So I finally got those rubber spacers so I can play the larger reels on my Otari MX-5050 (w/modified tape path by BH). And my new repro sounds great! I can't believe how great some of my old 4 track tapes sound on it! I've never heard Al Hirt sound so good!
Just one issue: when I play tapes (both 7 inch & NAB reels) I hear this scraping noise. As it turns out, its the sound of the tape edge scraping against the white washers on the take-up side tape tensioner arm. The tensioner arm is the BH modified one, where the tape runs between 2 white washers that serve as guides. When you press against the inner washer, to move it away from the tape edge, the sounds stops. And as the tape runs through the path on the arm, you can see a crease on the tape. This makes me think that the tape path is just a tad too narrow. I'm also getting quite a bit of ferric residue/dust on both arms & actually all along the entire tape path, that I never used to get before.
So I'm wondering if anyone else around here with a modified MX-5050 has seen this. If I widen the tape path on the arms with it affect the sound? Also, I'm a bit concerned about wear on the tapes, what with all the dust/residue I'm seeing in a short amount of playing time.
Any comments/suggestions will be appreciated!
regards
Grant