I am so Happy I found this Forum. Thanks for creating such a place.
I've had this Otari MX5050 Biii-2 for a Week. Free, from a friend. This is my first RTR. My issue is, it will not Rewind or FastForward with tape in the Tape Transport. It will move for a few seconds then stop. I can give the reels a push and they move a bit but will remain stuck. I have 7 inch reels so I did select Small reel on the supply and take up button. If I hook up the tape up directly, supply reel to take up reel, bypassing the Tape Transport, it works fine. I read the Otari Manual page (140 Troubleshooting Tape Transport) It says the below.
I only have one tape. The tape I have does seem very sticky, first play through it got the capstan very dirty. The capstan was shiny and chrome, after running the tape through once on one side, the capstan, and other parts were dirty. Maybe the tape suffers SSS.
Things I checked:
1. Rewinds and Fastforwards without tape
2. Ensured Brakes are not engaged during Rew and FFW
3. Ensured Tape Transport was clean
4. Made sure Reel Motor not seized
5. Disabled brake by pressing brake plunger The reels move freely
6. Undid and reseated all connectors.
When the tape was hooked up directly from Supply to Take up reel bypassing the tape transport, it did finish within the time indicated in the Otari Manual. Since we run 60Hz in USA it should fast forward 2500 feet in 90 seconds. The reel I have is 1200 feet and it was able to fast forward in 35 seconds. This of course is bypassing the tape transport.
The other portion of the troubleshooting says try another tape on the machine. I don't have a second tape. I will be getting a second Tape sometime this week. Hopefully it isn't sticky too.
If you could offer anything I haven't thought of. I tried to do the obvious. I did think it may be the 6uf capacitors in the control board for the reels or maybe the relays. But then play wouldn't work right? I got the schematics from someone on this forum last night. Bob Schneider, Thanks Bob. They were posted on his website. I will take a look at them along with your further guidance. I am stuck at the moment. The machine plays fine, so play and flip at this moment.
Regards,
Adrian Magana