Glad I could help. And thanks for the nice words- getting so used to the typical Internet “you’re doing it all wrong” low emotional intelligence knee jerk responses on everything.
Great video, thanks. The "Mitsumi" brand motor and track style changer used a lot in the newer/later models. They work pretty good except 9 times out of 10 the plastic head frame is cracked and needs gluing; polyethylene glue (ugh) too but it can be done. Looks like yours didn't have a cracked frame; that's a rarity! I've disassembled the track changing assembly many times to fix that problem.
Nice video. I’ve found that dialing in cross tracking is easier using the dead-space between songs (when the other outside tracks are playing loud music).
Good video Arthur, I'm glad you went into detail on the demagnetizer cause you do need to move slowly in to the tape head and then away, so glad you explained that for the newbies take care --- Lisa
Ok, here PRB also known as Russell Industries in Whitewater Wisconsin carries ALL kinds of belts. PRB stands for projector-recorder belts. You will find just about ANY belt here. This is where I bought my reel-to -reel, vcr, record player belts from. They have a lot of options. They used to offer a make your own size spring belt. These would last for ever.
I've got a Strauss player from the 60s, not unlike yours... I gave the playhead a hardcore cleaning and boy did it need it. Unfortunately the right audio channel seems to have some issues... It's much quieter than the left channel and when I crank it up (the right and left audio channels have separate dials), it gets all crackly and scratchy. I think it's an electrical issue rather than a mechanical one..
Nice tutorial Arthur! I have the same Realistic player in the collection and for as minimal as it is in terms of design, it sure cranks out some great sound. Well done! - Lj
+BioCYTE1 Thanks LJ- it's a nice little player, and keeps thinks so darned simple. But your Panasonic is so sweet. Agree with you, that home recorded tape really was touching.
So I did something stupid possibly. I opened up my player to make a head adjustment because I have a model that doesn’t have an access hole. So I fixed that but figured I’d clean the head while I had it opened. I didn’t have any isopropyl alcohol around the house so I figured I would use hand sanitizer that is basically just 70% ethyl alcohol. Afterwards there was a visible “milky” film over it and when I played a tape it was crackling and popping. I went to the store and bought some 99% isopropyl and cleaned it over and over and now the film is gone but it’s still making the crackling/scratchy noise. Did using the sanitizer actually permanently damage the head or am I coincidentally having a separate issue happening???
@@ArthurJS123 it doesn't look like there's anything burnt or melted or corroded the capacitors don't look bloated no broken belts the motor won't move by a weird part of it starts smoking that's not the motor
This is the exact same mechanism in my machine. Your video really helped me figure mine out and it plays great now
Glad I could help. And thanks for the nice words- getting so used to the typical Internet “you’re doing it all wrong” low emotional intelligence knee jerk responses on everything.
Thanks! I have a similar model Radio Shack 8-track player and this helped me tune it in properly and stop the crosstalk that was happening.
Glad I could be helpful. Radio Shack did make some great 8 Track decks!
Great video, thanks. The "Mitsumi" brand motor and track style changer used a lot in the newer/later models. They work pretty good except 9 times out of 10 the plastic head frame is cracked and needs gluing; polyethylene glue (ugh) too but it can be done. Looks like yours didn't have a cracked frame; that's a rarity! I've disassembled the track changing assembly many times to fix that problem.
I use to have one of there’s a couple years ago
Used to test them out with a rubber band...sometimes i would cut a piece of old inner tube lol
Nice video. I’ve found that dialing in cross tracking is easier using the dead-space between songs (when the other outside tracks are playing loud music).
Good video Arthur, I'm glad you went into detail on the demagnetizer cause you do need to move slowly in to the tape head and then away, so glad you explained that for the newbies take care --- Lisa
L. E. thanks Lisa!
Excellent tutorial,Arthur!!
CB Fall Thanks!
Welcome!
I think that was the very last eight track player ever made from 1989
This was so helpful- thanks so much!
Thank you, glad you found helpful.
Ok, here PRB also known as Russell Industries in Whitewater Wisconsin carries ALL kinds of belts. PRB stands for projector-recorder belts. You will find just about ANY belt here. This is where I bought my reel-to -reel, vcr, record player belts from. They have a lot of options. They used to offer a make your own size spring belt. These would last for ever.
countryside Awesome!
I've got a Strauss player from the 60s, not unlike yours... I gave the playhead a hardcore cleaning and boy did it need it. Unfortunately the right audio channel seems to have some issues... It's much quieter than the left channel and when I crank it up (the right and left audio channels have separate dials), it gets all crackly and scratchy. I think it's an electrical issue rather than a mechanical one..
RedLink27 I hope you get it sorted out. These decks are tremendous fun.
Nice tutorial Arthur! I have the same Realistic player in the collection and for as minimal as it is in terms of design, it sure cranks out some great sound. Well done! - Lj
+BioCYTE1 Thanks LJ- it's a nice little player, and keeps thinks so darned simple. But your Panasonic is so sweet. Agree with you, that home recorded tape really was touching.
So I did something stupid possibly. I opened up my player to make a head adjustment because I have a model that doesn’t have an access hole. So I fixed that but figured I’d clean the head while I had it opened. I didn’t have any isopropyl alcohol around the house so I figured I would use hand sanitizer that is basically just 70% ethyl alcohol. Afterwards there was a visible “milky” film over it and when I played a tape it was crackling and popping. I went to the store and bought some 99% isopropyl and cleaned it over and over and now the film is gone but it’s still making the crackling/scratchy noise. Did using the sanitizer actually permanently damage the head or am I coincidentally having a separate issue happening???
Nothing that can be diagnosed via UA-cam comment boards. Sorry.
Good tips, but MY GOD MAN - HOLD THE CAMERA STILL AND NOT SO CLOSE ! LOL
M T Will you be my cameraman? I’ve been looking for a good one. My God, Man, it’s UA-cam.
do you know why a 8-track player would just start smoking?
angel lopez it could be a burned motor, due to a melted belt. Could also be bad capacitors, or transistors.
@@ArthurJS123 it doesn't look like there's anything burnt or melted or corroded the capacitors don't look bloated no broken belts the motor won't move by a weird part of it starts smoking that's not the motor
angel lopez Hard to say, then.