UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players

Notices

Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 3rd Aug 2021, 8:50 pm   #21
ALEXANDRAPALACE
Triode
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK.
Posts: 11
Default Re: Philips N4414 tape deck clicking capstan.

Interestingly, one (German) supplier of belt kits on Ebay states in their description for these models 'our belts are square like the originals.'
I've fired off the obvious question to three of the sellers on Ebay. Awaiting response, esoecially the one based in the Midlands.

It's not a static or brush problem, its the running of the belt rolling around on the nylon capstan pulley which is a large circumference with a lot of free play for the belt to move about on. The round belt sits quite happily in the motor pulley flanges but does not behave it self on the larger nylon pulley. I'm guess now

#wrong belt, slightly too tight and should be square not round

# which leads me to the problem of swapping it as Sideband said loosening a large screw attached to a metal bracket under the capstan pulley, as shown behind the yellow cable in the photo, would allow me to slip the new belt on (presumably) but the screw head is face down so you can't get a screwdriver on it unless there is a specialised tool. This means two alternatives are dismantling stuff on the transport to get to tje screw or access through the back of the unit.

I think I'm there now with the need to replace this belt as Maurice warned me it will only get worse and if it is too tight it will damage the bearings.
ALEXANDRAPALACE is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2021, 12:41 am   #22
jamesperrett
Octode
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 1,870
Default Re: Philips N4414 tape deck clicking capstan.

I've had a replacement belt for a Philips machine turn out to be an O-ring which felt slightly too small when I received it. It worked but wasn't ideal.
jamesperrett is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2021, 12:09 pm   #23
ALEXANDRAPALACE
Triode
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK.
Posts: 11
Default Re: Philips N4414 tape deck clicking capstan.

James, that's the nub of the problem. I've since heard back from two kit belt suppliers, the one in Midlands and one in Germany (who described square and round belts) stating for this model the capstan belt is round. I had new belts fitted and they must have come from one of these sources. Funnily the counter belt is square profile and rather less firm than the other three belts for the spindles and capstan.

I am now thinkibg along the lines of running a piece of sticky tape aroubd the large nylon capstan pulley which will create a path for the belt to follow and prevent movement.

Can I ask a simple question? Why didn't the capstan nylon pulley have a groove to take the belt like the flywheel on the capstan motor? Is there a reason? Or am I Homer Simpson?
ALEXANDRAPALACE is offline  
Old 4th Aug 2021, 7:31 pm   #24
ALEXANDRAPALACE
Triode
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK.
Posts: 11
Default Re: Philips N4414 tape deck clicking capstan.

PROBLEM SOLVED

There was a thin layer of stickiness on the belt and on the surface of the nylon capstan pulley. To the eye it looked clean. All evidence of the old belt which had degraded into tar had been cleaned off. But there was left a smear of stickness, perhaps the residue of the solvent etc left. After wiping carefully with a damp cloth and washing up liquid in situ. (UNIT UNPLUGGED FROM MAINS!!!) the belt now runs smoothly, it behaves itself on the pulley - no up and down movement. No clicking. Just wondering ful purring of the motor and the pulley.

Will carry on testing for a few hours On and Off before closing the box.

Cheers everybody. All it needed

WAS A GOOD CLEAN.

Many thanks for your input and help.
ALEXANDRAPALACE is offline  
Old 7th Aug 2021, 9:42 am   #25
Ted Kendall
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,657
Default Re: Philips N4414 tape deck clicking capstan.

You should worry. I was a whole day poking, prodding and gleaning at the brass pulleys of a Sony Walkman before I got the belt decompostion products off.
Ted Kendall is online now  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 9:54 am.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.