Technics RS-TR313

Harald's advice is pretty complete.
You may have a worn-out part, but the odds are, your mechanism needs a good cleaning.
I use Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol. Be especially sure to clean the tape heads, as build-up on those can physically grab at the tape running across the heads, and cause your symptoms.
Clean all the rollers the tape runs across and make sure they spin freely as Harald explained.
Good luck, hopefully this'll get you going again.

 

Like Harald said, you'll have to take the chassis cover off of the unit to look at everything inside (make sure you unplug it when you do that).
You may be surprised to find something inside the unit that is clogging things-up.
I've found units with dust, dirt, pet hair, build-up of tape residue from all the tapes run through it.
Thoroughly clean out the dust and whatever, use the isopropyl and Q-tips to clean worn tape residue off all the rollers and tape guides that the tape runs through.
Check the moving part mechanisms like Harald suggested for free movement.
When you think the unit is clean, with the chassis cover off, (being careful not to shock yourself), plug the unit in, insert one of you less important tapes, and watch the tape load and play operations.
Look for wherever the tape is hanging-up (if it still does) to isolate the problem area.
This is not difficult to do, just realize the mechanical assemblies are very delicate, you don't want to damage them while you're cleaning or manipulating them to check for unhindered movement.

 

Can you tell if the rollers that stick are driven by a rubber belt?
A belt driving the rollers would be the first thing to suspect if it's worn/loose.
It's possible the capstan motor is failing, or that the mechanical rollers are so worn that they' hanging-up, but any belts that might be in there are the first thing to suspect.

 

I think that this is the best answer so far. Some things are best left to the professionals.

Edit: If you really insist on doing it yourself, with help from the very knowledgable people here, a good clear photo of the innards would help enormously.

 

You don't sound like you've got much experience with repairs like this. Do you know anybody in the area who does?
I wouldn't mess with any mechanical adjustments until I replaced the rubber belt.
That's my two-cents worth.
If you Google the make and model of your tape deck with reference to replacement belts, you'll find somebody to buy a replacemt kit from.
You'll also get hits on any parts available for your deck, but none of this will help much if you don't have some skill in work like this.
A repair shop would probably charge more than you'd want to pay.
Replacing the belt may not solve the problem, and somebody with repair skills would have to look at it to determine any other potential issue.
It just takes somebody with experience to physically check the deck and isolate the exact problem.
Your pictures tell me the deck is belt driven, and that's what usually wears-out first, but may not be your only issue.

 

Arch, I can't personally help with your problem, but figured a photo would have to help the others to see what's going on. Good luck with it.

 

Like Old Steve, this sounds to me like something you'd have a real problem doing.
What follows is my advice if you really intend to scrap the unit:
First, take a good look at your sprocket gears (the ones with the teeth), if any one of them is worn-down or chipped-off, that would explain your symptom. Make darned sure there aren't any foreign objects stuck in the moving parts
that would gum-up the works.
1) Convince yourself that you're going to trash the recorder. That way if you try to fix it, you won't feel bad if something goes terribly wrong in disassembly or reassembly.
2) If you don't have the operator manual that came with the deck (sometimes they have mechanical exploded views of the innards), Google a free service manual, or schematics on your make and model. What you're looking for is an exploded diagram of the mechanical assembly, and/or instructions about replacing the belts.
3) Find the replacement belt kit for your recorder, and if it isn't too expensive, buy it.
4)Make sure the deck isn't plugged into power. Look at the assembly carefully, and determine which chassis screws are holding the assembly in place that prevents you from getting to the rubber belts. Carefully remove the
assembly blocking access to the belts, being sure you know how to reinstall it when the belts have been replaced. This is a delicate operation because everything has to be reinstalled exactly the same way you originally find it.
5) If you do all of the above and it doesn't fix the problem, a service guy would be needed.

I'm suggesting all this trouble because the vast majority of belt-driven recorders I've worked on are belt issues. The belts get so worn they slip; or stick, if the rubber deteriorates.
I'm only suggesting this because you said you'd probably have to trash the recorder. All the previous advice from guys on this site are valid. The recorder should be looked at by somebody who knows how to work on them.

 

You could try Googling "cassette deck belts".
(You'll need to measure the length and width/diameter of the belts first, so you know what you're looking for. Do they seem loose?)

You'll get results like this:-
http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/cassette.htm

I used to deal with these guys here in Australia, when I was still working:-
https://www.wes.com.au/mediapub/ebook/wescat2014np/#1220
(They didn't have this fancy online catalogue back then.)

Edit: And don't forget to buy belts slightly shorter than your stretched old ones are now, or the new ones will also slip.

 

Hi Arch L,
Never give in with a repair of your own goods!!
The Technics decks are real nice old skool decks.
I found two videos on youtube about 1. replacing the belts and 2. about your deck.

The first video is not your deck but the tape mechanism is the same or very similar.
The second is a guy who has cleaned his deck. He has replaced the belts and you might find it useful to contact him with your photos.

Always, ALWAYS, take photos of every stage and MARK all connectors.
And draw a layout of all the screws you can see and as you remove them, place them on your drawing so you know where they go and don't get confused if some are longer / shorter.
It really is very easy to take apart and repair if done methodically.
Good luck.





Martin