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Pinch Roller Capstan Record/Play Erase Head
Head
CASSETTE CARE
Two common causes of trouble experienced when using cassettes are:
1.) Tape jamming — Leading to uneven speed in playback, and
2.) Tape tangling — Where the tape wraps itself around vital parts of themechanism.
To reduce the likelihood of these problems occurring, the following precautions
should be observed:
• Check that there are no loose layers of tape visible
through the cassette center window (see Fig. 1).
Take up any loose layers, using a pencil or hexagonal
barrelled ballpoint pen, before inserting the cassette
into the machine (see Fig. 2).
• If the cassette feels “tight” while performing operation
shown (see Fig. 2), the tape may be jamming due to
“ridges” formed in the winding of the tape (visible
through the center window). These may be removed,
in most cases, by fast winding of the cassette from
one end to the other and back again.
• Use only well-known brands of tape. Avoid use of C-120 cassettes.
Furthermore, do not expose cassettes to direct sunlight, dust or oil, and do not touch
the tape surfaces.
HEAD CLEANING
The tape heads, pinch roller and capstan require periodic cleaning. This removes
particles of the metal oxide coating that wear off the tape and accumulate on these
parts and impair performance. Switch off the power, press the STOP/EJECT
key
to open the cassette door, and press the PLAY
key. Clean the tape heads, pinch
roller and capstan with a soft cloth or cotton pad dampened in isopropyl alcohol or
special tape head cleaner.
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