AKAI GX230D HOW TO THREAD TAPE

It's pretty much the same on all reel to reel decks. The full tape spool goes on the left hand side, the empty one on the right.

The tape is threaded from the left spool with the shiny side down across the tape heads (two or three metal items under the central console) and between the metal capstan and the rubber-tyred pinch wheel (the play lever should be at the stop position so the pinch wheel is away from the capstan).

You then thread the leader tape around the centre of the empty spool and advance the spool by hand until it reliably pulls the tape past the heads. You are then ready to record or play.