Don't all Pre-recorded Reels fit the same?

[ferriteman]

I recently picked up a pre-recorded copy of the Moody Blues "A Question of Balance", its a 7.5 IPS by Ampex...well I can't get the friggin' reel onto the spindle of my Otari! It fits half-way, but when you try to slip it up over the second "half" of the spindle...it won't go...I don't want to force it.

As best as I can figure it, the slots on the reel are just slightly smaller than on other 7" reels...but this is certainly the first Ampex pre-record that I have had this problem.

Has anyone else ever come across this or is it just me...I don't want to force the reel on the spindle ("reel shaft" according to the Otari manual)??

Perhaps I should take a file to the slot on the reel to enlargen it a bit?

[TheReeler]

I own lots of reels like that and I've used it in all my decks without any problem. Maybe the reel shaft in your Otari is a few more width, so, or you try to "open" the mark in the reel without breaking it, or you can try to pass the tape to another reel using a pencil as a momentary spindle in the left side and pass the tape to a reel in the right side...

[ferriteman]

I own lots of reels like that and I've used it in all my decks without any problem. Maybe the reel shaft in your Otari is a few more width, so, or you try to "open" the mark in the reel without breaking it, or you can try to pass the tape to another reel using a pencil as a momentary spindle in the left side and pass the tape to a reel in the right side...

So...you are saying...feed the tape onto another reel on the deck while holding it on a pencil? I'm getting visions of tape feeding all over the place...ouch...

[ecir40]

I would file it till it fits. This may be a defect which is good thing for you. This tape may have never been played.