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
>>
>