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Bat signal for electronics wizards: Obsolete tech
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Author:  slantfin [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 8:37 am ]
Post subject:  Bat signal for electronics wizards: Obsolete tech
Due to the careful handling and prompt customer service of UPS, I am in possession of a newly rebuilt, newly damaged 8 track recorder, Realistic Modulaire 838. After waiting months for UPS to pick it up for damage inspection, I finally hooked up said unit to see if maybe the damage was cosmetic. Everything works fine, including recording, except that when the tape comes to the end of the track, the "chunk" sound is missing, as it doesn't shift to the next track. It can be moved to the next track using the program button, but won't shift by itself in record or playback mode. I contacted the Ebay seller, who has a 7-day return policy, and it's been 7 months :)
So, anyone know about 8 track machines? I have a very similar unit for parts, which might also work if I take the drivebelt out of the rebuilt unit, and switch it over. Question is, how does the machine "see" the end of the track, and "know" to shift to the next track?
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bat signal for electronics wizards: Obsolete tech
Quote:
Due to the careful handling and prompt customer service of UPS
:roll: Sorry to read it. I've ranted about UPS on here before, so I'll just say they could not have picked a better colour than brown, from a truth-in-advertising perspective.
Author:  slantfin [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:52 am ]
Post subject: 
My friend calls them Under the Power of Satan :twisted: . I kept after UPS for a while, but eventually they just wore me down. It's what they do.
Author:  slantasaurus [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:23 am ]
Post subject: 
I know a little about 8 tracks, I have 2 working units in my garage and about 50 tapes. The problem might not be with the player, but with the tape itself. Where the tape is spliced together there is a metal splice that triggers the unit to change tracks, some of my tapes will switch, some won't, so it might just be worn enough that it doesn't trigger. Radio Shack used to sell splicing tape that you could replace it with, but I think it's been gone for years. I remember talking to a guy at RS about 10-15 years ago and he said they had a whole warehouse full of 8 track players down in Texas, don't know what ever happened to them......

BTW, remember those Samsonite suit case commercials where the gorilla used to try to destroy the suit case ??? They use them at UPS as training films now......
Author:  Slanted Opinion [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:42 am ]
Post subject: 
IIRC, the metal strip on the tape runs across a sensor assembly. Open the unit and watch where the tape travels. You should see a PB/Record head, a capstan and pinch roller, and a little assembly with two wires running to it.

That little assembly gets short circuited when the metal tape passes over it, and activates the cam and lever that moves the PB/Record head up or down across tape.

Many times this sensor simply needed a good cleaning to restore the automatic track changing function. Alcohol and Q-Tips will do it.

All these memories are at least 25 years old by this point... so don't take my word as Gospel!

-Mac
Author:  slantfin [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
I've tried it with several tapes, and some blank NOS tapes, still no dice. I see a small pick-up looking thing next to the tape head. Maybe if I move it forward, it will work. Nowadays, the trigger would be signaled to a computer by way of the tape head; I'm counting on primitive circuitry!
Author:  slantfin [ Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
OK, thanks Slanted Opinion. If that is indeed the sensor, I can replace it with the one from my spare unit, if cleaning doesn't work. Hey, I think it just worked; tripped the auto stop after the last song on my sacrificial 'Grease' tape. I cleaned the little assembly, and bent it forward a bit. Thanks again, you all, this is why Slantsix.org rules big time! 8)
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