I just aquired a Teac X-3R. I already own a X-3. What I was wondering is how does the X-3R change direction, does the motor just spin in the oppisite direction or is there a different configuration with the pulley and motor. Does it use the same belt as a X-3 ? Also, can it record in reverse direction, or just play back ? Is there an extra record and play head for the reverse direction ?

I know more about X7R than X3R, but this should help. Look at the # of heads, usually R models means reverse play and reverse record, so, you would have 6 heads, 2 erase, 2 play, 2 record. You put a short length (3/4") of metal reversing tape on the back side (away from the heads) about 3 feet from the end of the tape, and it is sensed by the skinny post on the left side and the machine reverses, the capstan motor simply changes direction. The belt should be the same as a non-reversing model.

The X-3 series was designed to get into the lower cost market. At the time of its release, the X-7 and X-7R were roughly selling for $700~$800 and Akai was getting too much out of TEAC. The X-3 is a single capstan unit with a simple reversing drive motor in the R version. Both versions only have 3-heads: 2 channel erase, 2 channel record and, in the R version, a 4 channel play head with tracks 1 & 3 being used for forward play and tracks 2 & 4 providing reverse play. Recording is in forward direction only. I've always considered the X-3's to be rather light weight, especially when compared to the X-7's. However, TEAC got lots of mileage out of the design by making TASCAM variants in half-track (22-2) and 4-track (22-4) @ 7.5/15 ips and Radio Shack OEM version.