Reel Holders
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AAA3330
Super Member
I know that some have used rubber stoppers and drilled a hole in them. Would be nice to be able to find the original type, but I don't know of anywhere that you can get them. Even if one could find some originals, it would be likely that the rubber would be so dried out that they would no longer be effective. Been down this road before.
I've found that (from another hobby) something used in old
pinball machines called a rebound rubber works well, at least on
an old TEAC deck. They are less than $2 each. I can send pics
and a link to buy them if interested (no financial interest)....
They are about 1.5" in diameter and .5" thick. They are pre-drilled
with a center hole that fits snugly over the post. They are cheap,
rugged (they lasted forever in old games) and are brown in color
although they are available for a buck or so more in white (which
will get really dirty fast)....
John
pinball machines called a rebound rubber works well, at least on
an old TEAC deck. They are less than $2 each. I can send pics
and a link to buy them if interested (no financial interest)....
They are about 1.5" in diameter and .5" thick. They are pre-drilled
with a center hole that fits snugly over the post. They are cheap,
rugged (they lasted forever in old games) and are brown in color
although they are available for a buck or so more in white (which
will get really dirty fast)....
John
Charlie
At Sea
Easy cheap fix for your reel holders
I have three decks that use rubber holders, and two of them were in need of help. About ten years ago, I thought of a clever idea to try that seemed to work pretty darn good at the time. Now, all these years later, those same rubber holders are still in use with the original repair job I did years ago.
Best of all, it's cheap, easy, and quick. I did a holder just a little while ago so I could take pictures for this thread. Took me less than ten minutes to do one holder.
Get some electric tape... good quality 3M or better. For the reel holder I did earlier, I used red tape so it would show up in the photos. Get some scissors and a toothpick. Grab a cotton swab and alcohol, too.
First, clean out the hole of the holder with your cotton swab and alcohol. Dirt in there might make it difficult for the tape to stick.
Cut a piece of tape appx 1/2 inch. Fold it backwards and longways in your finger, put it in the hole, and using the toothpick, press in the middle of the tape so that the sticky side is now up against the inside of the hole. Hold it in there securely with the toothpick or it will come out when you try to let your fingers go.
A fair amount of tape will be sticking out. Trim off with scissors, leaving about 1/4 inch sticking out. Then, cut 2 or 3 slits downwards. Fold those over. Using the toothpick, kinda go over what's in the hole again. This gives you a new lining in half of the hole.
BEFORE GOING FURTHER, put your reel holder on your machine. It's very possible this is all you'll need. If you think it feels snug, leave it as such and try it for a while. If it is indeed snug, and you try to cover the other half of the hole, it will end up being too tight.
Try it that way for a while. If you feel it needs some more grab, go for it and cover the other side.
When I did this years ago, I figured the tape would end up working it's way out over time, but it didn't. As I said, it's been about 10 years since I did this and it still holds fine. Even if this fix only lasts a year, spending a few minutes to do it again isn't so bad.
Take note... the TEAC holders I worked on were the type with the hole on one side. Seems I recall this is the older style. The newer style has the hole going all the way thru may not be as easy to fix. If memory serves, the inside of the hole on the newer style has raised bumps in there. I'm not sure how well you'd be able to get the tape to stick smoothly to the surface with those three bumps. However, if those raised bumps are worn away (reason for needing help to begin with), this trick may work just as well for them too. If someone tries repairing that style, let us know how it comes out.
I have three decks that use rubber holders, and two of them were in need of help. About ten years ago, I thought of a clever idea to try that seemed to work pretty darn good at the time. Now, all these years later, those same rubber holders are still in use with the original repair job I did years ago.
Best of all, it's cheap, easy, and quick. I did a holder just a little while ago so I could take pictures for this thread. Took me less than ten minutes to do one holder.
Get some electric tape... good quality 3M or better. For the reel holder I did earlier, I used red tape so it would show up in the photos. Get some scissors and a toothpick. Grab a cotton swab and alcohol, too.
First, clean out the hole of the holder with your cotton swab and alcohol. Dirt in there might make it difficult for the tape to stick.
Cut a piece of tape appx 1/2 inch. Fold it backwards and longways in your finger, put it in the hole, and using the toothpick, press in the middle of the tape so that the sticky side is now up against the inside of the hole. Hold it in there securely with the toothpick or it will come out when you try to let your fingers go.
A fair amount of tape will be sticking out. Trim off with scissors, leaving about 1/4 inch sticking out. Then, cut 2 or 3 slits downwards. Fold those over. Using the toothpick, kinda go over what's in the hole again. This gives you a new lining in half of the hole.
BEFORE GOING FURTHER, put your reel holder on your machine. It's very possible this is all you'll need. If you think it feels snug, leave it as such and try it for a while. If it is indeed snug, and you try to cover the other half of the hole, it will end up being too tight.
Try it that way for a while. If you feel it needs some more grab, go for it and cover the other side.
When I did this years ago, I figured the tape would end up working it's way out over time, but it didn't. As I said, it's been about 10 years since I did this and it still holds fine. Even if this fix only lasts a year, spending a few minutes to do it again isn't so bad.
Take note... the TEAC holders I worked on were the type with the hole on one side. Seems I recall this is the older style. The newer style has the hole going all the way thru may not be as easy to fix. If memory serves, the inside of the hole on the newer style has raised bumps in there. I'm not sure how well you'd be able to get the tape to stick smoothly to the surface with those three bumps. However, if those raised bumps are worn away (reason for needing help to begin with), this trick may work just as well for them too. If someone tries repairing that style, let us know how it comes out.
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Numistrek09
Super Member
Nice fix Charlie!
The only thing i know of that is new is on ebay. Look for rubber reel retainers. Whatever it is the guy is selling reminds me of a wire nut, might even be one. Of course, if thats the case you can do what i used to do, use clothes pins!
The only thing i know of that is new is on ebay. Look for rubber reel retainers. Whatever it is the guy is selling reminds me of a wire nut, might even be one. Of course, if thats the case you can do what i used to do, use clothes pins!
Charlie
At Sea
WOW... I just looked to see what you were talking about on ebay! That's absolutely shameful! Someone bought black metal clamps from Staples and put some rubber in them, and someone else looks like they used some heavy-duty earplugs! Hilarious! Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut and simply put some of mine on ebay as "refurbished" reel holders! I'd make millions!!! 
:lmao:
I suggest trying electric tape first. With the holders in place, no one would ever know the tape is under there and it would still look original. :yes:
Funny to think... if you're using Scotch brand reel tape, you'd be holding it in place with Scotch tape.
:lmao:I suggest trying electric tape first. With the holders in place, no one would ever know the tape is under there and it would still look original. :yes:
Funny to think... if you're using Scotch brand reel tape, you'd be holding it in place with Scotch tape.
jan_stevns
Super Member
hmmm.... how about using such one here :
And such one :
And such one :
jan_stevns
Super Member
I pulled that stunt years ago on a BeoCord 1200, after being sick and tired of searching for those rubber holders..........
Not the most elegant solution, but it worked fine for many years ....
the deck is still in the family, and running.
Not the most elegant solution, but it worked fine for many years ....
the deck is still in the family, and running.
DKirk
Active Member
I have a pair of those. They're not wire nuts. They work, but they're so long that the dustcover for my Teac A-4070G won't fit over them.
jmiles1960
Super Member
I did what xupernaut did .... works great. Bought a piece of clear plastic tubing (1/4 or 5/16") at home depot, a bit of super glue, bore the hole out slightly if needed in the holder... bingo... works like new and holds great.
I really like Charlie's tape solution. May give that a try next time.
I really like Charlie's tape solution. May give that a try next time.
