TEAC A-3340: Problem with track 2 record level

[kidsreturn]

Hi everyone!

Hope that someone can help me on this one.
I have just bought a second hand TEAC A-3340 and have played a bit with it. After having cleaned everything thoroughly, all connectors, all heads and calibrated the LINE/MIC inputs and VU Meters, I have noticed an issue.

If all tracks play perfectly at the appropriate volume, I noticed an issue on the record part for a specific track.
For tracks 1,3 & 4, when I record, I can switch between TAPE and MONITOR and the levels shown on the VU meters are close, and the perceived level is similar. However, for track 2, when I switch between MONITOR and TAPE, I go from +1 on the VU meter to -20. I only barely hear the signal. It seems like the signal is "lost" somewhere before arriving to the record head.

I have tried tweaking the "REC LEVEL" trimpot on the board, but the increase in volume is negligible compared to the volume I should get.

As said earlier, I know that it not a problem with the PLAYBACK part of the circuit, but only the RECORD part.
I have tried with tape on both sides (shiny and matte) and I know my heads are aligned because it plays fine.

 

[tapetech]

There is a switch between the record amp OUT and record head IN. If that switch is defective, then no record. ALL pots and switch in that deck need to be cleaned. Very common for them to fail. Have you done that?

 

[kidsreturn]

Found the solution! A dead capacitor in the preamp section. I noticed the exact faulty capacitor by probing a signal coming from the output at every gain stage in the circuit until I found the one that "killed" the level, by using another track as a comparison. Replaced the capacitor and track 2 is working just fine!