, Graham
 
were you able to remove the front cover completely ? if you have the manual, you can look at the blueprint of tha assembly and go with that. I have two of these machines, i can check tonight. I dont remember it being super hard.
 
The pinch roller comes off, and the two tension arms. If those are the ones giving you grief, what you have to do is unscrew the caps, as with the pinch roller. Then they should just slide off.
You will also need to remove the head cover, which has two allen bolts holding it down, and then just remove the fixing screws around the side to get the front off.

That should get you something like this:
https://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k216/tapewolf/tape/tsr8_naked.png

(In the picture I put the rollers and spool back on for some reason, I was running it with the cover off, but I forget why now...)

...after that, it may just be a matter of removing those four screws holding the base plate down (two by the pinch roller, two by the counter roller). If not, you may need to remove the head assembly, which again is held in place with four corner screws.

It's been a while now.

EDIT: And it looks like I posted that picture already. Sorry, force of habit :P
 
Thanks for your prompt reply - yes - front cover is completely off (haven't removed the transport controls or LED meters etc). I've just had a look at the manual and the two spindles (numbered 24 and 39) do appear to just unscrew from the brass hexagonal spacers (numbered 65) which look like they should stay put. I'm sure if I could just get these spindles turning, the job will be easy. Not sure what to use to grip them without damaging the smooth surface. Maybe rubber-faced pliers? Regards graham
 
Hi jpm, I tried removing the four screws securing the plate which holds the head assembly, but there's not an ounce of movement to be had, because of the spindles (as far as I can see). If I can just remove the spindles all should be well. Looking for rubber-faced pliers now...
 
I'm not convinced you need to remove those.

EDIT: Actually you could be right. I'm sure I managed to get down that far without needing it, though...

EDIT EDIT: Yeah, I'm being stupid - I'm thinking of how the TASCAM 32 belt is changed. I can't imagine why they made it harder in the TSR-8...
 
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Thanks jpm - I was hoping you were going to say that (without being prompted!) - I agree it seems a retrograde step to make a simple task much more difficult. Now where did I put those pliers? I'll complete the thread (with good news hopefully) once I've had a go at removing those suckers.
Cheers graham
 
Okay,the holding screws for the counter roller and the tension roller are accessed from the back of the machine, not the front. If you do have the manual, look at page 14-1, which explains how to align it after the roller has been replaced. It does seem to want some kind of doodad to adjust the slant, but you may be able to jury-rig something to do this.

I'm still irked that replacing the belt is not covered in the TSR-8 service manual.
 
Belt change complete! Thanks for everyone's help, esp. jpm. I am also irked that details for changing the belt are not included in the service manual so, now that it's done, I thought it would be a good idea to post a definitive guide to replacing the capstan drive belt on a Tascam TSR-8 - might save others a major headache!
Place the deck flat on its back and remove the left and right tape tension guides by unscrewing their respective caps and lifting them off (watch out for washers). Using an allen key, remove the 6 screws and lift off the front cover panel. Using the same allen key, remove the head assembly cover (two screws). Now unscrew and remove the timing roller, pinch roller and tape guide roller in the same way as for the tape tension guides - again watch out for washers and a spring. Remove the small circuit board (LHS) which is part of the timing roller assembly (2 screws) and place out of the way. Next, remove the 4 screws (1 in each corner) of the plate holding the head assembly. Remove the two shiny spindles (which supported the timing roller and tape guide roller prior to their removal) - this is best achieved by putting a layer of electricians tape round the wider part at the base of each spindle and loosening with mole grips. In my experience, these undid easily, but be aware that there is just a chance that the hexagonal brass spacer beneath the plate could start rotating instead - if this should happen, hold it securely with long-nosed pliers as you undo the spindle. Next, undo the three screws securing the BLACK plate which supports the heads and wiring loom to reveal a screw holding a spring affair - this screw needs to be removed (CARE! - it has a washer and spacer). Make a mental note of the appearance of this spring in case it falls out (as mine did! - easily replaced though) - I used a piece of wire tie to take the place of the screw just to keep it all together while the screw was out. I also removed the two screws holding the pinch roller piston (on the RHS) to make things easier. Now you should be able to lift the plate straight up (care - the flywheel is heavy!) just sufficiently to remove the old belt, and replace with the new one (which btw, I got from eBay). Re-assembly is a straight reversal of these instructions. The above worked for me, but of course, I cannot take any responsibility for problems you may incur whilst following them! Good luck! Graham
 
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Excellent. I had problems with the spring when I first took the machine apart, and the heads wouldn't retract properly afterwards. Eventually I took my spare apart, saw how it was supposed to go together and fixed it.
 
Hey,
That's cool you worked it out!

I just saw your post after I changed one out on my TSR-8 the other night. Seems like there's a couple different ways to change out the belt..

I managed to do it by taking off the top back panel, and middle back panel. You can get to the back of the fly wheel from the backside. There's a metal brace that goes over the flywheel that has two screws.. you'll need a screwdriver with a long shaft.. or really tiny hands. Once you remove that metal brace, you can thread the new belt over the flywheel and work it through the narrow gap between the flywheel and the casing by rotating the wheel back and forth.
 
Thanks for your comments guys, perseverance paid off in the end!

If you want to take a look at some other stuff I've done (in terms of audio restoration) take a look at my site/blog :)
audiorestored.com

If anyone's got any got any questions, please feel free to email me on graham.audiorestored@gmail.com
 
Remember to pay attn.how the spring for the tape lifters is oriented-it will come off.
 
Hello Everyone! For anyone needing some instructions on replacing the TSR-8 belt, here's a video I made! I'm not a regular forum poster, so greetings to all!

Apparently I can't post URLs until I get 10 posts but: search on Youtube: RadioKilla07 TSR-8

TASCAM TSR-8 : BELT REPLACEMENT : HOW TO

Check out my vid!

Full disassembly , belt replacement , assembly , and test! TSR-8's are awesome machines!

Good luck!
 
Dantacruz said:
I managed to do it by taking off the top back panel, and middle back panel. You can get to the back of the fly wheel from the backside. There's a metal brace that goes over the flywheel that has two screws.. you'll need a screwdriver with a long shaft.. or really tiny hands. Once you remove that metal brace, you can thread the new belt over the flywheel and work it through the narrow gap between the flywheel and the casing by rotating the wheel back and forth.
Click to expand...

I just replaced the belt on my TSR-8 (owned since new in 1992) and can confirm that this ‘alternative’ way works very well. In my opinion, this way was preferable because it doesn't involve removal of anything relating to tape path alignment - and is much simpler. Just make sure the capstan and belt runs freely on multiple turns by hand before switching on the machine.

P.S. My old belt had not turned to goo, so the other (front access) method might be better if you need to clean the drum from gooey rubber.
 
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