Cassette Player -- I Need Help!

[cason]

I posted about this recent yard sale find on the Pioneer forum ($5 yard sale find), but thought I would avail myself of the larger readership on "Turntables & Tapes" in seeking help :thmbsp:. The unit in question is one of those early 1980s combo's with receiver/cassette/turntable -- Pioneer Model KH-8855. It was probably a great little "dorm room stereo." I'd like to get it operating properly, with the intention of gifting it to a young lady at work who is interested in lp's, but has no way to play them :pity:.

My problem is with the cassette deck. Most functions work properly - FF, Rev, Auto-repeat, but when the Play button is pressed, no movement :no:. I'm not sure where to start in addressing this problem. I've not been able to locate a service manual for the KH-8855 yet, 'though I'm continuing to search. And I don't know if the cassette deck in this combo unit is comparable to another "stand alone" Pioneer cassette deck. Anyway, any help, comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated :grnbounce.
Thanks,
Bob

[jblmar]

Did you try different tapes and at different locations on the tape? (Beginning, middle, towards the end of the tape).
Another possibility could be a bad forward Play switch or belt(s) / idler wheel.

Try the deck without a tape. Press Play. Does the capstan spin? Does the right side (Take Up) reel try to spin? Press Play and try to spin the right side spindle by hand.
Post your findings.

Ron

[dr*audio]

Does this thing have piano keys or soft touch buttons?

[cason]

dr*audio,
It has the "piano key" type controls. There are photo's attached to the post I did on the Pioneer forum.
Bob

[cason]

jblmar,

I've tried different tapes and different locations on the tapes, all with the same result --no movement, nor indication that the capstans are trying to move. Take up reel does not move. All of this is the same whether I press Play or Record. Both capstans spin freely by hand and there is no resistance to their spinning when either Stop, Play or Record are engaged.
I guess all this points to deteriorated/broken belts (as with the turntable belt).
This leads to another question. Did most Pioneer decks of this era (1978-82) use the same size belt(s), or were there many different sizes within the Pioneer line. If I order belts and rollers for a CT-F 500, for instance, are they likely to fit this machine. If not, how do I measure for belts and what is the best source?
Thanks for any info.
Bob