My first R2R - Need tape etc

[ke6igz]

I just picked up a Teac 3340S from someone in the recycler. I paid $100 for it. It works but needs to be cleaned and lubed. I am looking for the following for it:

NAB Adaptors
7" and 10" blank tape
10" take up reel.
Head Demagnetizer

I am in the los angeles area. Is there any place local that might carry these items. I have already checked Ebay but would like to find another source.

Also as far as lube. The manual calls for "Teac oil" for the capstan and reel motors. Is there a more available substitute.

I can't wait to get started using my new toy as soon as I get some tapes.

[Des-Lab]

At last! Another SoCal Tapeheader.

Welcome!

Whereabouts in SoCal are you? I am in Orange County and might be able to help.

[Fast Forward]

You,ve come to the right Forum ,,The bay might be a decent source for tape the 10 inch stuff is pricey but I,ve got some nice buys on un-opened 7 inch maxells,hubs will run about 40.00 to 50.00 on the bay as far as anything else Des-lab (Matt) is a great source of info

[ke6igz]

I am in the San Fernando valley. Do the NAB hubs have to be specific to my machine or will any work?

How did I do on the purchase price for the Teac?

[Des-Lab]

Of course you would just HAVE to be clear on the opposite side of the Southland from me.

Re: the NAB adaptors, the Teac ones are really the ones best suited for your machine (although some others might work). They are also the most easily obtainable. They can usually be found on Ebay. Also, US Recording often has some in stock.

http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/nabhubadapters.html

They are also the best place outside of Ebay to get new tape. It isn't cheap (but then no 10" tape these days is), but they'll take care of you and it is some top notch stuff.

http://usrecordingmedia-store.stores.yahoo.net/1oprereta1.html

Now re: your purchase price, it's a little premature to say. A better answer can be given once you have it up to full speed. A $100 deck isn't much of a bargain if it needs another $300 or more in reconditioning to bring it up to full operating ability.

OTOH, if you can do most or all of that work yourself (such as simple cleaning and minor adjustments), then yes. I'd have to say it was a good deal.

[ke6igz]

I am going to try to do all the service it needs myself. I am a electronics tinkerer and have a bench full of test equipment. I also have the service manual for the machine.

What kind of tape should I be looking for? What should I avoid?

And before I do anything else I need to find out what I can use in place of "Teac oil". I want to at least get it lubed up before I do much else.

Thanks for all the help so far. I will post some pics of the machine when I can a chance.

[Acoustic]

Welcome! Price wise, these are the least expensive hub adaptors that will work on your Teac. http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-NAB-Hub-Adapters-for-10-5-Reels_W0QQitemZ150182705757QQihZ005QQcategoryZ1500 0QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247

As for lubrication 3in1 oil will work just fine, as will sewing machine oil.

If your deck hasn't had a new belt in a while they will run about $20. The teacman on eBay is a respected source.

If your deck is in working order and in decent shape, I think you did OK on the price.

[ke6igz]

The story goes that her dad purchased the tape machine new for her back when she was attending music school. After school was over it just mostly sat in a closet for years without much use. How do the heads look? Maybe you cant tell from the pictures. I ran my fingernail across them lightly and there did not seem to be any grooves or indentations. Although the erase head looks like it has seen some tape travel.

Here are the pics:

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3137-2/IMG_3791.JPG

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3141-2/IMG_3796.JPG

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3144-2/IMG_3793.JPG

[Acoustic]

That baby looks like it did sit around for a while and wasn't cleaned in a while before put away. The heads really don't look that bad... just need a good cleaning (*twocents*worth opinion). I think the erase head just has hardened mylar on it but slight wear. It will dissolve using 99% isopropyl alcohol. Clean the entire tape path with the alcohol including the tape guides, rollers and capstan. Clean it until you end up with the last cotton swab clean. My guess would be 4-5 swabs. In addition to lubing the motors the service manual shows how to lube the capstan. One last thing I do is take a very fine emery board and hold it gently against the running capstan to get the surface smooth. Looks like you did OK... so far... until you fire her up and don't find much else that needs $$$ thrown at her.*hope*

How does the pinch roller look? Any cracks? Looking at those heads I'll bet the roller has that mylar color to it that you can clean with the alcohol also.

[ke6igz]

Here are some more pictures. One of the back with the cover off after blowing it out with a air compressor. It was so full of dust that you could not read the labels on the motors or transformers. Also a picture of the heads after their first bath. The erase head did have some mylar on it. Now its looks alot better. I plan to go over the whole tape path a few more times. A picture of the capstan and pinch roller. The capstan has some corrosion on it. Maybe some very light rust. I will touch it up with some very fine sand paper as suggested.
The pinch roler looks pretty serviceable.

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3153-2/IMG_3798.JPG

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3150-2/IMG_3799.JPG

http://www.drconsult.biz/gallery2/d/3147-2/IMG_3802.JPG

[Acoustic]

Looking good! That capstan does need a little attention. Here is a 1.8mb jpg of a page of Teac maintenance for all to download.

http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=bbe29b40d2c0b4818bbe3294f0eaf8e7.


Also did you look at the condition of the main belt? Is it 'supple'? Does it have any cracks in it? Those are usually the first thing to have trouble with on a deck in this condition. Esp if it was stored where it wasn't in A/C. Though the belt can need changing just because of age and not usage.

[Scorpion8]

Nice deck. Right place. Just your lucky day -- a two-fer score! Welcome and enjoy that deck.

[ke6igz]

I got some Ampex 292 tape that was new sealed in the box. Problem is that about 75% through the reel my machine can not advance the tape anymore. Seems the tape has alot of friction through the tape path. Even on fast forward it can't move tape at this point. I also noticed on the tension levers that there was some of the tape backing gunked up on them (black stuff). I have other tapes that don't have this problem. Is this the "sticky" tape problem I have heard about? Can this be fixed or should I just junk those tapes?

[Acoustic]

Yep... that's the nasty sticky tape syndrome.*yikes* That gunk is the backcoating. I wouldn't recommend any Ampex backcoated tape made before 1994.

Here's a great thread from Des on the subject: http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=648

Here's a thread with a txt file on Ampex tapes:http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=621

Check this out about baking backcoated Ampex tapes: http://audio-restoration.com/baking.php I would never do it unless I had a recording on one that could never be replaced. Yeah, I wouldn't use them tapes ever again.

You've got some cleaning to do! And the gunk in your tape path bogged down your machine. Yuck!*headache* Lesson learned.

[Des-Lab]

Thanks for the links. Except that I'd like to add to what Accoustic said:

I wouldn't trust any back coated Ampex tape PERIOD. That includes the "20-20"/#373 used for the illustration as well as #406/407, #456/457, or #499.

Ditto for any of the Scotch/3M back coated tapes including 'Master', 'Classic', #206/207, #226/227, and #986/987.

Anything Maxell, TDK, or Quantegy should be just fine. I have some early Quantegy #457's from about 1998 and they still perform flawlessly. I have Maxell tapes going back to the 70's and all still also perform as new. I have some of the new RMGI/EMTEC LPR-35. But it's too new to know whether or not it will be stable for the long term.

[Acoustic]

Thanks for the links. Except that I'd like to add to what Accoustic said:

I wouldn't trust any back coated Ampex tape PERIOD. That includes the "20-20"/#373 used for the illustration as well as #406/407, #456/457, or #499.

Ditto for any of the Scotch/3M back coated tapes including 'Master', 'Classic', #206/207, #226/227, and #986/987.

Anything Maxell, TDK, or Quantegy should be just fine. I have some early Quantegy #457's from about 1998 and they still perform flawlessly. I have Maxell tapes going back to the 70's and all still also perform as new. I have some of the new RMGI/EMTEC LPR-35. But it's too new to know whether or not it will be stable for the long term.

Great advice!*check* Thanks!!

[ke6igz]

Whew!. I thought the belt was slipping or something else until I saw the black gunk the tape left behind. Well lesson learned. I will not take any used or old stock Ampex, Scotch or 3M tape. Just stick to the brands Maxell, TDK, or Quantegy for anything that is not brand new.

Well the machine works great so far. Sounds good so far with tapes that do not have the "sticky" problem. The only other thing is the pinch roller does not seem to clamp and retract from the capstan correctly. I understand this is a common Teac problem that requires cleaning out old grease in that mechanism. Then I will treat all the switches and pots with DEOXIT. The belt seems good and supple with no cracks.

I will update with my progress. Thanks so much for all the help here. I could not have progressed this much this fast without all the help.

[robert1946]

Welcome! Price wise, these are the least expensive hub adaptors that will work on your Teac. http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-NAB-Hub-Adapters-for-10-5-Reels_W0QQitemZ150182705757QQihZ005QQcategoryZ1500 0QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247

As for lubrication 3in1 oil will work just fine, as will sewing machine oil.

If your deck hasn't had a new belt in a while they will run about $20. The teacman on eBay is a respected source.

If your deck is in working order and in decent shape, I think you did OK on the price.

The correct adoptors are the Teac TZ-612 about $43.00 (for 2) + shipping on ebay. The ones shown above are for the 7010 Series Teac Decks probably will work, but not well.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TEAC-X-2000r-TZ-612-REEL-TO-REEL-NAB-HUB-ADAPTORS-MINTY_W0QQitemZ290250822136QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m290250822136&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318

Also check http://www.vintage-electronics.cc/vparts.html.

I also heard Teac still sells them.

[niklasthedolphin]

I'm not sure sandpaper on the capstan is such a good idea.

I would advice to start with using a copper or brass brush. That can not harm the metal, only the corrosion.

"dolph"

[Acoustic]

I'm not sure sandpaper on the capstan is such a good idea.

I would advice to start with using a copper or brass brush. That can not harm the metal, only the corrosion.

"dolph"

What's your opinion on using a fine emery board? That's what I have used in the past with favorable results.

Andy.

[Fast Forward]

Welcome! Price wise, these are the least expensive hub adaptors that will work on your Teac. http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-NAB-Hub-Adapters-for-10-5-Reels_W0QQitemZ150182705757QQihZ005QQcategoryZ1500 0QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em118Q2el1247

As for lubrication 3in1 oil will work just fine, as will sewing machine oil.

If your deck hasn't had a new belt in a while they will run about $20. The teacman on eBay is a respected source.

If your deck is in working order and in decent shape, I think you did OK on the price.the Gurus say don,t use 3-1 oil as it tends to get sticky with age I use Rislone ,I also heard sewing machine oil works ok

[Acoustic]

the Gurus say don,t use 3-1 oil as it tends to get sticky with age I use Rislone ,I also heard sewing machine oil works ok
Great to know! My info comes from these guys...
http://www.daeinconline.com/

Here's there maintenence procedures for TEAC decks that mentions the 3in1 and the sewing machine oil. Personally I use the sewing machine oil (cheaper). And I just get syringes from Target that are sold for BBQ flavor injecting to get the oil into the tubes on the motors. A 1.8mb jpg download.
http://www.filesend.net/download.php?f=bbe29b40d2c0b4818bbe3294f0eaf8e7