ryanoud

New Member
Hello,

Today I came across my late father's Teac X-1000R reel to reel tape deck and was excited to get it running and play some of his old recorded tapes. Unfortunately I ran into an issue trying to get it to play and having no experience with this technology am at a lost as to how to fix it. I was hoping this community could provide some advice and identify the problem I am having.

The issue I am having is the deck will power up, fast forward, and rewind, but does not do anything when I press play. It makes a thunk noise and the tension bars move up when they I press play. I looked around and I think it may be a belt issue? But again I have no clue.

Would love to have some feedback on this issue and any help would be greatly appreciated!

Here is a link to a video of the issue I am referring to.

 
This is the most recurrent issue with those TEACs : capstan pinch rollers mechanism is stuck with dried grease, thus not moving up in play mode.

As a consequence, tape is not pinched between rollers and capstan shafts, and it doesn't move.

Yours needs thorough cleaning of the old grease and lubrication of the mechanism with fresh one... Been there, done that : https://photos.app.goo.gl/jXzOUh8QfgKhIxb02

Good luck, those things are a pig to dismantle :rant:

Before cleaning :
9KJZHym2gVjmqKhk6Vzr898heBVvBJOZCd0C1KuFzd9wNjlI2NHKe_cU995iv9--rsz8Ze8rbLjJCaX3nFSIeD3Jvu0bVDFFretjEWcpEZHHtz-hZpNvDsLtS_y5T1Yn7CosCYs5PkDGIMC1wJBVjFpqFSct_NGH9Ptl8MX-FHn5zGiQ9wRFscrd5LFhD9N4hwJgYsUqBSIuYKiSt_MjITJ1X5SkRRTyAAXEZqNQ5WpOP2WwAJtNtMlNZQ29tkhkA9k6rw7ZyEI_UKsPMhrKuJZZKl-HVBOt3snwlvpL15r3RmRVNquwslGzDLMtowaFHVWU1BlWcoTETgD7F6yE_mR6Po0PtG4hhx3-EiCijdgAk9SA8Ism6sqZq7i8nW3LCvmXdwIYRhir7UrKuBKdeIbkggQV0znh1wffRxiR32CWnq0W7iztVnQr7Zbr2XFgHwK-LA2cKAyMuRcUOLvASpCVHHY8Yaqx4JWoJTtYCpEoxCG0Fh-8U80qKEUd6ucpvH9TV5BM5VK4CTVGOVBG8yzcYOxSteGu8awOhTrBtAwt0teYKFocdEbPkuj40714Btv4zo8vHf7tXysHodPio20iz0w4NUs1JXPgsh7UU9kKUxwT0Xgq1dm8Q4zqrpDoUFnngBHHIXe5PeF7N5i4w5XqFX-oA2WwNOAS=w1351-h920-no

ZWqIN2mCrMNwHLkyHSV6r4sJTVLrDvxEXq85uwnpoBph9HZRlRW1mg2_1v2qqeP1M5x0clrjWEax2ufT_1wpY88zYkhmhASz9fY3pj0su6yUV9nz8j4gsJ_-QZP9UDi5wkib5Um_8SfnlFI8adFrkH2MNpq3OVUp1jpgBkfjZMiIAI5dGwfA2zgWUaPxNK3Soot-ETYB35LYgJ8DP0lmi5dawG4HeYHWJIKPleQvW3k6eutm9LP5PmTLfkJpSwEkQCXFmU14mCkyahrLqdNaskRDaciV9StDh8vh3v9vMejptHd8P53tvjh-80plj4Iou2v8s6EzS7ePmPuZa4YcF5yxuMl2--rj2q1fCfRHBjyVIe33ehzaJGbNl6PP6tFU8uGFT3F0PsmDfOXBCgmledBXw9pEdPOrQQjaMVIpean76dUq08F0vK4JXXsdyXI4e_9eN9EROY4CesG1jnYSmJwT0OD5IixkKV8OuAawXXfsjnSC_rfSJn4KR6FxjUWY2I67cVM74EFaS8bSOy9-XfJxIv_UmRtNwykxNLCtzP-Tprhmn0eXizYB1uI0sDTFxOlUY1TYjFCqqmgzugkEZlAaX1mpVuAbLgC83o1AJ8B2vTc80sCrpM-UOU9-k8vX6FljI9CHZq2SvYvxNduR1nP4L-XJt3QiwCB0=w1497-h919-no


And after :
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What Thierry said is correct but since the X-1000R is a belt driven dual capstan model, it may also need a new belt since these tend to deteriorate over time.
 
Belt is first thing to check for-it belt is not failed, you can load tape, press play and push the pinch rollers up to the capstan shafts, and it should drive the tape. If no tape drive, then the belt is probably disintegrated. It must be replaced, and you should order one directly from Teac. It's about $15.00

If tape drives when trying the above, then the mechanism is gummed up, and as Thierry noted, old grease has to be removed and mechanism relubed. The pics he shows suggest having to remove the entire mechanism from the chassis. This is not required. It does involve removing the pinch rollers, motor assembly, and flywheels. It's a tedious task, and you will want to buy a few dozen long swabs to reach the inner workings. Isopropyl alcohol on the swabs, moving the pieces up/down-look for anything that slides and remove as much old lube as your patience will allow. Relube the sliding pieces with a synthetic grease-again, apply with swabs and move everything about to spread. Capstan shafts (attached to flywheels), need light oil. Don't drip solvents or lubricants into chassis. You might stuff several paper towels in the area below where you work-just in case.

Very important-make careful note of orientations of Left and Right pinch rollers, and which side faces out. Be very sure to carefully save and reinstall the tiny washers you will find when you unscrew the pinch roller covers. A tiny bit of light oil on them during reassembly.
Similarly, carefully note orientations of flywheels-I use a Sharpie to mark left right, as observed from the front of the machine.

Take your time, and if you have to stop for a while, label pieces to help during reassembly. Photos taken on the front end will save your rear end.

Good luck-it's a fine machine when working well.
 
Ronsonal Lighter Fluid is excellent for cleaning that old grease out. Just keep it off rubber items, it`s almost pure Naptha....
 
What Thierry said take your time and be sure to keep up with the small parts especially the pinch roller washers mentioned. You can do this.
 
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