UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

ricard · 9th Dec 2019, 4:12 pm

I have successfully replaced the TD-10 idler with one from a Philips EL3542 or EL3547, whose tires seem to predate the 'goo' era and are made of still serviceable rubber. (The EL3516, EL3522, EL3536 and EL3546 use the same idler I believe - the EL3516/22/36/42 has three and the EL3546/47 has one; interestingly enough, although the mechanical design is completely different between these two groups of machines, they use the same idler, in the three speed versions it is used between the stepped motor shaft and the flywheel, and the EL3546/47 it is used between the take-up clutch on the flywheel and the take-up reel). The outer and shaft diameters are identical, but the hub has a different shape, so one has to use shims to get the idler to ride at the right height.

9th Dec 2019, 4:12 pm	#22
ricard Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 1,632	Re: How noisy are reel to reels? I have successfully replaced the TD-10 idler with one from a Philips EL3542 or EL3547, whose tires seem to predate the 'goo' era and are made of still serviceable rubber. (The EL3516, EL3522, EL3536 and EL3546 use the same idler I believe - the EL3516/22/36/42 has three and the EL3546/47 has one; interestingly enough, although the mechanical design is completely different between these two groups of machines, they use the same idler, in the three speed versions it is used between the stepped motor shaft and the flywheel, and the EL3546/47 it is used between the take-up clutch on the flywheel and the take-up reel). The outer and shaft diameters are identical, but the hub has a different shape, so one has to use shims to get the idler to ride at the right height.