found a teac a-3300s that might be DOA

[Jayrosc]

I rescued this reel to reel from recycling depot. I have no tape to try with it, but it does power up. However I can't get any of the play, rewind, fast forward functions to work. Is this due to the fact that there's no tape? Or is this poor thing just shot?

 

[audiojones]

The right tension lever must be lifted to activate the controls and the motor. The idea is that when the tape runs out or breaks everything stops. It's probably going to have a stuck / sluggish pinch roller and will need the pinch roller linkage disassembled, cleaned and relubricated but that's not hard to do and there are a million threads and YouTube videos on it.

These decks are very well built and trouble free, hard to imagine someone throwing out a beautiful machine like that but their loss is your gain. Great find and save (cute Border Collie too BTW!).

ADD-ON: If you want you can PM me your shipping address and I'll send you a tape and a take up reel so you can check it out if you can't find any around there.

 

[Jayrosc]

The right tension lever must be lifted to activate the controls and the motor. The idea is that when the tape runs out or breaks everything stops. It's probably going to have a stuck / sluggish pinch roller and will need the pinch roller linkage disassembled, cleaned and relubricated but that's not hard to do and there are a million threads and YouTube videos on it.

These decks are very well built and trouble free, hard to imagine someone throwing out a beautiful machine like that but their loss is your gain. Great find and save (cute Border Collie too BTW!).

ADD-ON: If you want you can PM me your shipping address and I'll send you a tape and a take up reel so you can check it out if you can't find any around there.

Ha ha! I figured there some was mechanism like that. I'm a R2R newbie, but my inspection of this thing show promise. Nothing is frozen, even the pinch roller spins like a top. I hope to run down to a friends record store today to grab some old tape reels that he's had sitting in box on the floor, so no need to mail me any, but thanks for the offer.

 

[audiojones]

The pinch roller engaging mechanism is actually what I was referring to, in other words see if it moves freely up and down towards and away from the capstan shaft. The whole carriage assembly (pinch roller, tape lifters and associated linkages) must move up and down freely without any binding or sluggish action. The solenoid inside the deck needs to snap it into action instantly when you hit the play button and it must drop out instantly when you hit any other function button.

It's a very common problem with these decks for that linkage mechanism to freeze up due to old dried up grease in the pivot point inside the deck. Easy fix and once done right you'll never have the problem again.

 

[eddisc]

The pinch roller engaging mechanism is actually what I was referring to, in other words see if it moves freely up and down towards and away from the capstan shaft. The whole carriage assembly (pinch roller, tape lifters and associated linkages) must move up and down freely without any binding or sluggish action. The solenoid inside the deck needs to snap it into action instantly when you hit the play button and it must drop out instantly when you hit any other function button.

It's a very common problem with these decks for that linkage mechanism to freeze up due to old dried up grease in the pivot point inside the deck. Easy fix and once done right you'll never have the problem again.

What ^^^ he said ! There are a few videos on youtube if you are inclined that way. Let us know how it all turns out. These are great machines !!

 

[Jayrosc]

What ^^^ he said ! There are a few videos on youtube if you are inclined that way. Let us know how it all turns out. These are great machines !!

I'll keep searching for better videos, but ones I've seen so far show procedures WAY above my pay grade....I mean like taking the whole unit apart, etc...
I can see the moving parts and wonder if just some shots of wd40 will do what it takes. Just posted some pics and details over on the general forum.

 

[eddisc]

I'll keep searching for better videos, but ones I've seen so far show procedures WAY above my pay grade....I mean like taking the whole unit apart, etc...
I can see the moving parts and wonder if just some shots of wd40 will do what it takes. Just posted some pics and details over on the general forum.

I'll post a specific one where I've commented a LARGE - read these before work!

 

[eddisc]

As for WD-40: KEEP AWAY FROM ALL MACHINERY !!! LPS 1 is highly recommended.
ALSO>>> Deal with the belt with the flywheel out of the way !!! Soooooo much easier.

 

[Jayrosc]

Thanks for that video. Just gonna say that so far, a daily dose of wd40 on the axis point is doing wonders. I'm about ready to turn it on and see what happens.

 

[Jayrosc]

update. I found some old tapes at a thrift store today. For the past couple weeks I've been putting a drop or two of WD40 into the shaft of that axis and working the pinch wheel by hand. I put a tape on this thing and found out it is working perfectly except for that pinch wheel needing a little help closing up to play the tape. I guess it is worth going the next repair/maintainance level!

 

[dave_n_s]

update. I found some old tapes at a thrift store today. For the past couple weeks I've been putting a drop or two of WD40 into the shaft of that axis and working the pinch wheel by hand. I put a tape on this thing and found out it is working perfectly except for that pinch wheel needing a little help closing up to play the tape. I guess it is worth going the next repair/maintainance level!

I did once free up the pinch wheel mechanism with no strip / clean / relube and have had that deck running at home for many months now but the thing that needs cleaning and relube is not accessible without diving into the the workings from the rear and removing parts to get to the affected shaft / sleeve, which the pinch roller lever connects to.

The only awkward parts of this are removing the lever fork that connects to the solenoid (two screws, need a ratchet or right angle driver) and prying the sleeve off the axle without damage if it's badly stuck.

The part that needs care is reassembly, in particular getting the flywheel back where it was on its shaft.

Lots of photos during disassembly are recommended first time around.

 

[audiojones]

Use heat to remove the stuck pivot sleeve, never attempt to pry it loose without heating it up first. Use a large old school soldering gun or iron (it takes a while to get the outer sleeve you enough) or a very carefully controlled low flame. Once it hits the point where the grease loosens up it will pop apart like magic.

 

[eddisc]

I did once free up the pinch wheel mechanism with no strip / clean / relube and have had that deck running at home for many months now but the thing that needs cleaning and relube is not accessible without diving into the the workings from the rear and removing parts to get to the affected shaft / sleeve, which the pinch roller lever connects to.

The only awkward parts of this are removing the lever fork that connects to the solenoid (two screws, need a ratchet or right angle driver) and prying the sleeve off the axle without damage if it's badly stuck.

The part that needs care is reassembly, in particular getting the flywheel back where it was on its shaft.

Lots of photos during disassembly are recommended first time around.

The flywheel can be left on the shaft/axle/capstan; just make sure to remove: pinch roller (Watch Out for tiny washers !!) cover over capstan and felt washer/seal if there. Clean shaft thoroughly AFTER re-installing to be certain NO oil remains.

ALSO>>> Deal with the belt with the flywheel out of the way !!! Soooooo much easier.

 

[dave_n_s]

..... posting in error.