How to Fix a Cassette Deck
- Check all cable connections to make sure they're secure.
- Change the cable connecting the cassette deck to your receiver.
- Clean tape heads with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. Oxide particles can flake off of tapes and collect here.
- Clean the contacts on the player and receiver with electronics-grade contact cleaner.
- Make sure the cassette output cables are going to the receiver's "tape," "cassette" or "aux" input. The "mon" (monitor) input will produce a low volume.
- Clean capstan and pinch rollers (the parts that spin around to move the tape) with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs.
- Inspect any belts (usually thick black rubber bands) that you can see inside the deck for wear.
- Replace broken, brittle or stretched belts.
- Loss of High Frequencies. Make sure the bias settings are correct for the type of tape you're using (I, II or IV) and that the noise-reduction settings used ...
- Incomplete Erasing of Tapes. Demagnetize tape heads with a cassette-deck demagnetizer (available at electronics stores).
- Poor Sound With Tapes Made on Other Cassette Decks. Try adjusting the bias. On some high-end decks, this can be set by the user.
- Muffled or Garbled Sound, Especially With Tapes Made on Other Decks. Angle of the tape head gap, or azimuth, may need to be realigned by a technician.
- Tapes Getting Jammed. The capstan is turning but the take-up reel is not, causing loose tape to bunch up and get jammed.
Full Answer
How to connect cassette deck to computer?
What you’ll need before you can copy cassettes to your computer or PC:
- Audacity – Free recording and editing software
- Cassette Tape Deck with RCA output jacks or tape player with 3.5mm mini-plug (hopefully you already have this if you own a lot of cassettes)
- Stereo RCA cable with mini-jack connector or mini-male to stereo mini-male cable
- Sound card with line-in jack (usually in blue)
What cassette deck is best for portable use?
New Cassette Decks
- Nakamichi. Nakamichi arguably makes the best sounding cassette decks you can buy new. ...
- Sony ES. [Sony has changed the models on it's ES series cassette decks. ...
- Aiwa. The Aiwa AD-F850 ($400 list) is a 3-head dual capstan deck. ...
- Denon. ...
- Tascam Pro. ...
- Portables
- Sony Pro. ...
- Marantz. ...
Does any company still make cassette decks?
While blank cassettes are still widely available, record companies have all but ceased music-cassette production. In 2009, for example, just 34,000 tapes were sold, an astonishingly low figure when compared to the 442 million sold in 1990. For the most part, cassette players have two modes, playback and recording.
How to correct speed problems on cassette deck- vinyl engine?
How to correct speed problems on Cassette deck
- Cassette tape (song you know REALLY WELL and will definitely know if pitch is correct)
- Cassette tape (440hz pitch recorded on an ACCURATE, known good tape deck)
- Chromatic tuner (One with input from a guitar works best)
- Correct cabling (to hook your deck up to the chromatic tuner)
Can cassette decks be repaired?
In many cases, the problem is with the cassette itself. However, if the problem is electronic, take the deck to a professional repair person. You can fix a bad cassette tape by carefully removing the screws that hold the cassette together, then rewinding the tape on the two spools and across the pad between them.
How do I fix my cassette deck that won't play?
Check the Audio Cassette TapeMake sure the cassette tape is compatible with your device. ... Remove the tape from the cassette compartment. ... Use a pen or pencil to turn the cassette reel and reduce tape slack.Reinsert the tape into the cassette compartment on the player.Attempt to play, fast-forward, or rewind the tape.
How do you restore a cassette deck?
9:2118:02Restoring a Vintage Audio Tape Deck and How To Change The BeltsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe pinch roller is still okay so i'm cleaning it with some rubber renew i did it twice and let itMoreThe pinch roller is still okay so i'm cleaning it with some rubber renew i did it twice and let it soak up into the pinch roller. This stuff helps regenerate the rubber.
Why does my cassette deck keep stopping?
Could be a slipping belt or bad capstan idler. These are rubber parts that age and wear. When the player detects that motion has stopped it shuts down so the tape doesn't spill out of the cassette.
Why is my cassette player not spinning?
The common issue sometimes can happen when belt is worn it's grip around the flywheel in there,& so it has trouble playing longer tapes in general. But yours is a little older(killer looking deck btw)so it might have a drive mechanism that is a combination of plastic gears,as well as the rubber belt.
How do you lubricate a tape deck?
1:3814:41How to improve your turntable or cassette deck with just 1 drop of oilYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInside these things and just adding one drop of oil to them is all it takes to really quite theseMoreInside these things and just adding one drop of oil to them is all it takes to really quite these things down and smooth them out.
Can cassettes be restored?
Physical Damage (Cuts, Tangles, Tears) The only way to repair a ripped audiotape is to use splicing tape to repair the tear. In these scenarios, it may be best to request help from a professional tape repair service instead of trying to fix your tape at home.
Do cassette tapes deteriorate over time?
In perfect circumstances, cassette tapes will only last about 30 years if properly stored away from heat, humidity, and UV rays. Whereas a CD stored in the same conditions can last over 100 years. Two common factors for cassette tape deterioration are heat and tape recorder malfunctions.
How can I play a cassette tape without a cassette player?
You can also purchase an affordable cassettes converter to digitalize your tapes, the converter provides a USB port that allows you to transfer the cassettes to your computer, and the cassette tapes converter is a portable player itself.
How do I fix my cassette adapter ejector?
2:104:56How to Fix Constantly Ejecting Cassette Adapter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis thing actually locks for some reason it locks. And it stops it from reversing. So all you needMoreThis thing actually locks for some reason it locks. And it stops it from reversing. So all you need to do is take out this it's one whole piece.
How do you fix a slow cassette player?
To see if this is the case, try lightly tapping the cassette on a hard surface a few times to loosen the tape or doing a manual rewind with a pencil. You may also try cleaning the capstan and pinch roller (which is probably your culprit) on the cassette tape deck to see if that helps loosen the adhesive.
How do you clean a car cassette player?
0:111:18How to Clean a Cassette Player - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStep 2 dip the tip of a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Also known as isopropyl alcohol. Step 3MoreStep 2 dip the tip of a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol. Also known as isopropyl alcohol. Step 3 clean the metal tape head with the tip of a cotton swab rubbing. It both horizontally.
Step 3
Clean tape heads with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. Oxide particles can flake off of tapes and collect here.
Step 4
Clean the contacts on the player and receiver with electronics-grade contact cleaner.
Step 5
Make sure the cassette output cables are going to the receiver's "tape," "cassette" or "aux" input. The "mon" (monitor) input will produce a low volume.
Step 6
Clean capstan and pinch rollers (the parts that spin around to move the tape) with isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs.
Step 7
Inspect any belts (usually thick black rubber bands) that you can see inside the deck for wear.
Step 9
Loss of High Frequencies. Make sure the bias settings are correct for the type of tape you're using (I, II or IV) and that the noise-reduction settings used in playback are the same as those used during recording. Check to see if tape heads need to be realigned or replaced.
Step 10
Incomplete Erasing of Tapes. Demagnetize tape heads with a cassette-deck demagnetizer (available at electronics stores). Check if the erase head needs to be replaced.
What is cassette deck repair kit?
For maintaining and doing various repairing jobs of the cas sette deck, there are kits called cassette deck repair kits. There are many kits and tools that can b used to do a number of maintenance jobs of the deck.
What can go wrong with a cassette deck?
As there is a number of electrical and dynamic parts , many things can go wrong with a cassette deck. Here are some of the most common issues-. The electric power cord can be troubling the whole system. Driver belt can get damaged or broken al over. A misalignment can take place between the record and record reader.
What can I use to clean a cassette deck head?
In case you find any problem with the cable, change the cable immediately. If you don’t have cleaning tapes, you can use cotton subs or isopropyl alcohol to clean the cassette deck head.
How often should I clean a cassette head?
Cassette head is that one place where the most common issues occur. Take a cleaning tape and clean the cassette head after every 10 or 20 hours of use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if necessary.
Is a cassette deck still alive?
But for a person who’s a true vintage lover, cassette decks are still alive. Even, there are many technicians who do the jobs of cassette deck maintenance. On the note of cassette deck maintenance, it reminds us of a few problems are likely to take place in a cassette deck.
How to remove cassette tape from cassette player?
Step 1. Remove the batteries from the cassette player and disconnect the power cord from the cassette player, if present. Put the cassette player down on a table. Eject the lid. Remove the cassette tape, if present. Carefully unwind the cassette tape from the capstan shaft or from the rollers, if wound around them.
How to clean a cassette player?
Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and hold it till there is no dripping from the cotton swab. Rub the cotton swab against the capstan shaft while gently rotating it from the top with your fingers. Repeat this process with a second cotton swab. Stop swabbing when the capstan shaft is free of any debris.
Why are cassette players so bad?
Cassette players are inherently problematic because they require that the cassette tape be pulled between a set of rollers by a capstan shaft before being wound on the take-up reel. The capstan shaft and rollers can become dirty from the tape flaking off on them during use.
John Mee Forum Resident
I took a chance buying a used AIWA AD-6300 Made In Japan Cassette deck. It was a private seller and it was in immaculate cosmetic shape. However, the tape doesn't play, rewind, FFD, spin.
Raylinds Resident Lake Surfer
If it doesn't play at all, it is more than just belts and rollers. Have it done by a tech. I had my 70s Pioneer deck done and for $150 I had it completely overhauled, including cap replacement. Worth every penny.
DRM Forum Resident
Years ago I bought an older Pioneer deck thinking I could replace the belts. My hands are large and I found it very difficult, even with tools, to replace the old belts. Which I could see were melted and unattached. And taking apart the deck was very problematic. Maybe some know how to do all of this.
McLover Senior Member
I took a chance buying a used AIWA AD-6300 Made In Japan Cassette deck. It was a private seller and it was in immaculate cosmetic shape. However, the tape doesn't play, rewind, FFD, spin.
BrentB Urban Angler
Cassette deck repair is not simple, up there with neurosurgery. Lots of machines were not designed with service friendliness in mind. Belts which sometimes take a good deal of disassembly to get to, and hard to access. A specialist technician is a good option, one who knows tape machine repair.
illinoisteve Forum Resident
I took a chance buying a used AIWA AD-6300 Made In Japan Cassette deck. It was a private seller and it was in immaculate cosmetic shape. However, the tape doesn't play, rewind, FFD, spin.
TarnishedEars Forum Resident
I met an AK member several years ago who told me about how he had acquired a Nakamichi Dragon for next to nothing in the late 90s. But it had some issues. So he decided to try his hand at fixing it, while having no clue about what he was doing. The result: When he put it back together, there were several extra parts which he could not identify.
What gauge is used to check a cassette deck?
Head Tilt Check Gauge - This gauge was specially made by Nakamichi to check/set/align RECORD and PLAYBACK heads on all 3-head Nakamichi cassette decks. It is the best gauge ever made for this job.
What gauge is used for Nakamichi cassettes?
StrokeCheck Gauge - This gauge was specially made by Nakamichi to Head Base Stroke Adjustment on all 2-head Nakamichi cassette decks. It is the best gauge ever made for this job.
