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SteveCG · 25th Jul 2019, 12:30 pm

An update:

I've removed the top and bottom covers. The belts are all intact. The 'paper' capacitors are WIMA brand with the exception of a replacement grey RS one which is not mounted very well at all - for no apparent reason; I'll replace it.

Apart from some rust - and a rather clagged up capstan, it looks hopeful. My next goal is to work out what function that RS capacitor has and then to clean the tape recorder up sufficiently to see if the head is intact by playing a tape.

This will be another tape recorder I've met from the mid to late 60s where the belts are still intact - unlike those from the 70s where goo is the name of the game.

I tried it very, very briefly when I first got it and whilst the spool holders turned (I could not see the capstan - it is rather buried in the head cover design) there was a sound rather like a concrete mixer, so I'm expecting to find that the bottom capstan bearing needs greasing. My only concern is whether this is a 'critical alignment' situation.

25th Jul 2019, 12:30 pm	#4
SteveCG Nonode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 2,495	Re: Grundig TK120 tape recorder An update: I've removed the top and bottom covers. The belts are all intact. The 'paper' capacitors are WIMA brand with the exception of a replacement grey RS one which is not mounted very well at all - for no apparent reason; I'll replace it. Apart from some rust - and a rather clagged up capstan, it looks hopeful. My next goal is to work out what function that RS capacitor has and then to clean the tape recorder up sufficiently to see if the head is intact by playing a tape. This will be another tape recorder I've met from the mid to late 60s where the belts are still intact - unlike those from the 70s where goo is the name of the game. I tried it very, very briefly when I first got it and whilst the spool holders turned (I could not see the capstan - it is rather buried in the head cover design) there was a sound rather like a concrete mixer, so I'm expecting to find that the bottom capstan bearing needs greasing. My only concern is whether this is a 'critical alignment' situation.