• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

8-track spooling

G

Garrard201

Well-Known Member
Dudes: I have a rare Wings quad 8 track tape (purple Capitol shell) that got eaten(!) somewhat. The tape isn't damaged, but a bunch of it got pulled out of the shell. Maybe 4-5 feet. How do I get this back into the tape cartridge? Do I have to open the shell?
 
Register to hide this ad
You could trim off the mangled part and splice what's out, but I do think you will have to pop it open in order to snug the tape pack up again. The ones I have all have little "legs" that just need to be pushed with a small screwdriver to slip through the case.

It's not rocket surgery, but good luck. Oh, and don't lose the little sponge that pushes the tape against the head...
 
The Capitol is fairly easy to open and it may be one of the one's with a screw right smack in the middle of the cart. Simply unscrew it, pop the cart open and rewind it by hand but not too tight. If in doubt, send up a picture of the back of the cart and we can diagnose how to open it as there were many different ways of securing it. Most Columbia carts are the easiest to open, Lear Jet's the worse. BTW, the RCA's with the rivet are fairly simple. Just have to know the secret.
 
I have quite a few of those RCA tapes,figured out the "secret" way to get inside them,those stupid other carts they glued together are the worst!! :sigh: Rob
 
Well dudes, it turned out to have the little legs Aage mentioned, so I opened it easily but the splice had come apart. Seems like it will be pretty simple. Thanks!
 
Wow, you lucked out. I think that the splice is often where the sensor foil is located (that makes it change to the next track). If so, is it still there?
 
A handy 8-track trick that I learned from Russ Forester (of 8-Track Mind fame) is to gently pull the tape out of the right side of the cart (near the capstan roller) until you regain the necessary tension. You will know that you have succeeded because you will feel some gentle resistance in the closed loop system. Once you have this resistance, you can give a quick snap down on the right side of the tape loop (near the capstan) and it will properly wind itself back up into the cart.

This trick will only work if the tape isn't garbled or broken at the splice. It sounds and looks scary but it really works!

From another board: "If you had a tape spill its spool, there was a quick trick whereby you gave the tape a quick tug and it would respool itself if you had tugged the right end."

Here's some useful info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereo_8
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom