Mr. Mike wrote:
I have a Sony TC-758 reel to reel tape recorder which was given to me by a
friend. It hasn't been used for many years, but allegedly worked prior to it
being given to the friend. But now it doesn't work properly.

There are 5 buttons on the right of the machine which control stop, play, fast
forward, reverse play and rewind (this machine has auto-reverse). It works fine
for fast forward and rewind ... the tape gets up to a good speed.

But when you push "play" or "reverse play," the rubber wheels in front of the
playback heads don't move the tape forward so it will play. There is a
"clicking" noise, and some slight motion in the rubber wheels and the mechanism
underneath, but that's it. Rather than playing, the tape starts to fast forward
or rewind, though not as fast as the actual fast forward or rewind speeds.

Here is a more detailed explanation:

If you take off the cover over the heads, there are two "poles" that the cover
slips down over on the right and left. To the left of the left "pole," when you
push "play" (in either direction), there is some metal thing underneath down
inside below the surface (like a lever) which moves slightly to the left (the
one on the right side does not move at all) -- this is connected to the
mechanism that causes the rubber heads to push the tape up against the playback
heads so the tape will be heard -- accompanied by a clicking noise. I took a
stick and pushed this left lever slightly to the left ... and it makes a
clicking noise (tick-tick-tick-tick-etc.) like a telegraph machine.

I made a brief video (about 9 megs in size) which illustrates this.

http://www.mjq.net/misc/video.avi

Any idea what is wrong? Is this an electrical problem, or does it just need some
lubrication and/or a good push (not off a dock :-)?

you need to first see if the heads and electronics are in good
condition before spending good money on it, but it looks like a nice
deck and probably worth persevering with.

chances are, the lubricant or grease on the pinch roller mechanism has
hardened and just needs replacing, but that is the simple part. First
you will have to dismantle it which would probably be beyond you if you
have no experience. it may be easier to post your area on yahoo groups
reel to reel (need to join first) or www.tonbandwelt.de (there is a
forum with an english section). to see if there is anyone within a
rerasonable distance of your home to whom you could take the deck I am
sure you will get some results that way.
regards,
-B.