Philips N7300 tape guide roller - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Rewind reset · 20th May 2016, 1:16 pm

Hello all
I am currently trying to locate a way of replacing a tape roller guide on the Philips N7300.
I have not been able to locate anybody thus far who has a spare or can offer any help regarding adapting something else from another model/ machine.
On this forum, I am hoping for some wisdom and insight, any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Obviously if someone has one for sale even better!! Thank you in advance.

Chindit · 27th May 2016, 10:02 am

Hello,
What do you mean by a tape roller guide please? I am new to reel to reel, so don't have much experience as of yet, so forgive me. I'm interested in the Philips stuff too; I now have two N4504s and two N4506s. Do you mean the rubber pinch roller that runs against the capstan? If so, I would have thought it quite likely that these will be a generic part common to other models and there are certainly pinch rollers for the N4xxx series for sale on eBay. If you can give the the diameter and depth of the pinch roller, I can measure one of mine to see if they might be the same.
Best wishes, Colin.

toshiba tony · 27th May 2016, 11:16 am

Hello Colin, Are you still harping on about your Philips beauties, I've got over the fact you won't sell me your speakers! Anyway, re the pinch rollers, they are available for about 35 quid. By the way, what was your recording issue with your deck, or are you up and running now?
Take care
Tony

Chindit · 1st Jun 2016, 8:27 am

Hello again Tony,
Well, I was hoping Rewind reset would confirm it IS a pinch roller he's looking for. I posted the outcome of the recording difficulties a week or so ago on my N4506 thread - you'll laugh when you read it!!!
Colin.

toshiba tony · 1st Jun 2016, 12:16 pm

I can beat that, used to work for Sony, one day head engineer came in, struggled for 1 hour fault finding a dead crt. No power to his bench, AND IT WASNT ME

toshiba tony · 1st Jun 2016, 2:07 pm

We belong in the same home, dribbling down our shirt fronts.

Rewind reset · 3rd Jun 2016, 1:07 pm

Hello Chindit
I'm sorry for the late reply but have no real idea how the forum works regarding replies and being alerted about replies. probably something I did not sort out when registering.

However that aside the "rollers I'm speaking of " are the metal tape guide rollers that the tape passes around before the tape passes through the heads. They push on and pull off. I can send you a photo if there is a way to do so on the forum otherwise I can email you my details and do it that way.

AC/HL · 3rd Jun 2016, 8:30 pm

Hi RR,
To get email notification, click on "Thread Tools" at the top of the first post and select subscribe. To post photos read this thread: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=77650

toshiba tony · 4th Jun 2016, 5:17 am

Sorry to butt in, Colin is probably more clued up on these machines than I am, but after reading he solved his problem re. recording I am not so sure. (joking Colin)
Right, your metal rollers on the tension arms. What is the problem with them?
I posted on here about them and got a number of replies. Philips designed the 4506 and dictated they shouldn't rotate on their shaft, why I don't know. That's Philips for you, but to prevent any drag on them they must be spotless, no oxide whatsover, I also think any flat spots that will form with use will impede tape transport, because more metal is in contact with the tape. I don't know why Philips made them fixed, some manufacturers make them rotate in use, some don't, Philips have always been different, the shaft that the rollers sit on are flat on one side and the rollers have a flat on the inside. What I do whilst rewinding or fast forwarding is unlace the tape but I fear the wear takes place during play and record, mainly because the supply reel is providing more back tension in this mode. I don't see what would be wrong with machining a couple of rollers (collars

) to replace the existing ones. Tape friction would certainly be reduced, I can't think of any reason it would be detrimental to any tape transport function, and I feel it would be kinder to tapes. But as I say, the collars must be totally oxide free.

Chindit · 9th Jun 2016, 11:23 am

RR, I'm in the same boat as you regarding replies! Either that or I'm a bit slow on the uptake!!! So we are talking about the fixed (non-rotating), polished guides that form the ends of the sprung tension arms? The first and last things the tape passes round after leaving LH/ before joining RH reel?
What is wrong with them? are they just worn or is one of them missing? Feel free to add a photo. Colin.

Rewind reset · 12th Jun 2016, 2:40 pm

This is a picture of the "tape guide" I hope the picture shows in the thread.
Thank you in advance Chindits.

toshiba tony · 12th Jun 2016, 3:23 pm

Ah right, this is a totally different deck to the one I imagined, but I will look at the service manual and report back.

Chindit · 13th Jun 2016, 9:21 am

Yes, you've got me flummoxed as well! I was expecting it to be just like the other N45xx machines and therefore a generic part. All I can suggest, apart from trying to source a similar scrap machine and taking the part you need from it, is maybe to look at the possibility of asking a small engineering company if they can produce something based on the surviving tape guide. Sorry I can't be any more help! Colin.

20th May 2016, 1:16 pm	#1
Rewind reset Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hello all I am currently trying to locate a way of replacing a tape roller guide on the Philips N7300. I have not been able to locate anybody thus far who has a spare or can offer any help regarding adapting something else from another model/ machine. On this forum, I am hoping for some wisdom and insight, any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Obviously if someone has one for sale even better!! Thank you in advance.

27th May 2016, 10:02 am	#2
Chindit Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK. Posts: 97	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hello, What do you mean by a tape roller guide please? I am new to reel to reel, so don't have much experience as of yet, so forgive me. I'm interested in the Philips stuff too; I now have two N4504s and two N4506s. Do you mean the rubber pinch roller that runs against the capstan? If so, I would have thought it quite likely that these will be a generic part common to other models and there are certainly pinch rollers for the N4xxx series for sale on eBay. If you can give the the diameter and depth of the pinch roller, I can measure one of mine to see if they might be the same. Best wishes, Colin.

27th May 2016, 11:16 am	#3
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hello Colin, Are you still harping on about your Philips beauties, I've got over the fact you won't sell me your speakers! Anyway, re the pinch rollers, they are available for about 35 quid. By the way, what was your recording issue with your deck, or are you up and running now? Take care Tony

1st Jun 2016, 8:27 am	#4
Chindit Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK. Posts: 97	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hello again Tony, Well, I was hoping Rewind reset would confirm it IS a pinch roller he's looking for. I posted the outcome of the recording difficulties a week or so ago on my N4506 thread - you'll laugh when you read it!!! Colin.

1st Jun 2016, 12:16 pm	#5
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller I can beat that, used to work for Sony, one day head engineer came in, struggled for 1 hour fault finding a dead crt. No power to his bench, AND IT WASNT ME

1st Jun 2016, 2:07 pm	#6
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller We belong in the same home, dribbling down our shirt fronts.

3rd Jun 2016, 1:07 pm	#7
Rewind reset Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hello Chindit I'm sorry for the late reply but have no real idea how the forum works regarding replies and being alerted about replies. probably something I did not sort out when registering. However that aside the "rollers I'm speaking of " are the metal tape guide rollers that the tape passes around before the tape passes through the heads. They push on and pull off. I can send you a photo if there is a way to do so on the forum otherwise I can email you my details and do it that way.

3rd Jun 2016, 8:30 pm	#8
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Hi RR, To get email notification, click on "Thread Tools" at the top of the first post and select subscribe. To post photos read this thread: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=77650

4th Jun 2016, 5:17 am	#9
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Sorry to butt in, Colin is probably more clued up on these machines than I am, but after reading he solved his problem re. recording I am not so sure. (joking Colin) Right, your metal rollers on the tension arms. What is the problem with them? I posted on here about them and got a number of replies. Philips designed the 4506 and dictated they shouldn't rotate on their shaft, why I don't know. That's Philips for you, but to prevent any drag on them they must be spotless, no oxide whatsover, I also think any flat spots that will form with use will impede tape transport, because more metal is in contact with the tape. I don't know why Philips made them fixed, some manufacturers make them rotate in use, some don't, Philips have always been different, the shaft that the rollers sit on are flat on one side and the rollers have a flat on the inside. What I do whilst rewinding or fast forwarding is unlace the tape but I fear the wear takes place during play and record, mainly because the supply reel is providing more back tension in this mode. I don't see what would be wrong with machining a couple of rollers (collars) to replace the existing ones. Tape friction would certainly be reduced, I can't think of any reason it would be detrimental to any tape transport function, and I feel it would be kinder to tapes. But as I say, the collars must be totally oxide free.

9th Jun 2016, 11:23 am	#10
Chindit Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK. Posts: 97	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller RR, I'm in the same boat as you regarding replies! Either that or I'm a bit slow on the uptake!!! So we are talking about the fixed (non-rotating), polished guides that form the ends of the sprung tension arms? The first and last things the tape passes round after leaving LH/ before joining RH reel? What is wrong with them? are they just worn or is one of them missing? Feel free to add a photo. Colin.

12th Jun 2016, 2:40 pm	#11
Rewind reset Retired Dormant Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: London, UK. Posts: 3	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller This is a picture of the "tape guide" I hope the picture shows in the thread. Thank you in advance Chindits. Attached Thumbnails

12th Jun 2016, 3:23 pm	#12
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Ah right, this is a totally different deck to the one I imagined, but I will look at the service manual and report back.

13th Jun 2016, 9:21 am	#13
Chindit Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, UK. Posts: 97	Re: Philips N7300 tape guide roller Yes, you've got me flummoxed as well! I was expecting it to be just like the other N45xx machines and therefore a generic part. All I can suggest, apart from trying to source a similar scrap machine and taking the part you need from it, is maybe to look at the possibility of asking a small engineering company if they can produce something based on the surviving tape guide. Sorry I can't be any more help! Colin.