Cassette deck advice - No output /record

[Oddball]

As I am the owner of an HMV separate stack ,(which you may have seen me ask questions about the turntable on here) ,I have been trying to renovate it ,over the last few weeks!!
It should not have required much (according to the e bay seller , lol) so I concentrated on the turntable , and have that about right apart from weighing the plinth down .

The amp seems to be working fine after switch cleaner and to be fair was very clean inside . Not had a lot of use but still 38 yrs old:)

The tuner is fine also , but I was fairly peeded off to find the tape does not play audio or record . The seller made a thing in his description , of saying he had installed a rubber band as a temporary drive belt ,and ALL systems work fine , and indeed the motor and functions on the deck work ok. The meter dials light up
Having researched a bit , I see that there are a play head (Fe ,Metal ,Chrome ) and an erase head?? Used switch cleaner and cleaned head with Iso Prop .
Anyway , is there any simple enough tests I can do , or do I need to twist my local radio mans arm to have a peek at it?? :scratch:

It wont be the end of the world if its dead , but I would like it to function as it should have !!

[Audio Al]

http://www.tapeheads.net

You could try here ;)

[struth]

Check that all head wires are ok and not broken. There will probably be a mechanical switch on the circuit board that switches between record and play, and may have jammed.

[The Black Adder]

Try and de-mag the heads... this happened with mine. No sound what so ever.. a quick de-mag and it was fine.

[Oddball]

Check that all head wires are ok and not broken. There will probably be a mechanical switch on the circuit board that switches between record and play, and may have jammed.

Thanks for the replies !! That's interesting Grant .. I will have a look at that .

I am inclined to think the seller has been having me on , but working on the premise hes telling the truth ,Struth lol , you could have something with the switch theory !!
I will take the cover off and take a few piccies in due course

[Oddball]

Got possessed again this lovely morning !!
Whipped the lid off and had a good look around with my headtorch and best glasses .

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj205/anthyyyyy/013_zpsv0uabq8h.jpg (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/anthyyyyy/media/013_zpsv0uabq8h.jpg.html)
Its difficult to see in the picture but bottom left on the smaller of the 2 brown PCB 's , below the twin grey wire are 2 fuses .
1 amp.

One had blown but I couldn't tell ! :doh: That board holds the switches for the head selection type , dolby , memory, and input ,(din or mic) and the power wires then go into the main board .
The small double pole switch on the bottom left (with a black rod going into it , is the output level on the din line in.)

As soon as I switched it on I could tell it was alive .:cool:

Only thing now is to sort the tape deck drive belt ,as the rubber band installed by the previous owner isn't up to it ,and Debbie Harry sounded like Bob The Builder :rolleyes:

http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj205/anthyyyyy/014_zpsrsnod05m.jpg (http://s273.photobucket.com/user/anthyyyyy/media/014_zpsrsnod05m.jpg.html)
I presume you need to remove the oblong stay with the numbered sticker on it , so you can get to refit a new one??
As to where to source one , I think I might be raiding my O ring kit and glueing one?
Any advice on that folks??

[Oddball]

Fitted a new belt today , but she was still playing slow.

So after some research ,found there was a hole on the rear of the motor (under the white sticker with blue writing on it)

Its now speeded up nicely , which is a relief ! But my 30 year old Blondie tape , is more the worse , for the time period elapsed !!

Also , can anyone recommend some good quality blank tapes ,available to purchase anywhere ?

[mikmas]

Also , can anyone recommend some good quality blank tapes ,available to purchase anywhere ?

I have an unused MAXELL UR C90 still in its shrink wrap..

No great shakes but you can have it for nowt if it's any use to you - PM your address and I'll pop it in the post

[Oddball]

Many thanks Mikmas !!
I have received the tape , and I am humbled by such a kind offer!!:respect:

The tape deck now has a lovely crisp cassette to work with !

Unfortunately it does not wan to behave, as on record ,the left channel seems to be WAY too loud , the VU meter is at its optimum on number 1 setting out of 10 ,and distorts on playback , whereas the right one needs to be on 5 - 6 and plays back really clearly and nicely!
I expect a bad cap or pot ?? :(