TEAC X-2000R tape to head contact problem

[davidar]

i know this problem has been addressed several times, but even AFTER replacing the belt on my recorder, the tape hangs down ever-so-slightly off the
heads during playback in BOTH directions. i have found that pressing down
lightly on the LEFT tension arm during forward play resolves the problem.
the exact same result occurs in reverse play when i press downward on the RIGHT tension arm. all other functions are perfect, including fast wind in both directions with no tape slack. i would gladly send the machine off to a repair facility but the problem while serious seems so "simple" at the same time.
please help. thanks, David.

[tapetech]

Use only the correct Teac capstan belt.

The servo tape-tension cal pots need to be carefully adjusted using a Tentelometer gauge (it measures tape tension). 50 grams take-up in each direction.

Usually the above will remedy low inter-capstan tension. Sometimes the pinch rollers need to be replaced as well. Also makes sure the pinch roller arms move up and down freely by hand.

[Skywavebe]

Hi Davidar,
I have seen this problem on some machines I got in that other people were working on. When it could not be resolved by regular means I took note of the flywheels and they had put them in backwards. You see the flywheel are positioned so that the belt goes up onto the larger diameter ridge of the flywheel for the one that is not lead so that means that if the tape direction is forward the belt should be positioned so to the back of the deck and up on that flywheel that is on the left side which slows it down. In reverse, the belt need to switch quickly to the front area of the flywheels and be up on the ridge that is on the right flywheel. The correct belt is essential but I have rarely used Teac belts in the years since I left Teac and for those that make a big deal out of this- it is just snake oil. Marrs has good belts too.
I have used belts from MCM all the time without any incidents. We used belts from MCM as well at the post Teac run shop owned by Denny Camp in Arlington Heights IL. Hundreds of MCM purchased belts have been in machines for probably since 2000.
Tension arms wise, you need to set your mechanical references for 5Vdc and THEN make adjustments to the pots for the 50 g/cm tension.
People that bypass the mechanical reference settings which is NOT in the service manual but stated by me a few times at least are doing it wrong. A special memo was sent out at Teac that specified this procedure and I have been doing it with success for many years on many decks when I have to adjust the tensions. I have also given advice to people about Record EQ mods on A series decks but I have not heard from a person once that they are doing it or not. But then who am I to listen to?

[tapetech]

Another possible cause of low inter-capstan tension is related to changing the capstan belt. Some "first timers" incorrectly remove just the capstan motor, rather than the large plate that holds the motor. If you did that, and forgot to re-install the two washers under one of the 3 motor screws, then that can be a cause of low inter-capstan tension. The washers are there to deliberately tilt the motor to one side. If you didn't remove the motor, check for the washers anyway, because a previous owner of the deck could have removed the washers by accident.

[davidar]

i guess i will bite the bullet and mail the machine off for a thorough repair.
i bought this machine new many years ago and no one else has ever touched
it- so it's mint (minus some "adjustments"). i can't say i am a big fan of
a dual capstan system though- my 1st teac was an X7 and it too became
fussy after a few years. why a three motor deck develops problems
after (only) 3-4 years of moderate use (a dozen hours a week or so) gives me pause. i thought i was getting away from the problems i had with one-motor decks i had put up with before. the X-7 weighed a ton, too, compared with what i had owned in the past. ALSO, i live in Miami, Fl. and i know of no one down here i can bring it to within a 50 mile radius. if i did it sure would be nice...
but in any case i really appreciate this web site for providing advice. THANKS!

[Skywavebe]

Hello Tapetech,
This would be good advice and I typically make the washer probably closer to two times the thickness that was used. The original complaint say the tape loops in both directions. Lack of switching the position of the belt would only account for one direction problems. If the deck does it in both directions then that is a condition where the unit is "wrong" all the time and this would be the result of the flywheels being in backwards.
I do take them out and oil the bearings and shafts. This then results in wow and flutter figures of around .05% wtd.

[fasterbyelan]

Hi Davidar,
Tension arms wise, you need to set your mechanical references for 5Vdc and THEN make adjustments to the pots for the 50 g/cm tension.
People that bypass the mechanical reference settings which is NOT in the service manual but stated by me a few times at least are doing it wrong. A special memo was sent out at Teac that specified this procedure and I have been doing it with success for many years on many decks when I have to adjust the tensions. I have also given advice to people about Record EQ mods on A series decks but I have not heard from a person once that they are doing it or not. But then who am I to listen to?

I understand the need to set the ref voltage prior to the tape tension but I am having difficulty locating the said ref. on the circuit diagram. The only voltage close is the 5.1 V one and this come from the PS board ( and is fixed).

Do you have a copy of the Teac service note you could post/email me?

Regards,

Karl

I have found the answer to my question on another forum )posted by yourself - thanks) - the 5V is the Opto o/p. See - http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-85971.html

[Skywavebe]

Hi Karl,
Funny as it seems there was no printing of this setting in the original service manual and even when I looked at several versions there was no reference. I remember it well but the point you are interested in is the Opto output which appears at the three pin red connector or white connector that is attached to the cables of the Opto sensor connector. The way you can tell if they are the right pin is one pin stays at near 15 Vdc all the time. The other is ground. The sensor output is the pin that goes from 3 Vdc to near 15V depending on arm position. I adjust the shutters and correct arm positions when the roller is exactly in the center position as determined by observation and the output voltage is 5.00 +/- .25Vdc.
This was printed in a bulletin at some later time than the manual and was due to the earlier condition where tension arms were taken out of reference by people that high speed wind their tapes and hit the end of the tape with leader OR tape pinched between reel table and reel thus applying a lot of dynamic stress to the parts. This does not take care of the tape looping problem but if the tension on the arms is weak, it may contribute to the problem some. Nice features like servo tension come at a cost both in design and at the time of mis-adjustment. The use of a Tentelometer is a required tool if you are dealing with these decks and want to get the tension correct. If it were not so, Teac would have not spent the $400 or more to equip each service station. I think they were $650 back then new.

[fasterbyelan]

Hi Karl,
Funny as it seems there was no printing of this setting in the original service manual and even when I looked at several versions there was no reference. I remember it well but the point you are interested in is the Opto output which appears at the three pin red connector or white connector that is attached to the cables of the Opto sensor connector. The way you can tell if they are the right pin is one pin stays at near 15 Vdc all the time. The other is ground. The sensor output is the pin that goes from 3 Vdc to near 15V depending on arm position. I adjust the shutters and correct arm positions when the roller is exactly in the center position as determined by observation and the output voltage is 5.00 +/- .25Vdc.
This was printed in a bulletin at some later time than the manual and was due to the earlier condition where tension arms were taken out of reference by people that high speed wind their tapes and hit the end of the tape with leader OR tape pinched between reel table and reel thus applying a lot of dynamic stress to the parts. This does not take care of the tape looping problem but if the tension on the arms is weak, it may contribute to the problem some. Nice features like servo tension come at a cost both in design and at the time of mis-adjustment. The use of a Tentelometer is a required tool if you are dealing with these decks and want to get the tension correct. If it were not so, Teac would have not spent the $400 or more to equip each service station. I think they were $650 back then new.

I checked and made minor adjustments to the position of the arms. They were not far off but they are right now. The tape tension obviously needed check afterward via a Tentelometer - both were quite high but adjusted OK.

I still have tape to head contact problems in the forward direction only. I have replaced the belt and its movement across the flywheels appears correct.

I think the next step is to strip down and clean everything associated with the drive unless anyone can suggest otherwise!

Regards,

Karl

[fasterbyelan]

I checked and made minor adjustments to the position of the arms. They were not far off but they are right now. The tape tension obviously needed check afterward via a Tentelometer - both were quite high but adjusted OK.

I still have tape to head contact problems in the forward direction only. I have replaced the belt and its movement across the flywheels appears correct.

I think the next step is to strip down and clean everything associated with the drive unless anyone can suggest otherwise!

Regards,

Karl

I seem to be getting no where fast! Having checked everything I can find nothing amiss but the fault still remains. The belt moves across the two flywheels when the direction changes OK and in the reverse direction the R2R is working correctly(and listenable) - ideas anyone?

Thanks,

Karl

[tapetech]

I seem to be getting no where fast! Having checked everything I can find nothing amiss but the fault still remains. The belt moves across the two flywheels when the direction changes OK and in the reverse direction the R2R is working correctly(and listenable) - ideas anyone?

Thanks,

Karl

My advise in post #2 still applies. There are several possible fixes. All may need to be done.
-a new Teac flywheel belt
-2 new Teac pinch rollers
-clean/lube the pinch roller arm bearings. Also, the pinch roller arm has another spring-loaded bearing within it: make sure that bearing has not seized due to dried grease.
-adjust tape tension servo with a Tentelometer.
-align pinch roller arms (as per service manual instructions)