Thanks John, some sort of better way seemed worth a try especially when
transferring many cassettes.
John Haley wrote: Can one even find replacement screws?
I had no problems buying replacement screws. Just standard metric threaded
screws.
John Haley wrote: One with a long shank sticking out that you could turn by
hand might be an easy mod?
Unfortunately on the Tascam 122's merely extending the screw creates
problems.
1. It fouls one of the function buttons.
2. A much longer screw risks damage because of the greater leverage/moment.
3. For one of the 122 models (MkII?) the adjuster fouls a small PCB behind
the function switches requiring a PCB mod.
4. The plastic cassette door fouls the adjuster as it opens.
5. The metal cassette door frame also fouls the adjuster.
Even with the ball and socket design, small custom machine mods were still
needed to solve 3,4 and 5.
Unfortunately especially these Tascam models were never designed with a
front panel azimuth adjuster in mind. I thought of making up kits and
selling them for user installation but most of the work would be in the
custom machine mods needed to successfully install such a kit.
Maybe others will come up with alternative designs which are easier to
install. Redesigned front panel function switch locations to accomodate an
extended screw design seems one option. Or dispense with the front panel
function controls and instead control tape functions remotely. The Tascams
and some other better quality cassette decks have remote control sockets as
standard.
It depends on the machine though. Standard classic Naks such as LX.., 48..
series can more easily take a simple extended screw with no ball joint
needed. The adjuster knob moves up and down with the head platform. But
three small mods were necessary to the door frame and door so the extended
screw will clear those parts. Careful drilling/ filing but tedious. The Nak
head platform and parts, some of which are plastic, seems delicate at the
best of times so some care is needed in use.
Here's a pic of a Nak LX3 azimuth adjuster.
http://imgur.com/a/CTNMa
Tim Gillett
Perth,
Western Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Haley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2017 4:47 AM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
Tim, that is really a dandy mod. Azimuth adjustment is sooo critical on
cassettes, yet hard to adjust on the Tascam machine, a popular workhouse
pro cassette machine. I adjust my 122 MkIII with a very small Philips head
screwdriver, but it is no fun getting to the screw, and I worry about the
screw head becoming "carved out" as so many Philips-head screws do over
time. Doing the adjustment gets very delicate. Can one even find
replacement screws? One with a long shank sticking out that you could turn
by hand might be an easy mod?
Thanks,
John Haley
On Sat, Jul 22, 2017 at 2:28 AM, Tim Gillett <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Thanks Corey,
>
> Yes maybe you saw the mod by (I think ) Thal Engineering for Studer open
> reel machines. Now that's classy looking, and probably with a price to
> match.
>
> Thing is with many cassette machines it's a harder design, as the head
> platform moves in and out, and there can be very limited space. I made 6
> or 8 of them by hand for Tascam 122 MkII and III's for a big cassette
> archiving project but it wasnt simple. The heart of it is a tiny ball and
> socket arrangement (not visible in the photo). Cost of parts is trivial.
> More the idea and the implementation. Mine is really only a prototype but
> demonstrates what can be done.
>
> Cheers
>
> Tim Gillett
>
> Perth,
> Western Australia
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Corey Bailey" <[log in to unmask]
> >
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 1:12 PM
>
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>
>
> Hi Tim,
>>
>> Now, that's pretty slick! For those cassette decks that need access to
>> the azimuth screw, I usually drill a hole so the azimuth screw can be
>> accessed with a screwdriver (my own studio, of course). I've seen the
>> thumbscrew mod on some 2tr. machines where the studio tech had access to
>> a
>> machine shop.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Corey
>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>> www.baileyzone.net
>>
>> On 7/21/2017 6:02 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
>>
>>> Yes bridging the "cassette in" switch is another cleaning work around.
>>> The advantage of the cassette tool is that it can be used on almost any
>>> cassette machine with no machine mods needed.
>>>
>>> Machine mods could be a whole other discussion. I feel the single most
>>> useful mod for cassette decks for a
>>> transfer engineer is a front panel user azimuth adjuster. Here is an
>>> example on a Tascam 122 MkII. I have also made these for Tascam 122
>>> MkIII's
>>> and Nakamichis.
>>>
>>> http://imgur.com/rERTQaw
>>>
>>> Tim Gillett
>>>
>>> Perth,
>>> Western Australia
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellis Burman" <
>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2017 3:51 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>
>>>
>>> Ours kept shutting off. I traced it to an intermittent leaf switch that
>>> detects whether a cassette in inserted. I jumpered the switch with a
>>> blob
>>> of solder, and now it works great and can be run with no cassette
>>> inserted
>>> for easy cleaning.
>>>
>>> Ellis
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 11:53 PM, Tim Gillett <
>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> True, and a nice bright light - and glasses if you need them for close
>>>> viewing.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Campbell" <
>>>> [log in to unmask]>
>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 11:39 AM
>>>>
>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ...flipping-off the cassette door facia panel and aslo mouting the
>>>> player
>>>>
>>>>> in a rear-ward-sloping rack mounting....does help a little visual and
>>>>> physical access to capstan and pinchroller and head access wrt access.
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
>>>>> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tim Gillett
>>>>> Sent: Friday, 21 July 2017 8:28 AM
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Corey,
>>>>>
>>>>> Interestingly, the 122 the owner's manual states the pinch roller and
>>>>> capstan should be cleaned "at least once a day the deck is used"...
>>>>> but
>>>>> without resorting to extra expedients as we've both described, even
>>>>> as a
>>>>> techie I'd struggle to perform this basic first line daily
>>>>> maintenance.
>>>>> Even with the non standard expedients the pinch roller and capstan
>>>>> are
>>>>> still tricky to clean, and I'd suggest without such expedients, or a
>>>>> custom machine mod, almost impossible.
>>>>>
>>>>> Human nature being what it is, unless a basic daily task like this is
>>>>> easy to perform, it will tend to be skipped. A basic error by Tascam
>>>>> IMO
>>>>> especially as the machine was marketed and regarded as a pro machine,
>>>>> and
>>>>> now seems almost a defacto standard for archives and transfer
>>>>> engineers.
>>>>> A
>>>>> shame as in so many other ways an excellent machine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>
>>>>> Tim Gillett
>>>>>
>>>>> Perth,
>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>> From: "Corey Bailey" <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 2:44 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Tim,
>>>>>
>>>>>> As you learned the hard way, this list does not accept attachments
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> will strip them from your post.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regarding the picture of the cassette that you posted:
>>>>>> I have made a few variations of these for those pesky decks where the
>>>>>> cassette sensor is hard to get to. Generally, I will put a small
>>>>>> piece
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> tape across the tape sensor lever (located at the top of the cassette
>>>>>> bay)
>>>>>> to hold it up which allows the transport to function and gives the
>>>>>> tech
>>>>>> full access to the transport mechanism. The modified cassette shell
>>>>>> certainly makes sense for routine cleaning by non-techies.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Corey
>>>>>> Corey Bailey Audio Engineering
>>>>>> www.baileyzone.net
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 7/19/2017 9:35 PM, Tim Gillett wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Attached photo. Nothing fancy in looks but a tool that works.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> In the Tascam I think both reels also need to be turning to avoid
>>>>>>> activating "Stop" so I retained the hubs and tape, but with a
>>>>>>> smaller
>>>>>>> diameter pack to avoid fouling when cleaning the parts. It makes
>>>>>>> things
>>>>>>> easier on various other cassette machines too, especially later
>>>>>>> models
>>>>>>> which only go into play mode when a cassette is inserted.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I first made a few of these in the 90's when a Talking Book
>>>>>>> production
>>>>>>> organisation I worked for bought new Tascam 122 MkIII's and the
>>>>>>> staff
>>>>>>> struggled to perform daily tape path cleaning. Of course I
>>>>>>> regularly
>>>>>>> use
>>>>>>> the tool myself.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hope it helps.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>> Tim
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Perth,
>>>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Shai Drori" <[log in to unmask]
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 11:59 AM
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Please upload the picture. Sounds interesting.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> בברכה,
>>>>>>> שי דרורי.
>>>>>>> מומחה לשימור ודיגיטציה של אודיו וידאו ופילם 8-35ממ
>>>>>>> Cheers
>>>>>>> Shai Drori
>>>>>>> Expert digitization services for Audio Video
>>>>>>> Hi Res scanning for film 8mm-35mm
>>>>>>> Timeless Recordings Music Label
>>>>>>> www.audiovideofilm.com
>>>>>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>> Tripadvisor level 5 contributor, level 10 restaurant expert
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Thu, Jul 20, 2017 at 4:12 AM, Tim Gillett
>>>>>>> <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi Ben,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> There are no belts in that machine, one reel drive idler rubber
>>>>>>>> tyre
>>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>>> of course a rubber pinch roller. They're usually reliable machines
>>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>> getting old and may have had a lot of work.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The tape path needs regular cleaning or tapes may be damaged or
>>>>>>>> jam
>>>>>>>> inside. Cleaning the capstan and pinch roller is a lot easier with
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> custom
>>>>>>>> dummy cassette to trick the capstan motor to run and engage the
>>>>>>>> pinch
>>>>>>>> roller in play mode for cleaning. I can upload a photo of a dummy
>>>>>>>> cassette
>>>>>>>> if that would help.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I service these but unfortunately am in Australia... It may also
>>>>>>>> need
>>>>>>>> a
>>>>>>>> skilled local serviceman to check it out.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best of luck
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Tim Gillett,
>>>>>>>> Perth,
>>>>>>>> Western Australia
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Fisher"
>>>>>>>> <[log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, July 20, 2017 5:27 AM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Check for tight belts and good rubber tires.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Martin
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>>> From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:
>>>>>>>>> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of 6295LARGE .
>>>>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2017 3:23 PM
>>>>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>>>> Subject: [ARSCLIST] Much Trouble with my two TASCAM 122 Mk 2s
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hello everybody
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I was cut off from ARSC for about 2 months, because their email
>>>>>>>>> was
>>>>>>>>> being
>>>>>>>>> rejected by my computer for some reason.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> I have 2 TASCAM 122 Mk 2 recorders.
>>>>>>>>> They seem to have week mechanisms.
>>>>>>>>> I was told I can use only high quality cassettes.
>>>>>>>>> Is that how it should be?
>>>>>>>>> I don't use junk, but the mechanism struggles and moans, then it
>>>>>>>>> stops
>>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>>> eats the tape.
>>>>>>>>> The cassettes have gotten stuck in one of them and I had to take
>>>>>>>>> off
>>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>>> cover to make the mechanism give them up.
>>>>>>>>> Is that how it should be? Maybe the rubber parts need to be
>>>>>>>>> cleaned.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> *Are there any service centers for TASCAM in south Florida?*
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> HELP!
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>>>> Ben Roth
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ---
>>>>>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus
>>>>>>>> software.
>>>>>>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>>>
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