Hi Mark. I enjoyed this video and found it helpful with my present project. I have spent most of my life playing around with analogue audio equipment and am now working with a large collection of half inch, 16 track tapes and quarter inch half track tapes. They came from a professional studio and I am archiving their analogue tapes to digital. Quite a job! Along with the tapes came two recorders, a Fostex B16 and a Teac-Tascam 32-2B (which is why I found your channel). Of course, you are talking about the Tascam 32-2 which is quite a different machine, but there are several things that are common to both; especially the disintegrated and gooey drive belt! After hours of work, I have the Fostex B16 working perfectly and am currently patiently working through disassembling the Teac-Tascam machine, cleaning, lubricating and restoring as you have shown in this video. I don't yet know where I should look for belt replacements. Any tips? Cheers from Australia, Don.
Thank you for putting the effort to record your work in detail. In this time due to the antiquity of these types of devices, funds available, and the DIY spirit there is great interest in learning to repair. As common as forums are, there is a great need for videos of this type that walk us through the process. I will subscribe to your channel and make the request that you offer a similar video of you ever work on an Echoplex.
thanks Mark! Very helpful video. Mine is working fine now for the first time in over 25 years with a new belt and PinchRoller. Only thing now seems to be the front plastic cover and the LEDs... Very hard to get the LEDs to fit and the Cue-switch/head cover to function properly.
Nice to see how one of these is made. I use Windex (ammonia) to get rid of melted belt goo. Norelco carry corders and Teac machines are notorious for melted belts. The ammonia works wonders getting the stuff out. Thanks for your video.
Can you please make that video on proper tape head alignment. This video was amazing and very informative. But a video on alignment would be fantastic. Thanks!
Great Video, I just replaced my broken belt. I did get much dirtier than you however. It took most of the time getting rid of that black gunge. It all worked out fine and my Tascam 32 running like a dream...Thanks
Thanks for the video. BTW; here's a tip you (and those watching) may find useful. That "tar" substance , which comes from the petrochemicals in the rubber of the belts and pinch rollers, seems impossible to remove from your hands and anything it touches without the help of a sandblaster and blowtorch. However, I found out by accident that it easily comes off with "Windex". Actually, the ammonia in the Windex is the key chemical and when I say "easily comes off", I do mean EASILY! Give it a try and you'll never have trouble with that tar again. I have a Tascam 32 that the original owner did a half decent job maintaining. I wanted to know if I should change out the capacitors? If I should, is that hard to do? The deck works great but because it is an older deck, I thought it may be a good idea to change them. As for the belt, well the deck has "pitch control" which can adsorb some of the 'drag' as the belt gets older. I only do recordings at 15 ips, (strictly, 15 ips), and I imagine the belt may be working harder than it's ever been because the previous owner said they mostly used the 3.75 ips and on occasion, recorded at 7.5 ips. He said the tape was too expensive, but I'm after quality, not quantity. The music I've been recording, is playing back nicely but as a general rule, I think I should change the belt at least once every year or two, (depending on how much the deck is used). What about those caps, though? Should I change them out? where do I get them from? Thanks for the great video. Rich
This was exactly what I was looking for!!! Both my Tascam 34, and Tascam 38 thank you very kindly for such a detailed course of action! Great! Great!! Great!!!
A trick that was taught to me as I work as a mechanic to remove Grime and stuff like that remnants of that belt which is similar to the ingredients used in automotive equipment, I would wash my hands and soap first and then use a paper towel to wipe my hands. You'll see more material come off that way then if you just washed one hand on top of another hand.
Hello Mr. Blueglow. Thanks sooo much for this very detailed inside video. Enjoying every second of it. I would be very interested in the head alignment and overall fine adjustment topic. Do you have made a video on that? Would love to watch and learn more about it. Thanks again so much and regards from Germany, Richy 🙏
One thing, that I suggest, in order to test the record and play back, it’s better to use one of new tapes produced by ATR, new products, because using old tapes like yours, could suffer from Sticky tapes, and all that Crap goes back to heads and tape pats. Just a suggestion
HOLA EXCELENTE TRABAJO HAS REALIZADO, TE QUIERO HACER UNA PREGUNTA: TENGO ESA MISMA TASCAM 34B, LO QUE PASA ES QUE EL EJE IZQUIERDO (DONDE SE MONTA LA CINTA) ESTA DESNIVELADO Y NO SE SI ESO AFECTE A LA MAQUINA,HE INTENTADO NIVELARLO CON UNAS PINZAS Y NO ME HA FUNCIONADO, QUE PUEDO HACER, YA LE QUITE LOS 3 TORNILLOS QUE TIENE Y NO PUEDO DESMONTAR EL EJE PARA TRATAR DE ALINEARLO CORRECTAMENTE, GRACIAS POR TU RESPUESTA Y ESTOY AL PENDIENTE DE TU CANAL.
Great video! I have this exact unit. My head cover is detatched ome one side as well. Must be common. Mine rewinds and fast forwards, but won't play. It has worked in the past and when I attempted to play, it made internal clunking sounds. Is that likely a belt? Thanks!
can the large capstan sleeve be removed from the rod that goes on the flywheel so thqat the speed can be slowed down to 3. 3/4 i p s and 7 .5 i p s thank you for your time and the great video
started working on my 32-2B following this video, didn't pay attention to that "B" model difference ! In 32-2B they changed the chassis and all. Everything is held onto this thick metal plate in the front. "WARNING" - If you start out dis-assembling it from front, everything could fall apart !
Yes indeed! I currently have a Teac-Tascam 32-2B in poor condition and have started the restoration. Since your post is from 6 years ago, do you mind telling me how your restoration went? I just finished a very difficult restoration of a Fostex B-16 half-inch tape machine with 16 tracks. Now working perfectly, so hoping I can have success with the half track machine too.
@@australianbloke3934 Yes ! it’s been a while…the restoration was successful! everything back to how it’s supposed to be. Nice sweet pure sound !! I use “Rubber Renew” on the pinch rollers every year. a drop of oil on moving parts and deox on electrical parts(potentiometers etc)
Thanks for the video. I have the same unit and it needs a belt. I brought the unit new and it has never left the house and has been taken care of. The pinch roller is very gummy and I was going to replace it. But now I'm going to try and restore it as in your video. After watching your video I feel I can handle the task...Thanks again.. By the way, do you have any recommendation as to where I should purchase the belt?
I think you must have done that job for a 'song', (pardon the pun), because if he had come to me, I would have suggested that he a buy a completely reconditioned 32 on line. I would have charged maybe $100 less than what he would have paid for a good one (on eBay for $500 in very good condition). Anyway, you obviously have the experience to do this but I'm not so sure you're charging what you're worth, but that's me. I have a Tascam 32 myself and I use it often so I go through the belt change (once per year), and cleanings (twice each year) regularly. I just wanted to say that I was surprised that you didn't wrap this up with a demag session! It seems like the repair videos I run into online always overlook the head and guide demag process in their tutorials. I clean and demag the heads before I start any recording session. This is something that's pretty important to do. Anyway, you did a great job covering the basic restoration in this video. I've had my deck several years now and I'm going to start running down some of the tech equipment to test the accuracy, (frequency, motor/tape speeds, wow & flutter, etc). I have an oscilloscope but that alone is enough for the test and adjustments. First on the list is a "Spring Scale" and I'm probably going to run down some test tapes too. Thanks, Rich PS Love that Mac 225!
Not sure where you're getting the 500 dollar figure for a "completely reconditioned" machine. At present, the cheapest "buy it now" price for a working 32 is 1k not including shipping.
@@andmoreagain Yes, NOW it'll cost $1K. My Tascam 32 cost me $350 back in 2019. It needed some work but nothing I couldn't do, (and did), for less than $100. However, that was back around 2018/2019.
I think you meant erase head and not record head. The middle head would be the record head and the far right one would be the playback. Some units would let you listen to your freshly recorded material almost immediately after putting it on the tape.
Hello, thanks for the video. I tried to remove the headphone/pitch/input+output volumes caps with a hex-head wrench (as mentioned in the service manual) but it didn't work, i just can't remove it..pretty weird...any suggestions please, how could you make it please?? i tried with 1.5mm size like mentioned in the service manual but it didn't work..and as for the headstock housing (using 3mm size the manual says)... ????? thank you so much
Hello is it possible to slow down the playing and recording speed on the tascam 32 tape deck to 3 3/4 and 7.5 ips speed instead of 7.5 ips and 15 ips thank you and can you explain how to do this and can you change the heads so that you can turn this into a 4 track deck is that possible to do.please let me know and thank you for your time and have a very happy new year
hi will have to make a new video when i have more time on tascam 30 line there;s alot that can go bad on them and i know there no need to part out units that have small parts that play up bob
BlueGlow. Like this R2R you showed on this video, but never the brand's name...By the way, do you know "glow", whether blue or otherwise is not light per se, but only the beginning of.... Or do you mean , the Blue (after) Glow at the end ...? Heard the trumpet sounds great on these. Just joking with you off course.
Hi Mark. I enjoyed this video and found it helpful with my present project. I have spent most of my life playing around with analogue audio equipment and am now working with a large collection of half inch, 16 track tapes and quarter inch half track tapes. They came from a professional studio and I am archiving their analogue tapes to digital. Quite a job! Along with the tapes came two recorders, a Fostex B16 and a Teac-Tascam 32-2B (which is why I found your channel). Of course, you are talking about the Tascam 32-2 which is quite a different machine, but there are several things that are common to both; especially the disintegrated and gooey drive belt! After hours of work, I have the Fostex B16 working perfectly and am currently patiently working through disassembling the Teac-Tascam machine, cleaning, lubricating and restoring as you have shown in this video. I don't yet know where I should look for belt replacements. Any tips?
Cheers from Australia, Don.
One of the best reel to reel restore videos!
Thank you for putting the effort to record your work in detail. In this time due to the antiquity of these types of devices, funds available, and the DIY spirit there is great interest in learning to repair. As common as forums are, there is a great need for videos of this type that walk us through the process.
I will subscribe to your channel and make the request that you offer a similar video of you ever work on an Echoplex.
thanks Mark! Very helpful video. Mine is working fine now for the first time in over 25 years with a new belt and PinchRoller. Only thing now seems to be the front plastic cover and the LEDs... Very hard to get the LEDs to fit and the Cue-switch/head cover to function properly.
I bought a new belt and pinch roller from Germany on eBay, followed these instructions and it works like new. Thank you!.
Nice to see how one of these is made. I use Windex (ammonia) to get rid of melted belt goo. Norelco carry corders and Teac machines are notorious for melted belts. The ammonia works wonders getting the stuff out. Thanks for your video.
Awesome!!! Everything I needed to repair a Tascam 38. Thanks!!!!
Can you please make that video on proper tape head alignment. This video was amazing and very informative. But a video on alignment would be fantastic. Thanks!
Great Video, I just replaced my broken belt. I did get much dirtier than you however. It took most of the time getting rid of that black gunge. It all worked out fine and my Tascam 32 running like a dream...Thanks
I was able to fix my Tascam 34B and found your video to be very helpful. Thanks!
Thanks for the video. BTW; here's a tip you (and those watching) may find useful. That "tar" substance , which comes from the petrochemicals in the rubber of the belts and pinch rollers, seems impossible to remove from your hands and anything it touches without the help of a sandblaster and blowtorch.
However, I found out by accident that it easily comes off with "Windex". Actually, the ammonia in the Windex is the key chemical and when I say "easily comes off", I do mean EASILY! Give it a try and you'll never have trouble with that tar again.
I have a Tascam 32 that the original owner did a half decent job maintaining. I wanted to know if I should change out the capacitors? If I should, is that hard to do? The deck works great but because it is an older deck, I thought it may be a good idea to change them.
As for the belt, well the deck has "pitch control" which can adsorb some of the 'drag' as the belt gets older. I only do recordings at 15 ips, (strictly, 15 ips), and I imagine the belt may be working harder than it's ever been because the previous owner said they mostly used the 3.75 ips and on occasion, recorded at 7.5 ips.
He said the tape was too expensive, but I'm after quality, not quantity. The music I've been recording, is playing back nicely but as a general rule, I think I should change the belt at least once every year or two, (depending on how much the deck is used).
What about those caps, though? Should I change them out? where do I get them from?
Thanks for the great video.
Rich
This was exactly what I was looking for!!! Both my Tascam 34, and Tascam 38 thank you very kindly for such a detailed course of action! Great! Great!! Great!!!
i can hear the joy just bursting through the audio from your camera! my god what a pain to work on these things..
I learned more in this video than any of the others combined. Awesome information. Thank You!
A True great technician, for sure
just picked up my first reel 2 reel tascam 32 can't wait to get started. great video thanks!!
Excellent detailed video, thanks for sharing. That rubber deterioration was a common problem with Philips Reel to reels to like the N4450.
A trick that was taught to me as I work as a mechanic to remove Grime and stuff like that remnants of that belt which is similar to the ingredients used in automotive equipment, I would wash my hands and soap first and then use a paper towel to wipe my hands. You'll see more material come off that way then if you just washed one hand on top of another hand.
I owe you one. This video was a lot of help. Thanks for making it!
Hello Mr. Blueglow.
Thanks sooo much for this very detailed inside video. Enjoying every second of it.
I would be very interested in the head alignment and overall fine adjustment topic.
Do you have made a video on that?
Would love to watch and learn more about it.
Thanks again so much and regards from Germany,
Richy 🙏
This video is very informative! Thanks so much!
Thanks for this vid, repaired my Tascam 34B with it!
Love this. Post more !!!
One thing, that I suggest, in order to test the record and play back, it’s better to use one of new tapes produced by ATR, new products, because using old tapes like yours, could suffer from Sticky tapes, and all that Crap goes back to heads and tape pats. Just a suggestion
exelente el video.muchas gracias por compartir su experiencia.saludos desde argentina
For getting rid of the black gunge, try naphtha also known as cigarette lighter fluid or barbecue lighting fluid.
jdudb That's what I used (just word away clean and shiny!) followed by a good clean up with isopropyl alcohol.
thank you so much - the best reel to reel video on the net - what do you use for lubrication?
That was perfect video thank you
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely. Good Album.
Great Song Choice!
Think you.
HOLA EXCELENTE TRABAJO HAS REALIZADO, TE QUIERO HACER UNA PREGUNTA: TENGO ESA MISMA TASCAM 34B, LO QUE PASA ES QUE EL EJE IZQUIERDO (DONDE SE MONTA LA CINTA) ESTA DESNIVELADO Y NO SE SI ESO AFECTE A LA MAQUINA,HE INTENTADO NIVELARLO CON UNAS PINZAS Y NO ME HA FUNCIONADO, QUE PUEDO HACER, YA LE QUITE LOS 3 TORNILLOS QUE TIENE Y NO PUEDO DESMONTAR EL EJE PARA TRATAR DE ALINEARLO CORRECTAMENTE, GRACIAS POR TU RESPUESTA Y ESTOY AL PENDIENTE DE TU CANAL.
Mark I have a question about the string on the left side with the spring!!! Please help me
Great video! I have this exact unit. My head cover is detatched ome one side as well. Must be common. Mine rewinds and fast forwards, but won't play. It has worked in the past and when I attempted to play, it made internal clunking sounds. Is that likely a belt? Thanks!
can the large capstan sleeve be removed from the rod that goes on the flywheel so thqat the speed can be slowed down to 3. 3/4 i p s and 7 .5 i p s thank you for your time and the great video
started working on my 32-2B following this video, didn't pay attention to that "B" model difference ! In 32-2B they changed the chassis and all. Everything is held onto this thick metal plate in the front. "WARNING" - If you start out dis-assembling it from front, everything could fall apart !
Yes indeed! I currently have a Teac-Tascam 32-2B in poor condition and have started the restoration. Since your post is from 6 years ago, do you mind telling me how your restoration went? I just finished a very difficult restoration of a Fostex B-16 half-inch tape machine with 16 tracks. Now working perfectly, so hoping I can have success with the half track machine too.
@@australianbloke3934 Yes ! it’s been a while…the restoration was successful! everything back to how it’s supposed to be. Nice sweet pure sound !! I use “Rubber Renew” on the pinch rollers every year. a drop of oil on moving parts and deox on electrical parts(potentiometers etc)
I was just given one of these, and the pinch roller is turning to tar - but the drive belt seems ok!! Where in the world can I get spares?
Thanks for the video. I have the same unit and it needs a belt. I brought the unit new and it has never left the house and has been taken care of. The pinch roller is very gummy and I was going to replace it. But now I'm going to try and restore it as in your video. After watching your video I feel I can handle the task...Thanks again.. By the way, do you have any recommendation as to where I should purchase the belt?
+Jim McDowell
www.ebay.com/itm/Capstan-Riemen-fur-Tascam-32-rubber-belt-Tonband-Tape-Recorder-/161455972891?hash=item259786a21b
Thanks.
Very helpful video helped me to repair my 32. Do you know if you can modify the tape speed to play any slower than 7 1/2 ips?
I think you must have done that job for a 'song', (pardon the pun), because if he had come to me, I would have suggested that he a buy a completely reconditioned 32 on line. I would have charged maybe $100 less than what he would have paid for a good one (on eBay for $500 in very good condition).
Anyway, you obviously have the experience to do this but I'm not so sure you're charging what you're worth, but that's me. I have a Tascam 32 myself and I use it often so I go through the belt change (once per year), and cleanings (twice each year) regularly.
I just wanted to say that I was surprised that you didn't wrap this up with a demag session! It seems like the repair videos I run into online always overlook the head and guide demag process in their tutorials. I clean and demag the heads before I start any recording session. This is something that's pretty important to do.
Anyway, you did a great job covering the basic restoration in this video. I've had my deck several years now and I'm going to start running down some of the tech equipment to test the accuracy, (frequency, motor/tape speeds, wow & flutter, etc).
I have an oscilloscope but that alone is enough for the test and adjustments. First on the list is a "Spring Scale" and I'm probably going to run down some test tapes too.
Thanks,
Rich
PS Love that Mac 225!
Not sure where you're getting the 500 dollar figure for a "completely reconditioned" machine. At present, the cheapest "buy it now" price for a working 32 is 1k not including shipping.
@@andmoreagain Yes, NOW it'll cost $1K. My Tascam 32 cost me $350 back in 2019. It needed some work but nothing I couldn't do, (and did), for less than $100. However, that was back around 2018/2019.
I can't even get the knobs off
does anybody know if the set screws are torx or Allen?
I'm searching for a video about adjusting the brake for this same unit.
What size hex wrench do you need to remove a tascam 34 pitch knob?
I think you meant erase head and not record head. The middle head would be the record head and the far right one would be the playback. Some units would let you listen to your freshly recorded material almost immediately after putting it on the tape.
LOL I guess I should have waited until I got to the end of the video to make my comment! You got it right.
...eventually. Twice early on the camera shows the erase head & he's saying RECORD head...
Hello, thanks for the video. I tried to remove the headphone/pitch/input+output volumes caps with a hex-head wrench (as mentioned in the service manual) but it didn't work, i just can't remove it..pretty weird...any suggestions please, how could you make it please?? i tried with 1.5mm size like mentioned in the service manual but it didn't work..and as for the headstock housing (using 3mm size the manual says)... ????? thank you so much
Hello is it possible to slow down the playing and recording speed on the tascam 32 tape deck to 3 3/4 and 7.5 ips speed instead of 7.5 ips and 15 ips thank you and can you explain how to do this and can you change the heads so that you can turn this into a 4 track deck is that possible to do.please let me know and thank you for your time and have a very happy new year
What are your fees for repair of a Akai RTR. Also, do you sale restored reels repaired by you
Thank you
GREAT.
The 'tarry' residue can be removed with WD-40 and rubbing alcohol. Much safer than acetone. I does require some effort!
hi will have to make a new video when i have more time on tascam 30 line there;s alot that can go bad on them and i know there no need to part out units that have small parts
that play up bob
BlueGlow. Like this R2R you showed on this video, but never the brand's name...By the way, do you know "glow", whether blue or otherwise is not light per se, but only the beginning of.... Or do you mean , the Blue (after) Glow at the end ...? Heard the trumpet sounds great on these. Just joking with you off course.
What's that song at the beginning?
zero rerturn button is missing
How to remove output and input controls?
Blueglow Electronics Nice Submariner... :-)
whatnot...
Just had to give you a little ribbing for using the term "whatnot" a little bit too much. Otherwise, great video...
Sorry I can´t hear your voice . Cheers.