Gunk fused to record & playback heads of Onkyo cassette deck
I have an Onkyo TA-2600 3-head cassette deck, recently bought used. There seems to be gunk or corrosion on the record & playback heads--as though perhaps a cassette tape was left in the deck for a long time, and the tape itself began to disintegrate onto the heads. I swabbed the heads with alcohol, but much of the stuff remains. Replacing the heads on a 20-year-old machine could get expensive. Any suggestions? Thanks!
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box above.
- Better answers use proper spelling and grammar.
- Provide details, support with references or personal experience.
Tell us some more! Your answer needs to include more details to help people.You can't post answers that contain an email address.Please enter a valid email address.The email address entered is already associated to an account.Login to postPlease use English characters only.
Tip: The max point reward for answering a question is 15.
When you insert a cassette, there is a finger at the top edge of the player that detects a tape is in the unit. You will need to hold that finger up while pressing play or the machine will not go into play mode.
This would indicate a belt problem as far as the Capstan system goes. This would need to be worked on by a person who can do a belt change and oil the appropriate bearings.
Sounds like the cassette tape itself is too tight to play, try fast forwarding or rewinding the tape in the deck all the way to the end of tape several times before trying to play. This may solve the problem
Muffled sound is either damaged media (is it mostly the Left Channel? Multiple tapes or not?) or dirty Playback Head. Clean the heads and transport.
Please define better what "won't record" means. Tapes to be recorded need to have the little tab in the corner of the cassette shell present to allow the machine to enter record mode.
By the fault you describe this sounds very much like a belt problem. Take the case off the deck and check the belt(s). Some decks can use more than one belt and you need to look at their condition.
Are they too slack around pulleys maybe? Belts don't last forever and I'm not too sure of the age of your deck. But personally, I would change them all.
Make sure the tape path is clean as well, clean heads, pinch roller and capstan.
Hmmm.....heres a really stupid question but........is the head clean ? There may be a bit of oxide shorting the one side of the head out. Try cleaning the head with a q-tip and some 99% pure isopropyl alcohol. If you have done that ( you seem to be more knowledgeable than most ), I would suspect either the circuit that drives the right channel record head, or the head itself. Is the head running flat against the tape?. Is there a record/play relay or record relay somewhere in the circuit ?. I think at this point you really need a schematic. Do you have the AC oscillator signal ( bias ) present on the right record head ?. I would try this first, then look into a manual.......Good luck...Rob
Thanks Grubhead!
×