Auto reverse cassette deck in slow motion

While repairing a Sony FC567 auto reverse dual cassette deck I just could not resist making some videos in slow motion. The end result is this video where I got a little creative while editing...
Sit back and watch the magic happen when many different parts start engaging when I switch play sides.
To sum up what actually happens:
The heads and pinch roller assembly gets pulled away from the cassette.
in the meantime the white peg above forces the center gear (which is indirectly connected to the motor) to the middle, away from both driven gears.
The head switches sides and the whole assembly rises again.
One pinch roller is being held back a bit and has no contact with the capstan while the other is being pressed firmly to the other capstan.
With the assembly rising it takes the white peg with it which frees the center gear to latch into the other drive gear.

[@villagerse]

Does it need lubrication?? Then which oil ?

[@CRH1A-1145]

Apparently in play mode - but why is the take-up reel spinning sooooo fast lol

[@hex_editor]

it slows down with an actual tape due to the friction. the entire purpose of the tape-up reel is to properly take back the tape, because the capstan dictates the speed, so it doesn't matter what speed it runs at as long as it isn't too slow.

[@CRH1A-1145]

@@hex_editor That makes sense - in this case are the reels powered by a separate motor from the capstan?

[@hex_editor]

@@CRH1A-1145 the spindles for the reels turn faster than the capstan, and they use a seperate motor. the capstan touches the pinchroller which moves the tape, but doesn't thread it

[@CRH1A-1145]

@@hex_editor So sorry - I fell asleep before finishing my question. I would have asked as well: *in play mode*, are both the capstan motor and the reel motor energized?

[@hex_editor]

@@CRH1A-1145 yes, you can see this when looking at any tape deck. A lot of tape decks actually only have one motor which gets engaged and disengaged (and the speed changes based on gear ratio and belt size) but the concept stays the same. Some have two. I'm mostly used to working with VCRs which almost always have two motors controlling the capstan and reels separately. So yes, when playing the capstan pushes the tape (against the pinchroller) so its advancing at an equal speed. The capstan needs to be rotating at even even speed to push the tape at a constant linear speed if that makes any sense. The tape basically moves across the head, thats how it plays the audio. As it does this, you can sort of picture the tape getting all clumped up, which is what happens when it "eats the tape". The take up spins and returns all of that tape back so both reels spin equally, essentially. When rewinding and fast forwarding, it doesn't care about accuracy so it just spins the spindles for the reels as fast a possible while disengaging the capstan from the pinchroller.