Cassette machine eating tapes

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

HELP! My Onkyo TA-201 cassette deck (only about three years old) has
started to eat tape!

Will demagnetizing help? Do the heads need to be realigned?

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

Sorry, I'm not a real techie when it comes to gear.

Can you expand on that?

Thanks!

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

In <1109598876.492560.142670@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>, on 02/28/05

at 05:54 AM, "TDMedia" <TDMedia@optonline.net> said:



>HELP! My Onkyo TA-201 cassette deck (only about three years old) has
>started to eat tape!

>Will demagnetizing help?

No, but you should occasionally demagnetize the deck for other reasons.

> Do the heads need to be realigned?

Only if the deck has been subjected to some severe physical trauma or
someone has been inside messing with things they don't understand.


Over 90% of tape "eating" problems go away after I clean the deck. The
"pressure roller" (that little round, black thing near the silver,
spinning shaft) should be a uniform dull black color. If it is brown or
shinny, assume that is your problem until proven otherwise. Cassette
cleaner tapes are not very effective for cleaning the pressure roller.

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

On 28 Feb 2005 05:54:36 -0800, "TDMedia" <TDMedia@optonline.net>
wrote:

>HELP! My Onkyo TA-201 cassette deck (only about three years old) has
>started to eat tape!
>
>Will demagnetizing help? Do the heads need to be realigned?
>
No, demag and realignment aren't related to this. Other posters
answered this well.

If it does it on several tapes, then the tape path should be cleaned
and a tech should check to see what may be preventing the takeup reel
side from pulling the tape onto the reel. As other posters indicated,
there could be a problem with a bad belt, gear or rubber wheel on the
takeup side.

If it did this just with one tape, then the tape may have been bad.
If the takeup reel side had difficulty turning due to pressure on the
tape, then that can cause this problem even if the deck is OK.

Gary E
--
|Gary A. Edelstein
|edelsgNO@SPAMyahoo.com.invalid (remove NO SPAM and .invalid to reply)
|"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Walt Kelly's Pogo

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

Press Eject and preferably remove cassette deck outer, transparent dust
cover (probably slides off if persuaded).
With no cassette present, press Play button.
See if there is rotation (or an adequate torque) on take-up platter.
[You might have to keep pressing Play as the auto mechanism logic will
possibly "know" it is not loaded and "think" it is not meant to run!]
This will prove that the gearing to take-up platter (or via a direct-drive
motor) is working, uninhibited.
If it is sluggish or juddery or sticking in mid-function, therein lies the
cause - probably dirt, foreign bodies or likely worn belt/s. Does it Fast
Forward?
I suggest it is beyond your lay ability to repair this detail.
If OK, then gently but thoroughly clean the tape guides, heads and capstan
spindle, pressure roller, with cotton buds soaked in surgical spirit or
ethyl alcohol. If bud floss gets oxide-brown, discard and use a fresh one.
Cleaning is over when the bud looks untarnished.
Let dry. Replace cover if taken off, in same mode.
Do this maintenance every 20 tapes anyway. Demag if you know what you're
doing.