Cassette Deck Lube ?

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

"chuck" <ccREMOVEiaffone@earthlinDELETEk.net> wrote in message
news:NQCte.8608$pa3.5973@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Some time ago I found a complete set of late 70's
> JVC audio gear lying, abandoned. on the side of a
> highway. Got the turntable and reveiver working, but
> the cassette deck would do everything EXCEPT fast forward.
>
> Well, by playing with it, and alternately pressing FF and
> RW, it's actually fast forwarding pretty good now. So
> I'm wondering, should I lube the various moving parts
> with something light -- like mineral oil??

**No.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

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

AZ Nomad wrote:

> It probably needs the opposite. Mostly likely it has a bad idler wheel,
> a little rubber wheel that flips between the supply or takeup reels for
> rewind/fastforward.

Odd thing is .. the more I do FF then RW then FF the better it gets.
How does that square with bad idler wheels, worn belts, and
weak motors?? It's really running rather well just know, thank
you.

So ... still no lube, eh? What about a solvent??

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

"chuck" <ccREMOVEiaffone@earthlinDELETEk.net> wrote in message
news:BbKte.9304$VK4.7001@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> AZ Nomad wrote:
>
>> It probably needs the opposite. Mostly likely it has a bad idler wheel,
>> a little rubber wheel that flips between the supply or takeup reels for
>> rewind/fastforward.
>
> Odd thing is .. the more I do FF then RW then FF the better it gets.
> How does that square with bad idler wheels, worn belts, and
> weak motors?? It's really running rather well just know, thank
> you.
>
> So ... still no lube, eh? What about a solvent??

**If you need to ask, don't touch it.

In my workshop, I have 8 different lubricants and 4 different solvents. A
'typical" cassette deck will require the use of at least three different
lubricants. The wrong one used in the wrong place will only lead to more
expense. 30 years experience have taught me which to use, where. Your
original question was answered (by me). The answer is still: "No".



--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

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

>> It probably needs the opposite. Mostly likely it has a bad idler wheel,
>> a little rubber wheel that flips between the supply or takeup reels for
>> rewind/fastforward.
>
>Odd thing is .. the more I do FF then RW then FF the better it gets.
>How does that square with bad idler wheels, worn belts, and
>weak motors?? It's really running rather well just know, thank
>you.

Rubber idler wheels can develop a "glaze" with time and wear. It's
slippery, doesn't grip the tape well. Possibly you are managing to
wear a bit of it off.

The best long-term fix is to replace the idler... the rubber has
probably gotten harder with age as well as glazed.

One short-term solution I've seen (and have even used on occasion) is
to apply a specialized rubber reconditioning liquid to the glazed
idler. It's rather nasty stuff - if I recall correctly it consists of
wintergreen oil in a solvent (xylene?) - and should be used only as
directed and with good ventilation. It can de-glaze the rubber to
some extent, and I think it might even cause it to swell and soften a
bit. It's usually not a long-term fix, though.

The slippage might also result from a stretched or glazed drive belt
(these would certainly need to be replaced; a suitable generic belt
would probably do), or a worn-out bearing or other component (would
need to be replaced, and replacements are likely not available).

--
Dave Platt <dplatt@radagast.org> AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
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