TEAC 32-2B belts. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stevie23 · 29th Jul 2021, 3:43 pm

Hi everyone. OK, I've been sent a few R2R machines from work for repair. I have on my workbench at the moment the TEAC 32-2B on which the capstan isn't moving. I've got the Service manual and have opened it up to find the black goo of despair has rendered the belts treacle. Would anyone be able to suggest a seller of these belts here in the UK? (I can find them on ebay but they are from the USA and I'd prefer to get them from here or closer to home.)

Regards,
Steve (London).

Michael Maurice · 29th Jul 2021, 10:47 pm

Have you checked that the capstan motor is ok? They tend to burn out if the machine is switched on before removing the goo.

I have been getting belts from the US as there isn’t a reliable seller in the UK.

unitelex · 30th Jul 2021, 12:15 am

Think I got belts for these from a guy in Greece.
Agree with Michael best to check the motor early on.

I successfully rewound a capstan motor from one of these.
I built a small winding machine for the job.
Have been intending to try rewinding some more
If you disassemble the motor don’t loose any of the parts eg brushes etc if they are loose

Regards
Chris

jamesperrett · 30th Jul 2021, 1:02 am

Like Michael, I bought my last set of Tascam belts from the US. Postage wasn't expensive and they arrived fairly quickly.

stevie23 · 30th Jul 2021, 1:16 pm

Hi guys. Thankfully I've checked the capstan motor and it turns freely with no goo permeating around its wheel. I've cleaned 80% of the goo off with IPA. It looks like my best option at the moment is to order from the USA.

One question I have though, is : What is the easiest way of getting to the capstan/flywheel to change the belts? Thru the front or the back?

Chiltern · 30th Jul 2021, 1:49 pm

It is a long time since I have used this supplier, but they still appear to be in business.
Although the other side of the world, my parts came quickly and thankfully I ordered enough to to keep my machines going.

https://openreel.net/index_e.html

Alan

TIMTAPE · 30th Jul 2021, 1:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie23

...One question I have though, is : What is the easiest way of getting to the capstan/flywheel to change the belts? Thru the front or the back?

I think it's from the front. Parts have to be removed to gain access to the flywheel and motor pulley. It's somewhat messy.

Michael Maurice · 31st Jul 2021, 7:03 pm

I’ve just done one, you get to them through the back.

stevie23 · 31st Jul 2021, 7:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

I’ve just done one, you get to them through the back.

Yes, would I be right in thinking its from the 2 screws connecting the main PCB to the 2 table motors and then the 5 screws behind?

TIMTAPE · 1st Aug 2021, 10:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

I’ve just done one, you get to them through the back.

Correct. My error. It's dual capstan. I assumed it was single capstan like the 34 I have here.

stevie23 · 1st Aug 2021, 11:30 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by TIMTAPE

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

I’ve just done one, you get to them through the back.

Correct. My error. It's dual capstan. I assumed it was single capstan like the 34 I have here.

You have 34 of them?

You must have a lot of space!! :p

Yes, I'm ordering the belts today. Phonohifishop in Germany (ebay shop) seem good and not too pricey.

Thanks Tim.

Michael Maurice · 2nd Aug 2021, 8:46 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie23

Yes, I'm ordering the belts today. Phonohifishop in Germany (ebay shop) seem good and not too pricey.

Thanks Tim.

It would be interesting to see what they charge for postage and duty/VAT,

Revox_de don’t want to supply the UK.

stevie23 · 2nd Aug 2021, 12:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevie23

Yes, I'm ordering the belts today. Phonohifishop in Germany (ebay shop) seem good and not too pricey.

Thanks Tim.

It would be interesting to see what they charge for postage and duty/VAT,

Revox_de don’t want to supply the UK.

Order total

Subtotal EUR 20.92
Postage EUR 3.78
VAT* EUR 4.94
Total EUR 29.64

Numskull · 3rd Aug 2021, 10:22 pm

One quick point; do not mix up the left and right flywheels otherwise the speed change will not work and the tape tension will also be incorrect. I suggest you mark them L&R on the rear of the respective flywheel.

stevie23 · 11th Aug 2021, 11:14 am

OK, I've installed the belts. Capstans spinning away fine. Whats happening now is the pinch roller doesnt engage with the capstan. I've tried moving it manually into position but its slow to move like you're pushing it thru treacle. Is the solenoid hard to get to?

Ted Kendall · 11th Aug 2021, 2:32 pm

Almost certainly this is down to deterioration of the grease on the pinch roller carriage. You need to strip the whole assembly, clean and relubricate. Superlube is good for this. I wouldn't go fiddling with the solenoid until you have done this.

Michael Maurice · 11th Aug 2021, 5:55 pm

+1 it’s a very common problem.

jamesperrett · 12th Aug 2021, 12:35 am

+2 - there are Youtube videos showing how to do this for other Teac machines. When I fixed this on an A3340 I found that some of the screws were very tight and I needed to use the correct JIS screwdriver bit to remove them without damaging the screw heads. I also had to apply heat to the pivot in order to remove the main lever.

29th Jul 2021, 3:43 pm	#1
stevie23 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: London, UK. Posts: 103	TEAC 32-2B belts. Hi everyone. OK, I've been sent a few R2R machines from work for repair. I have on my workbench at the moment the TEAC 32-2B on which the capstan isn't moving. I've got the Service manual and have opened it up to find the black goo of despair has rendered the belts treacle. Would anyone be able to suggest a seller of these belts here in the UK? (I can find them on ebay but they are from the USA and I'd prefer to get them from here or closer to home.) Regards, Steve (London).

29th Jul 2021, 10:47 pm	#2
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,224	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. Have you checked that the capstan motor is ok? They tend to burn out if the machine is switched on before removing the goo. I have been getting belts from the US as there isn’t a reliable seller in the UK. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

30th Jul 2021, 12:15 am	#3
unitelex Hexode Join Date: May 2005 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 496	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. Think I got belts for these from a guy in Greece. Agree with Michael best to check the motor early on. I successfully rewound a capstan motor from one of these. I built a small winding machine for the job. Have been intending to try rewinding some more If you disassemble the motor don’t loose any of the parts eg brushes etc if they are loose Regards Chris

30th Jul 2021, 1:02 am	#4
jamesperrett Octode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,873	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. Like Michael, I bought my last set of Tascam belts from the US. Postage wasn't expensive and they arrived fairly quickly.

30th Jul 2021, 1:16 pm	#5
stevie23 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: London, UK. Posts: 103	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. Hi guys. Thankfully I've checked the capstan motor and it turns freely with no goo permeating around its wheel. I've cleaned 80% of the goo off with IPA. It looks like my best option at the moment is to order from the USA. One question I have though, is : What is the easiest way of getting to the capstan/flywheel to change the belts? Thru the front or the back?

30th Jul 2021, 1:49 pm	#6
Chiltern Heptode Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 555	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. It is a long time since I have used this supplier, but they still appear to be in business. Although the other side of the world, my parts came quickly and thankfully I ordered enough to to keep my machines going. https://openreel.net/index_e.html Alan

31st Jul 2021, 7:03 pm	#8
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,224	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. I’ve just done one, you get to them through the back. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

3rd Aug 2021, 10:22 pm	#14
Numskull Diode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Kingston upon Thames, London, UK. Posts: 9	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. One quick point; do not mix up the left and right flywheels otherwise the speed change will not work and the tape tension will also be incorrect. I suggest you mark them L&R on the rear of the respective flywheel.

11th Aug 2021, 11:14 am	#15
stevie23 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: London, UK. Posts: 103	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. OK, I've installed the belts. Capstans spinning away fine. Whats happening now is the pinch roller doesnt engage with the capstan. I've tried moving it manually into position but its slow to move like you're pushing it thru treacle. Is the solenoid hard to get to?

11th Aug 2021, 2:32 pm	#16
Ted Kendall Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kington, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 3,670	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. Almost certainly this is down to deterioration of the grease on the pinch roller carriage. You need to strip the whole assembly, clean and relubricate. Superlube is good for this. I wouldn't go fiddling with the solenoid until you have done this.

11th Aug 2021, 5:55 pm	#17
Michael Maurice Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wembley, Middlesex Posts: 7,224	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. +1 it’s a very common problem. __________________ Forum Moderator http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/

12th Aug 2021, 12:35 am	#18
jamesperrett Octode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Liss, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,873	Re: TEAC 32-2B belts. +2 - there are Youtube videos showing how to do this for other Teac machines. When I fixed this on an A3340 I found that some of the screws were very tight and I needed to use the correct JIS screwdriver bit to remove them without damaging the screw heads. I also had to apply heat to the pivot in order to remove the main lever.