CASSETTE DECK QUESTION

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

The motor(s) are running. It's designed that way.

Mark Z.


"THE SPACE BOSS" <drsmith666@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20050117233330.10996.00000103@mb-m28.aol.com...
>I have a Sharp RT-W500 duel stereo cassette deck that I picked up at a
>thrift
> store. It plays great and sounds great, but the only thing is that when
> the
> power to the unit is on, you can hear a slight "hum". Upon further
> inspection,
> when I open up either cassette door, I noticed that the little metal rod
> (that
> spins the roller when it makes contact" is spinning - on both decks. When
> I
> turn the unit off, they stop spinning, but when the unit is on, they both
> spin,
> and nothing is pressed, so I'm just wondering why this is, is it supposed
> to do
> this, and should I be concerned?
>
> THANKS for all advice and help.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

I think he was just hearing the motor(s) running.

mz


"Gareth Magennis" <sound.service@btconnect.com> wrote in message
news:csis32$gio$1@hercules.btinternet.com...
> The metal rod is the capstan. It's not that uncomon for the capstan
> motors to be on all the time so I shouldn't worry about them.
>
> The hum I would guess to be the mains transformer vibrating, unless you
> are talking about a hum through the audio. Again, this is not uncommon
> and nothing to worry about. If it annoys you too much you can sometimes
> cure it by loosening and retightening the mains transformer mounting
> bolts.
>
>
> Gareth.
>
>
> "THE SPACE BOSS" <drsmith666@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20050117233330.10996.00000103@mb-m28.aol.com...
>>I have a Sharp RT-W500 duel stereo cassette deck that I picked up at a
>>thrift
>> store. It plays great and sounds great, but the only thing is that when
>> the
>> power to the unit is on, you can hear a slight "hum". Upon further
>> inspection,
>> when I open up either cassette door, I noticed that the little metal rod
>> (that
>> spins the roller when it makes contact" is spinning - on both decks. When
>> I
>> turn the unit off, they stop spinning, but when the unit is on, they both
>> spin,
>> and nothing is pressed, so I'm just wondering why this is, is it supposed
>> to do
>> this, and should I be concerned?
>>
>> THANKS for all advice and help.
>
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

OK, guys I've got to ask this: WHY in the world would the capstan's spin all
the time? I mean why would it be designed this way? Wouldn't the motor that
spin's them wear out?

"I took a ride on a one way ticket,
I shot my arrow at the mark and hit it.
So while all the others talked, I did it-
Kept pushin everything beyond the limit.
You play the game, you gotta play to win it" - KISS

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

On 18 Jan 2005 21:12:14 GMT, drsmith666@aol.com (THE SPACE BOSS)
wrote:

>OK, guys I've got to ask this: WHY in the world would the capstan's spin all
>the time? I mean why would it be designed this way? Wouldn't the motor that
>spin's them wear out?

Dunno. But they all do.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Gives the lifter gear a running start, also no motor switch in the
mechanism, these can fail too. If you don't want the motors running, turn
the machine off.

Mark Z.


"THE SPACE BOSS" <drsmith666@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20050118161214.25360.00000070@mb-m13.aol.com...
> OK, guys I've got to ask this: WHY in the world would the capstan's spin
> all
> the time? I mean why would it be designed this way? Wouldn't the motor
> that
> spin's them wear out?
>
> "I took a ride on a one way ticket,
> I shot my arrow at the mark and hit it.
> So while all the others talked, I did it-
> Kept pushin everything beyond the limit.
> You play the game, you gotta play to win it" - KISS

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

In <20050118161214.25360.00000070@mb-m13.aol.com>, on 01/18/05
at 09:12 PM, drsmith666@aol.com (THE SPACE BOSS) said:

>OK, guys I've got to ask this: WHY in the world would the capstan's
>spin all the time? I mean why would it be designed this way? Wouldn't
>the motor that spin's them wear out?

Cassette motors take at least a few seconds for the speed to stabalize
after power is applied. By running them constantly the decks are ready
for "instant" use without any initial funky speed changes.

And, it will save the manufacturers a few cents to have the motors run
all the time.

I deal with higher end decks and about half of them switch the motors
off until PLAY or RECORD are started. Even in the same manufacturer's
line, some will switch and some will not.

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