Akai GX280D reversing direction for no apparent reason

[audiocrzy]

Because this issue is so sporadic it is going to be next to impossible to troubleshoot. But I'm up to the task.
My Akai GX280D records, plays back, rewinds and fast forwards just find. What it does occasionally is reverses direction. Doesn't mater if its playing forward or reverse and it doesn't do it at any specific point on a tape. It's very random. And ii will sometimes never do it during a full tape playing completely. I hope you get the point.

Doing some research I think I've ruled out some of the obvious things that can cause this. Specifically a short in the tape path that uses metal tape to change direction. I cant find any shorts in that path. And none of the tapes I'm using have a metal tape
One of the suggestion I saw was pointing to 2 power transistors on the controller board 2SD234s. It was claimed that those transistors can degrade over time and short sporadically. I pulled them out of circuit and they both tested fine at room temperature. I don't want to resort to shotgun trouble shooting but replacing them may solve the problem. I'm looking for some suggestions as to what to do next.

Any help here will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[dankik]

In the GX280D Parts List it shows this schematic and table. For REV operation (pressing the REV) button, the highlighted parts are used.
Since it does seem to reverse direction, I would assume that the relays are good and that the issue is with the control.
I think I would start by checking the three transistors (TR107, TR108, TR111).
Also, try to clean the REV transport switch.

 

[audiocrzy]

I'll check them
Thanks!

 

[The Fuxtor]

Might need some of the relays to be cleaned. There might be quite a few of them?