Teac x2000r reel to reel

9

97b50

Audiophyte
I'm a rank amateur at this so I hope this makes sense. I recently bought a TEAC X2000R tape deck in almost fresh out of the box condition, however there's a problem. (Isn't there always.) I load a tape on it press play and it plays for exactly 3 seconds and quits. It does this in both directions. I've pulled the cases/covers off to see if I could see anything but nothing seems out of order. My impression is that the left reel motor is allowing the tape tension idler to drop and when that happens the machine stops as it should. The fast forward in both directions works as it should. I would be very grateful for any assistance. Also, any recommendations as to some place I can go on the net to learn how to do repairs to the electronics? I've got about 20 TEACs along with some Sonys and Akai's in various states of repair and I would like to learn how to diagnose and repair the electronics. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
I'm a rank amateur at this so I hope this makes sense. I recently bought a TEAC X2000R tape deck in almost fresh out of the box condition, however there's a problem. (Isn't there always.) I load a tape on it press play and it plays for exactly 3 seconds and quits. It does this in both directions. I've pulled the cases/covers off to see if I could see anything but nothing seems out of order. My impression is that the left reel motor is allowing the tape tension idler to drop and when that happens the machine stops as it should. The fast forward in both directions works as it should. I would be very grateful for any assistance. Also, any recommendations as to some place I can go on the net to learn how to do repairs to the electronics? I've got about 20 TEACs along with some Sonys and Akai's in various states of repair and I would like to learn how to diagnose and repair the electronics. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
You need a mentor to help learn service work. Also there is a significant investment in test gear required for tape recorders and you also need alignment tapes.

Unfortunately tape recorders, especially the one you have just bought are very complex. Tape decks also give a fair share of trouble, and their service is complex and a dying art.

I would join Tapeheads.net. A member had a similar problem to yours that required the replacement of a couple of caps.

If you join Hi-Fi engine you can download a service manual for your machine for free.

You must have a complete service manual and full schematics before attempting service on any thing as complex as a reel to reel recorder.

Far Eastern machines remain popular, however none can really compare with the Studer/Revox machines, which I think are the ones to go for. To get excellence from a reversing tape deck, is an impossibility for a start, and Herr Willi Studer had nothing to do with that nonsense.
 
Dan Ross

Dan Ross

Audiophyte
In re my TEAC X-2000R Reel: I've had this similar problem with the transport motors. When I push a Play button, the spindle turns a few times fast, slows and stops. I had this "fixed" once, years ago, after it had say unused for a long time. The tech said it was just a matter of lubricating the mechanism.

The unit has sat in a box for years since then, and now the same phenomenon is observed.

What does anyone think? I've left a vm for Sam P at Skywave.
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
I'm a rank amateur at this so I hope this makes sense. I recently bought a TEAC X2000R tape deck in almost fresh out of the box condition, however there's a problem. (Isn't there always.) I load a tape on it press play and it plays for exactly 3 seconds and quits. It does this in both directions. I've pulled the cases/covers off to see if I could see anything but nothing seems out of order. My impression is that the left reel motor is allowing the tape tension idler to drop and when that happens the machine stops as it should. The fast forward in both directions works as it should. I would be very grateful for any assistance. Also, any recommendations as to some place I can go on the net to learn how to do repairs to the electronics? I've got about 20 TEACs along with some Sonys and Akai's in various states of repair and I would like to learn how to diagnose and repair the electronics. Any advice or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Do you see the tape becoming more slack as it runs? That might indicate weak takeup tension and the machine, being newer, sees a difference in speed, so it stops as its way of avoiding damage to the tape.

Get the manual and look for the section that describes how it determines speed, the auto-stop function, etc. IIRC, these use a sensor in the motors to tell it if it's on-speed or if there's a difference between the speed of the hubs. The tensioners have a micro-switch on each, IIRC- the result of them being defective should be easy enough to check, with a meter.

Have you tried helping the take-up hub stay on speed?
 
Dan Ross

Dan Ross

Audiophyte
The action is that the transport begins and then immediately slows and stops. Manually assisting Play or Rewind has no effect. The condition persists even if I manually raise the tension levers and hold them in place; it also persists with tape onboard the machine.

It will Fast Forward and Fast Rewind as expected, but touching the Play or Rewind keys with tape onboard causes it the click once, try to turn, and stop.
 
Last edited:
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
The action is that the transport begins and then immediately slows and stops. Manually assisting Play or Rewind has no effect. The condition persists even if I manually raise the tension levers and hold them in place; it also persists with tape onboard the machine.

It will Fast Forward and Fast Rewind as expected, but touching the Play or Rewind keys with tape onboard causes it the click once, try to turn, and stop.


Google is your friend-
http://www.tapeheads.net/showthread.php?t=12539
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.

Check this out, please.
All that video tells me is that the deck is broken. It does not give a clue why.

In all honesty you are not going to fix this yourself.

You need a specialist service tech for this.

On the tape heads forum listed, it gives you options.

You will have to follow that advice if you want that "grand old lady" to work again.

As I said in my earlier posts, a reel to reel tape deck is about the most complex and troublesome unit in the history of audio. Servicing them requires unique skill sets, rapidly disappearing as us old geysers die off.
 
Dan Ross

Dan Ross

Audiophyte
Agreed in all respects.

Sam Palermo @Skywave believes that sound is the broken belt slapping around inside. That, and the non-start condition, motivate me to send it to Sam's clinic this week for the pro-grade overhaul.

Us old military types love our R2Rs, so I trust Sam's refresh will have my machine on the road for a long time. Greatly appreciate everyone's interest and enthusiasm.
 
TLS Guy

TLS Guy

Seriously, I have no life.
A great decision.

I don't know Far Eastern machines well. I had the view they were basically thrown together. I refused to service them years ago.

In general machines of that price and quality should only have a belt to tape counter if it is mechanical and none if it is digital.

The capstan and reel motors should be direct drive.

On my machines that is the case and if the belt broke the only thing that would not work would be the counter.

I suppose it is possible the capstan is belt drive on yours.

When you start the machine do the capstans turn?

I think that may be an auto reverse machine, and if so may have two capstans, with belt drive.

None of my machines are auto reverse, as I don't like them, because of tape skew problems, which makes perfect azimuth alignment impossible.

 
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