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Vintage Tape (Audio), Cassette, Wire and Magnetic Disc Recorders and Players Open-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, 8-track players etc. |
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8th Jul 2020, 11:30 pm | #1 |
No Longer a Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Kilkenny, Ireland
Posts: 138
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Converting drive types...
Is it possible to convert between friction wheel, belt and direct drives? Has anyone done this and what are the steps?
Presumably any given drive moves the tape at so many inches per second, which will need to be preserved. So long as that is the case then it would seem to be not such a problem. I am not suggesting this for a good quality reel to reel, which would already have a good drive. |
9th Jul 2020, 2:18 am | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,484
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Re: Converting drive types...
I once converted a very noisy idler driven reel to reel to a belt drive, a Spanish Ingra, results were okay but not spectacular. It was a long time ago
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Regards, Ben. |
9th Jul 2020, 6:52 am | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
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Re: Converting drive types...
I'd say generally it would be near impossible without a lot of work.
Specific machines might have the mechanical components mounted in such a way as to make it possible. For instance, if the machine has multiple speeds and speed change is accomplished using a movable idler, that would have to be replicated using the alternate drive. There must also be space for the belt path. Converting to direct drive would mean there needs to be space under/behind the flywheel for the motor. Plus a completely different flywheel than originally installed. |
9th Jul 2020, 8:05 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 3,658
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Re: Converting drive types...
In the general case, why would you want to?
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11th Jul 2020, 6:58 am | #5 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Lund, Sweden
Posts: 1,631
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Re: Converting drive types...
One thing I once considered was adding a second motor. I had a Philips EL3542 which was playing too slow, and disconnecting the main belt driving the reel holders and associated clutches resulted in it playing normally. So I considered adding a second motor to power the reel holders, and leave the original motor just driving the flywheel. In the end I couldn't find any space for the motor, and it seemed too much work anyway.
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11th Jul 2020, 7:52 am | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK.
Posts: 615
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Re: Converting drive types...
Surely it's better to put right any faults causing it not to run right rather than re engineer the whole thing? If you want better performance get a better machine?
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