Adjusting Cassette Player Speed

[lukiedog]

My old Optonica RT-6207 is running a little slow (recent yard sale
purchase). Without any special equipment, I would like to give a try
adjusting it. I gather there is a screw or pot somewhere that might
adjust motor voltage and subsequently speed. If this is in fact
correct, where should I look for it? It is a 2 motor drive, does that
affect what I may need to do? Don't have a 1K tape and am not
interested in purchasing test equipment. Thanks.

 

[Sofie]

lukiedog:
BEFORE you adjust anything.... are you certain that the belts are not worn
or slipping and that the lubrication of the mechanism is OK???
There will either be a pot on the main board or a small adjustment hole in
the back of the motor.
Without a test tape or any test equipment ..... exactly how do you propose
getting the speed absolutely correct?

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

lukiedog:
BEFORE you adjust anything.... are you certain that the belts are not worn
or slipping and that the lubrication of the mechanism is OK???
There will either be a pot on the main board or a small adjustment hole in
the back of the motor.
Without a test tape or any test equipment ..... exactly how do you propose
getting the speed absolutely correct?

I once adjusted a player by having both a pre-recorded (store bought)
tape and CD that were identical. I would play both at the same time, and
tried to keep them in sync. There's no guarantee that the pre-recorded
tape is exactly the right speed, but it's probably the closest with
spending a lot of money on calibrated tapes and hardware.

 

[lukiedog]

I was planning on recording a number of plucks on a tuned guitar from
an accurate recorder and playing back on the slow unit and adjusting
it while monitoring my electronic guitar tuner. Or trail and error,
if that failed.

I opened the unit up and there are two motors made by sharp behind the
cassette housing. They do have a hole in the rear of the round metal
body which has a plastic film on them. The belts don't look too bad
and look like they would be a bear to get to to replace anyway. And
as far as lubrication, I wouldn't know where to start.

If someone could make it sound easy, I would give it a shot.
Otherwise, back to the pile. Too bad, it is a nice unit with a baked
on black metal finish on the housing and the buttons have a very solid
feel to them....

 

[jakdedert]

If you're not willing to replace the rubber, then I'd say it's 'back to the
pile' for it. FWIW, the rubber is always the first thing to deteriorate on
these otherwise functioning units. It's not worth going to any trouble at
all with them, unless you're also going to get new rubber bands. It's just
throwing good money (or effort) after bad.

jak

 

[lukiedog]

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the rubber. Feels like
it has tension. I have seen dried out bands before and these actually
look pretty good compared.

 

[Sofie]

lukiedog:
You asked the question in your original posting, you have read the replies
and repair suggestions from knowledgeable techs....... you can now decide
what you want to do next, the ball is in your court.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
---------------------------

There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the rubber. Feels like
it has tension. I have seen dried out bands before and these actually
look pretty good compared.

..

 

[Asimov]

"lukiedog" bravely wrote to "All" (16 Nov 03 09:10:15)
--- on the heady topic of "Re: Adjusting Cassette Player Speed"

lu> From: [email protected] (lukiedog)

lu> There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the rubber. Feels like
lu> it has tension. I have seen dried out bands before and these actually
lu> look pretty good compared.

I've noticed rubber bands tend to soften and stretch rather then dry and
tighten up. An old soft and stretched band will result in slipping.

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