[BillDWVA]

Hi, was reading your question again about the winding. If you are experiencing sluggish rewinding then it may be a case of ‘They all do that, Sir’. My Series 4 struggles to start rewinding when only just into a spool, especially a nearly full 8 1/4” and worse when cold. I’ve got used to having to give it some help or unthreading from the tape path and just letting it wind via the left guide. Once the take up motor is up to the usual roasting hot state after playing an entire reel it flies back. Old, sticky or draggy tape will sometimes lock solid through the guides.
Keep the reels turning....
Cheers,
Bill