Tape Project Forum

Tape Machines => Reel to Reel Tape Machines => Topic started by: jimkjr on October 18, 2010, 10:30:02 AM

Title: Otari 5050III capstan motor stopped
Post by: jimkjr on October 18, 2010, 10:30:02 AM

My capstn motor has stopped working all of a sudden.I put a 10' reel on the machine,and it run very slowly,and then stopped.I then put a 7" reel on,and noticed the capstan was not moving.I also tried the edit/start button to no avail. Is there a simple solution such as a fuse?

Title: Re: Otari 5050III
Post by: Ki Choi on October 18, 2010, 06:00:06 PM

Try giving the capstan a kick start by twisting it manually.
It seems your machine had been working properly before so it won't be the frozen capstan oil bushing...  I have had one of the Otari's exhibit similar symptoms from either trying to play a sticky tape or the servo feedback sensor in the capstan motor had come off...

Title: Re: Otari 5050III capstan motor stopped
Post by: jimkjr on October 19, 2010, 09:46:11 AM

Koi
I had already tried manually turning the capstan,and it is loose,but it just won't start.Any other suggestions?

Title: Re: Otari 5050III capstan motor stopped
Post by: Ki Choi on October 19, 2010, 10:34:05 AM

Hi Jim (guessing from your ID):

Otari's capstan motor is enabled when you have proper tension.  I would manually pull up both tension arms (with rubber bands) and check their switch outputs going into the control board.  As you may have noticed, the switch attached to the tension arms normally clicks as you begin to move up the tension arms. 
Other more sophisticated Otari model also has tape sensor that works in conjunction with the tension sensor before enabling the capstan motor.

Ki

Title: Re: Otari 5050III capstan motor stopped
Post by: Listens2tubes on October 27, 2010, 09:40:46 PM

If your a DIY type like me open the back and lower the circuit board so you can spray contact cleaner into the L-H speed switch. This was the fix on two of my decks with this problem.