TEAC A-3440 - Troubleshooting assistance

[ohitsnish]

Hello all, I just joined the forum after lurking for the past year or so. I just picked up an old Teac A-3440 in relatively great cosmetic shape, except I'm facing the old "my deck won't play" problem.

Symptoms:
- Pinch Roller Solenoid won't engage
- No clicking of any relays of any kind

So far I have confirmed that:
- The solenoid is not toast
- Capstan motor still spins
- From Les's thread over at VintageRadio.net, all of my voltages read accurate
- Pulling Q718 does allow it to go into play, but pinch roller solenoid will not engage
- Confirmed that Q804 works as it should

I have not:
- Pulled C711


I'm quite new to the electronics repair world, but I'm trying to make heads or tails of the whitepaper on the hifiengine webpage. Any troubleshooting assistance would be appreciated!

 

[Rdenney]

Does the pinch-roller carrier actually move? Most Teac decks from this era used grease on those pin bushings that has turned to rock. The carrier must be removed and cleaned and relubricated to allow the solenoid to move them properly. Some disassembly is required, and there are videos on YouTube that describe it.

I've found that most of the relays in my Teac decks are very quiet. Solenoids--not so much

Don't remove the solenoid itself--it's on slots that are used to adjust the pinch-roller pressure and removing it will require testing that pressure once you get it working again.

Rick "first thing to check on a vintage Teac" Denney

 

[ohitsnish]

Does the pinch-roller carrier actually move? Most Teac decks from this era used grease on those pin bushings that has turned to rock. The carrier must be removed and cleaned and relubricated to allow the solenoid to move them properly. Some disassembly is required, and there are videos on YouTube that describe it.

I've found that most of the relays in my Teac decks are very quiet. Solenoids--not so much

Rick "first thing to check on a vintage Teac" Denney

The carrier moves freely, I did take apart the capstan/tape lifter mechanism and flywheel, then cleaned and lubricated. I've never owned a TEAC deck before but my old Technics RS-1700 was a bit easier to move by hand. Thank you!

 

[Hobie1dog]

where are you located?

 

[ohitsnish]

where are you located?

I'm in eastern Washington state, south of Spokane.

 

[Hobie1dog]

that's usually the case, too far away, as I'm in North Carolina and there is a friend of mine who is a fantastic service tech for reel-to-reels.

 

[ohitsnish]

that's usually the case, too far away, as I'm in North Carolina and there is a friend of mine who is a fantastic service tech for reel-to-reels.

Yup! luckily it’s a small and not absurdly heavy unit, any idea what your friend’s bench rate is? Feel free to dm me. Thank you!