Tape stuck in tape well

[gonzo]

I bought a deck knowing it wasn't working properly. It has a cassette in the well. When powered on the take up reel motor-or at least some motor, runs, but the cassette hubs don't turn. Problem is the stop button doesn't stop the motor and the door won't open. It is the pioneer CTS-800. Powering it off does turn off whatever motor is running. Any easy suggestions other than taking it to a pro? I suspect I will have a guy look at it rather than bugger it up. It is a beautiful looking deck. Just looking for some thoughts. Thanks Norm

[Skywavebe]

Hi Norm,

Every once in a while we would get one like that in Customer Service Center I was manager/worker at. The tape was history in most cases and the reason why it won't release is usually due to the lack of cleaning of the Pinch roller where that combined with the Capstan Shaft where the tape is wrapped around is holding the tape in. If the door is removable, that is the first step but don't break anything like the mounts. Then if you look into the cassette well from the front with a good flashlight, you might be able to see where the problem is. If it is the Capstan Shaft. Then there is no other way to get the deck open except to get the tape from around the capstan shaft and that means cutting the tape and some plastic of the cassette to get access and doing what you have to so as to release the cassette from it's holder.
In other decks where the release is activated by a cam, the belt may be the problem and you can release this by manual means but I know the CTS800 is an older design than that of a cam unit. the Technician is most likely going to do exactly as I describe only charge you for it.
Sam, *hope*

[Scorpion8]

Usually the easiest solution to these is to pull the cover off the main box (not the cassette well, but the whole deck) and rotate the large nylon gear driven by the main belt by hand until it clicks in one direction or another. The problem sounds like the decks logic controls are out of sync with the actual gear position. Usually you can cycle it back into sync and get the head block to rotate into the down position, allowing the well to open and the tape to be removed.

[gonzo]

I took the cover off and one belt is shot, another is loose. Not sure what to rotate to see if I can get the door open. I haven't been able to figure out the key to the door mechanism. Norm

[Scorpion8]

The cam gear is what you're looking for, and it should be a large white/yellowish nylon gear with teeth around the entire surface outside. It will have a pin set into a convoluted cam-path from another smaller gear. Besides the capstan flywheel (which is smooth and belt driven) it should be the largest gear inside the back of the deck mechanism. Sorry, I don't have a "typical" picture that I can post as an example.

[lordxale]

In my limited experience with tape decks, I think Scorpion has it spot on. The cam gear is what gets out of place on my CT-W502R and then the heads are stuck in the play/record position and the tape door won't open. The belts are still good enough for the most part to where I can manually turn the capstan flywheel and it'll eventually turn the cam gear and put the heads back down. However, once it's playing, or attempting to raise or lower the heads, the belts usually slip and the deck gets confused and refuses to do much of anything until you manually put things in their place.

Once I have new belts for mine, I think it'll be okay. Despite never having one apart before, I don't think I've traumatized it too terribly. If you're at all mechanically inclined you could probably do it yourself...I find it hard to believe a nicer deck would be a bigger pain to take apart than this one.

Thanks Scorp, now I know what some of the parts in mine are called!

[MacGyver]

I bought a deck knowing it wasn't working properly. It has a cassette in the well. When powered on the take up reel motor-or at least some motor, runs, but the cassette hubs don't turn. Problem is the stop button doesn't stop the motor and the door won't open. It is the pioneer CTS-800. Powering it off does turn off whatever motor is running. Any easy suggestions other than taking it to a pro? I suspect I will have a guy look at it rather than bugger it up. It is a beautiful looking deck. Just looking for some thoughts. Thanks Norm


huh. this model does not show up everyday.is this perchance the same CT-S800 that was on the bay just recently in non functional condition?

[MacGyver]

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8006.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8001.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8003.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8007.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8005.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8002.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-S8004.jpg

[MacGyver]

the CT-S800 is the standard-line version of my dream deck, the CT-91/91a. both decks are mechanically identical. they both share the same service manual even...


PIONEER CT-91/91a (1988)

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-911.jpg

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll310/shaorin-chan/CT-913.jpg

[Scorpion8]

Sweet! Great pics. Would love to know where you keep finding these oddball items in great detail. Thanks.

PS -- Do you have the SM for these decks?

[MacGyver]

Sweet! Great pics. Would love to know where you keep finding these oddball items in great detail. Thanks.

PS -- Do you have the SM for these decks?


i just do a google search for a given item, for example, "PIONEER CT-S800" then i go through the results until i find what i am looking for. no, i do not have the SM, perhaps www.stereomanuals.com might...

[Web Police]

I have a Pioneer CT-S705 Three head deck that I picked up a few years back. That CT-S800 must have been quite a nice unit

[gonzo]

Yup, the CTS-800 was the one on the bay recently that was non functional. I have taken the cover off and can rotate a somewhat smooth large whitish plastic wheel but this does not open the door. Maybe because one belt is gone. I am not sure, but I figure this is a deck worth fixing. Thanks for the ideas, Norm

[Web Police]

Well from what I can tell by looking at the pictures of the CT-S800, it has an electrical eject button. My CT-S705 has a mechanical eject button, so I can't really be of any help. The 705 is a single capstan drive, while the 800 looks to be a dual capstan drive.

[Scorpion8]

Yup, the CTS-800 was the one on the bay recently that was non functional. I have taken the cover off and can rotate a somewhat smooth large whitish plastic wheel but this does not open the door. Maybe because one belt is gone. I am not sure, but I figure this is a deck worth fixing. Thanks for the ideas, Norm

It won't open the door by itself, per se. What you need to do is grab a penlight flashlight and look at the bottom of the tape shell. Is the head block extended up into the tape head gap in the shell? If it is, then watch as you rotate that white plstic wheel and see if the head block receeds down below the tape shell as you turn it. If that's the case, then see if when the head block reaches bottom-dead-center.... stop, and see if the door will open now.