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Specific cassette wont play when I lock the play button in place.

DordTrain said:
Sadly it is not a screw shell, and yeah it's probably a bad shell, I just love the shell so much because it lists all the songs and rrr.
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Too bad it isn't a screw shell but it is still two halves put together with a seam. Sometimes they were thermo sealed together, sometimes using some type of glue but either way you can force it apart... this will destroy the case but just transfer the tape to a quality screw shell, discarding it's tape, and you should be fine. We used to do that all time when the tape was more important than a new cassette... pick a quality donor, like a Maxell or TDK... will be an improvement over the original. What ever the problem, sounds like a mechanical fit for what ever reason, putting the tape in a donor shell will fix it.
 
OBMG74 said:
How about recording from record or CD to cassette?
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spicer said:
Too bad it isn't a screw shell but it is still two halves put together with a seam. Sometimes they were thermo sealed together, sometimes using some type of glue but either way you can force it apart... this will destroy the case but just transfer the tape to a quality screw shell, discarding it's tape, and you should be fine. We used to do that all time when the tape was more important than a new cassette... pick a quality donor, like a Maxell or TDK... will be an improvement over the original. What ever the problem, sounds like a mechanical fit for what ever reason, putting the tape in a donor shell will fix it.
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Funny that one of you even quoted the original message yet your suggested solutions do not satisfy the requirement: "yeah it's probably a bad shell, I just love the shell so much because it lists all the songs and rrr."

benricci said:
This album literally sold hundreds of thousands of copies in this country alone, and it's simply not rare or hard to find. In fact the CD with 3 bonus tracks is currently $3.79 on Amazon with free Prime shipping.
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But CDs don't have hiss and wow and flutter and cannot not be chewed, and they don't need Dolby B or Dolby C... And what the OP will do with his walkman? Throw it away? No, no, no! This is just not fun. You cannot be serious.

Buying the same album on a cassette is closer to what the OP wants, but maybe he likes to keep exactly that shell? Here is an interesting topic: what is more important: the shell that one held in his hands for a hundred times, or the tape housed in that shell? This is not a question about media or sound quality, it is about what brings more memories? One does not think about the tape inside a shell when inserting the cassette into a walkman, but it is the tape that stores the music.

So far, measuring the openings in the bottom of the cassette and filing extra plastic seems to be the winner given the requirements. :)

Another thought: maybe the brass plate that holds the felt pad is damaged or cannot flex enough, so maybe tape is being squished and locked between the head and the felt pad? So, maybe also check those slits where the brass plate moves. Move away the tape and try gently pushing on the felt pad, does it flex well enough?
 
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Late Boomer said:
Funny that one of you even quoted the original message yet your suggested solutions do not satisfy the requirement: "yeah it's probably a bad shell, I just love the shell so much because it lists all the songs and rrr."



But CDs don't have hiss and wow and flutter and cannot not be chewed, and they don't need Dolby B or Dolby C... And what the OP will do with his walkman? Throw it away? No, no, no! This is just not fun. You cannot be serious.

Buying the same album on a cassette is closer to what the OP wants, but maybe he likes to keep exactly that shell? Here is an interesting topic: what is more important: the shell that one held in his hands for a hundred times, or the tape housed in that shell? This is not a question about media or sound quality, it is about what brings more memories? One does not think about the tape inside a shell when inserting the cassette into a walkman, but it is the tape that stores the music.

So far, measuring the openings in the bottom of the cassette and filing extra plastic seems to be the winner given the requirements. :)

Another thought: maybe the brass plate that holds the felt pad is damaged or cannot flex enough, so maybe tape is being squished and locked between the head and the felt pad? So, maybe also check those slits where the brass plate moves. Move away the tape and try gently pushing on the felt pad, does it flex well enough?
Click to expand...

It's not the specific shell that I like, or really the music (I have listened to this album so many times), I just like having real genuine ELO paraphernalia . I am a 16 year old kid who had 20 bucks and found it new. I purchased it right away without thinking this could even happen. I have many cassette tapes and they have never done anything like this. Maybe used it better than new? Because if its used at least you know it works.
 
DordTrain said:
It's not the specific shell that I like, I just like the look of it, and that it says ELO and TIME on it. I have never had real ELO paraphernalia. I could just buy it again, I am a 16 year old kid who had 20 bucks and found it new. I purchased it right away without thinking this could even happen. I have many cassette tapes and they have never done anything like this. Maybe used it better than new? Because if its used at least you know it works.
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You keep saying you bought it new. Let's be clear, though. You bought a copy that was still sealed after nearly 40 years.

That is not new.

New would be a tape that just came from the factory (or at least was produced relatively recently). Something sitting around in god-knows-what conditions for untold decades should not be treated as a brand-new item. Expectations should be tempered accordingly. I'm sorry that your tape's not working right, but it's likely less of a hassle to just acquire another copy.
 
Late Boomer said:
Funny that one of you even quoted the original message yet your suggested solutions do not satisfy the requirement: "yeah it's probably a bad shell, I just love the shell so much because it lists all the songs and rrr."



But CDs don't have hiss and wow and flutter and cannot not be chewed, and they don't need Dolby B or Dolby C... And what the OP will do with his walkman? Throw it away? No, no, no! This is just not fun. You cannot be serious.

Buying the same album on a cassette is closer to what the OP wants, but maybe he likes to keep exactly that shell? Here is an interesting topic: what is more important: the shell that one held in his hands for a hundred times, or the tape housed in that shell? This is not a question about media or sound quality, it is about what brings more memories? One does not think about the tape inside a shell when inserting the cassette into a walkman, but it is the tape that stores the music.

So far, measuring the openings in the bottom of the cassette and filing extra plastic seems to be the winner given the requirements. :)

Another thought: maybe the brass plate that holds the felt pad is damaged or cannot flex enough, so maybe tape is being squished and locked between the head and the felt pad? So, maybe also check those slits where the brass plate moves. Move away the tape and try gently pushing on the felt pad, does it flex well enough?
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Actually, you're right about the shell... completely missed that, the writing. Also might be right about the pressure pad, fixed some with a pad pushing too hard against the tape stalling it at the head... that shell doesn't seem to have the spring flex for the pad that would set the tension, might be jamming the tape at the head. The other thing is the opening for the pinch roller, might be jamming the roller in the capstan window. On a top loading deck it would be easy to observe if that is the case... because it works if not fully engaged by the play button my guess is the pressure pad issue.... I'd pull the pad off and see if it works, if so I'd replace with a cushioned, spongy material of the right thickness... experiment if necessary.
 
NEW UPDATE: If I pull the tape down on the left (I have a cassette player with the case gone, allowing me to touch tapes as they play) the previously stuck pinch roller, will begin to move slowly, making the tape play a slow distorted version of the song.
 
spicer said:
Actually, you're right about the shell... completely missed that, the writing. Also might be right about the pressure pad, fixed some with a pad pushing too hard against the tape stalling it at the head... that shell doesn't seem to have the spring flex for the pad that would set the tension, might be jamming the tape at the head. The other thing is the opening for the pinch roller, might be jamming the roller in the capstan window. On a top loading deck it would be easy to observe if that is the case... because it works if not fully engaged by the play button my guess is the pressure pad issue.... I'd pull the pad off and see if it works, if so I'd replace with a cushioned, spongy material of the right thickness... experiment if necessary.
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I'm afraid if I pull the pad off, it still won't work. Maybe that will be a last resort.
 
DordTrain said:
It's not the specific shell that I like, or really the music (I have listened to this album so many times), I just like having real genuine ELO paraphernalia . I am a 16 year old kid who had 20 bucks and found it new. I purchased it right away without thinking this could even happen. I have many cassette tapes and they have never done anything like this. Maybe used it better than new? Because if its used at least you know it works.
Click to expand...
That makes sense but the original shell with it's labeling would be part of what makes it genuine ELO paraphernalia. And it is understood what you mean by new... that is, unopened, never used... like new old.
 
spicer said:
That makes sense but the original shell with it's labeling would be part of what makes it genuine ELO paraphernalia. And it is understood what you mean by new... that is, unopened, never used... like new old.
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Right so I don't really want to harm the shell by taking it apart. Kind of defeats the purpose of buying a cassette tape. They're not only for listening to music, but also to have a piece of history. If I had to choose between listening to the songs on cassette, or having an intact shell, I would choose the latter.
 
DordTrain said:
I'm afraid if I pull the pad off, it still won't work. Maybe that will be a last resort.
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Yes, but it might... You have to do something, try something, and not only that seems the most likely problem but the easiest to try and the easiest to reverse... and it would work without the pad, just sound a bit muffled. Pulling down on the cassette when it is attempting to play and getting distorted sound as you describe reinforces the thought tape is being stalled at the head by the pad.
 
spicer said:
Yes, but it might... You have to do something, try something, and not only that seems the most likely problem but the easiest to try and the easiest to reverse... and it would work without the pad, just sound a bit muffled. Pulling down on the cassette when it is attempting to play and getting distorted sound as you describe reinforces the thought tape is being stalled at the head by the pad.
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I'm going to do it, I'm taking the pad off
 
benricci said:
You keep saying you bought it new. Let's be clear, though. You bought a copy that was still sealed after nearly 40 years.

That is not new.

New would be a tape that just came from the factory (or at least was produced relatively recently). Something sitting around in god-knows-what conditions for untold decades should not be treated as a brand-new item. Expectations should be tempered accordingly. I'm sorry that your tape's not working right, but it's likely less of a hassle to just acquire another copy.
Click to expand...

Yeah by new I meant old but never opened.
 
DordTrain said:
https://imgur.com/a/ddeNtKO
Video of me pulling on the cassette tape to make the pinch rollers move. Sorry for low quality.
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That is the equivalent of a top loader cassette deck, being able to see the transport action in the shell. If the pinch roller is not being jammed by the shell as it locks into place with the capstan... and, this is bit difficult to ascertain... the take up reel is not being jammed inside the shell by action of the transport pulling tape... it is highly likely the tape is being jammed against the head by the pad.
 
DordTrain said:
Well great now I am having an issue. I can't take the pad off. Its glued on there pretty good. I don't want to harm the metal. Any ideas? Maybe like a small exact o knife?
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Dang, this sucks. Turns out the pad wasn't the issue. Extracted it using a pair of scissors and still the issue persists. If I find any changes I'll let you know.
 
DordTrain said:
The sound quality is a bit off, a bit shaky. But it works, and that's all that matters.
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:)

Seriously, if you are indeed sixteen and you have no personal memories attached to that cassette, why don't you simply download it off YouTube, I am sure you know how to do that. Or, if you want to have physical media and you like reading paper booklets as many people do including myself, get a CD — much better quality, no hiss, no "bit off" or "bit shaky", no eaten tape. You can get one of those novelty CD players with, um, "humanized design" that you can hang on a wall or stand on your desk with the speaker around and the transparent cover, when the CD is spinning it looks almost as mesmerizing as spinning tape reels :)

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