Cleaning the A-4300

[Eldorado]

Okay, a little background to start with. As I said in my first post in Meet & Greet　a couple of days ago, I picked up a TEAC A-4300. It was sold as is by a chain in Japan that specializes in 2nd hand goods, including cameras and audio. They have what they call a "junk" section, where items are sold cheaply but with no guarantee, no return, and no chance for the customer to test operation. Each item is labelled with basic information on what was found when the store plugged in and switched on the machine, and they will state if problems have been identified. A lot of this equipment is in perfectly acceptable working order and has been well looked after in its lifetime, so this can be a good place to pick up very cheap audio/video. Just next to all this, they have more expensive 2nd hand equipment including some pretty high-end audio - amps and speakers costing from $2000 to $5000.

So, to get the TEAC into good working order. I've done some basic research on cleaning. However, I'd be grateful for any advice on how someone with no previous experience of R2R and no very special technical aptitude should do this. What I've got is the Audio Technica head and pinch roller cleaner shown here:

http://www.soundheights.com/s_12.html

As well as cleaning, are there other things that I should definitely be looking at? I've recorded and played tape on the deck and established that the left VU meter gives lower readings than the right, and that there is crackle during volume adjustment. I haven't yet looked into what to do about either of these issues. Additionally, I think I should replace the pinch roller, which I think has mild cracking.

As to tape, I've bought two blanks that have been previously recorded onto, and have made my own recording from CD onto one of them. I count these as my "sacrificial tapes" while I get the machine into shape, so any damage to them won't bother me. I also bought a new reel of 1800' RMGI tape (3500 yen, around $35), which is in reserve until I'm confident that the machine won't wreck it.

I expect to have a ton of questions on R2R in the months/years to come, albeit limited by the constraints on my time imposed by recent fatherhood. I'm looking forward to delving into this "hair-shirt medium", as I saw it described by another reeler.

[TheReeler]

Okay, a little background to start with. As I said in my first post in Meet & Greet　a couple of days ago, I picked up a TEAC A-4300. It was sold as is by a chain in Japan that specializes in 2nd hand goods, including cameras and audio. They have what they call a "junk" section, where items are sold cheaply but with no guarantee, no return, and no chance for the customer to test operation.

I'd love to go to a shop like that... wow. I've been said that hifi shops are damm good in Japan, I wanna goooo *fit*


As well as cleaning, are there other things that I should definitely be looking at?

Clean all the tape path, heads, guides, lifters, capstan, pinch roller... anything that is in contact with tape.

Ensure that the heads are really clean. Sometimes they are very dirty and it's neccesary to make some pressure against them while cleaning.


I've recorded and played tape on the deck and established that the left VU meter gives lower readings than the right

This occurs while the deck is monitoring the input signal or the tape signal?


and that there is crackle during volume adjustment.

This can be caused because the input signal pots are dirty. You can clean them using a contact cleaner spray. It's very easy to use, the only requirement is to spray it just in the pot. Sometimes you can do it removing the pot cover and sometimes must be done opening the deck to have access to the pot itself.

[vinyldavid]

the constraints on my time imposed by recent fatherhood.

Mazel Tov!!!!!!!! *Hi5*

[Eldorado]

I'd love to go to a shop like that... wow. I've been said that hifi shops are damm good in Japan, I wanna go

There are certainly some very good ones. Prices are much higher for things like speakers unfortunately. Actually, for a lot of imported equipment. But the choice is good, and there's also a healthy second hand market. And people tend to look after their equipment very well.

Then there's Akihabara...

And then there's Tower Records in Shibuya...

And then there are all those vinyl shops...

I have to admit, Tokyo's about my favourite city for blowing cash.

Ensure that the heads are really clean. Sometimes they are very dirty and it's neccesary to make some pressure against them while cleaning.

I've done my first cleanup of the tape path. The dirtiest section was the pinch roller and capstan - the q-tips are coming up clean from the capstan, but it looks tarnished or grimy still. Should it come up shiny if it's properly clean? The pinch roller still leaves the most gunk on the q-tips. They're coming up filthy looking, and I've used a lot of liquid and tips on it now. Is this the rubber itself that's staining the tips, or would this still be oxide?

This occurs while the deck is monitoring the input signal or the tape signal?

I'll have to get back to you on that (need to reconnect a recording source). I think it's mainly happening when monitoring the input signal. That's when I first noticed it anyway. There is no audible imbalance between the left and right channel, though. Not to my imperfect ears. I'll spray it and see what happens. Looks like I'll have to open up the deck to do that.