Your Machine runs slow or stops,
sounds distorted, sounds warbled,
has no top end....
| The MOST common problem that will cause the above
is TAPE GUNK on the heads and guides !!! Old tape can 'shed' and leave what is commonly called TAPE GUNK on the heads and guides... This is really the glue (binder) that holds the oxide to the tape... and this can get onto any part where the tape touches. Since this IS glue, the more that gets stuck to the heads and guides, the more this glue will stick to ANY other tapes you play. I've seen machines with 1/8th inch thick gunk on the heads and guides.... so thick it actually STOPPED tapes dead in the play mode. This stuff DOES NOT EASILY COME OFF.... you've got to use a magnifying glass and a flashlight to look at the heads and guides, and use as many Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol (91% is fine) as it takes to scrub off ALL the tape gunk. Put the machine on it's back to get a better look at the heads and guides.... and asked "why does my tape recorder sound so bad?" 
Move Mouse over the pictures for a larger view !!! takes a couple seconds to enlarge.... this is what he did - a VERY POOR JOB of cleaning !!! They are still NOT clean ! Tops and bottoms of guides still gunked - heads still dirty ! but now you can see the REPRO head's gap has opened up - this head is bad and worthless !!! 
Move Mouse over the pictures for a larger view !!! takes a couple seconds to enlarge.... The heads and guides and metal rollers MUST BE PERFECTLY CLEAN for the tape recorder to operate well. Once immaculately clean - and you've checked with the magnifying glass and flashlight - then test the recorder with BRAND NEW and New-Stock PYRAL/RMGi or ATR audio tape. Any time you run Old Tape you MUST check the heads and guides to make sure the tape has not left any tape-gunk on the machine.... and if it has you MUST clean it ALL off right away. I've had to use OVER 20 Q-tips and cleaner to scrub off caked on Tape-Gunk on machines... and had to use a lot of pressure and scrubbing. Finally.. you should NEVER USE OLD TAPE for any new projects ! |
Your machine is not Speed-Stable in Play
| The MOST common problem that will cause the above
is TAPE GUNK on the heads and guides !!! Read the above !!! And DO NOT USE OLD TAPE !!! The next is a very rock hard PINCH ROLLER or one that is so old that there is a wear pattern on the pinch roller. You can test this my pressing the pinch roller into the capstan by hand.... if the speed becomes stable again, then you should first buy a brand new new-stock pinch roller, install it and see if this returns the machine to normal. Do NOT buy old-stock pinch rollers..... Old-Stock rollers likely will have bad rubber just from age.... and you really do NOT want rubber anyway... polyurethane is a MUCH better material. I no longer stock brand new new-stock pinch rollers for Tape recorders.... But Athan Corp makes and sells the BEST Pinch Rollers anywhere. They were the only ones I used to keep in stock and sell myself. So go to the Athan eBay store are order yours directly from them.... Athan eBay store Link If you have a consumer machine you will have to get your existing pinch roller re-rubbered at Terry's Rubber Rollers Terry's Rubber Rollers link and tell him Goreski at AnalogRules.com sent you to him !!! If a new pinch roller does not help, then you will need to bring your machine to a good EXPERIENCED tech.... and get it fixed.
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