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Old 25th Jul 2022, 7:37 pm   #20
DMcMahon
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Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Worthing, West Sussex, UK.
Posts: 6,587
Default Re: Mayfair FT-305 Small Reel to Reel Check Out

Tried various things but unable to loosen the 3 remaining top panel securing screws.

Using small needle files, filed slots across the screws and was able to unscrew 2 of them with a screwdriver, the third one was extra tight and required knocking loose using a pin hammer and small pointed drift.

With top panel removed could then not find a problem with the motor pulley driving the rubber tyred idler wheel that drives the Take Up spool carrier ? Removed the idler and cleaned its driving edge of dirt/grease, also cleaned the motor pulley of some rubber build up.

Was able to get a tape playing, quite a reasonable amount of volume but quality not great due to tape speed audibly varying.

Also had problem where the tape would get badly caught up in the lower slot in the take up spool due to the take up reel tape sitting too low down with respect to the tape.

No adjustment for spool height available, there were 2 thin white plastic washers at the bottom of the Take Up reel table mounting shaft. I added 3 washers, 1 metal + 2 fibre (1 of the fibre washers was relatively thick) to lift up the reel table height, this fixed the problem of the tape getting caught in the spool slot, but the tape is still too low and is now rubbing on the top of the lower spool flange.

It seems strange that the reel table height is so far out, it looks like a similar height issue on the Supply reel table, needs more looking at, something does not sound right to me ?

Still have the problem where any sound will go completely and then can be made to return by gently touching/tapping various areas, need next to sort this before doing anything else.

Dave
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