Otari MX-55 Rewind Issue

[pederb]

Hello,

I'm having some issues rewinding tapes on my Otari MX-55, it goes pretty well until 3/4 then it slows down and pretty much stop? And I have to help by hand to fully rewind it.

Any ideas?

Cheers

[ironbut]

That sounds like a sticky shed problem.

If you've played any old tapes especially Ampex 456 or late production Ampex/Quantegy, it could have left residue on your tape path.
You should clean every item in the tape path with something stronger than alcohol (naptha or purpose made head cleaner like Laser Media) being careful to clean the inside corners of the guides. Be aware that cleaning any rolling guides should be done with a minimum of solvent since it will clean the lubricant out of the bearings.

If you'd like to know more about Sticky Shed Syndrome, there's a post about it in the "Beginners Guide" located above the General Forum in a sticky.

[pederb]

No I used a brand new tape

Cheers

[Listens2tubes]

Which brand new tape? NOS?

[pederb]

yes, probably

[ironbut]

If the tape is something like 456, it doesn't matter if it's never been used. When I refer to new tapes, I mean freshly manufactured (only RMGI or ATR Magnetics).

The tapes that are prone to sticky shed can be still sealed in their boxes and even if they've been carefully stored, they can have problems straight out of the box.
The tape brands/types to look out for are listed in a table on post #24 of the Beginners Guide.

[pederb]

Thank you Steve