"Farmer Bill" wrote in message
...

I bought a used AM/FM/Cassette deck for my car. Unfortunately, the
heads, capstans, and pinch rollers were filthy. A cleaning tape barely
made a dent in the grime, so I cleaned everything gently with Q-tips and
rubbing alcohol. But there is still visible corrosion on the tape head,
causing playback to sound muffled (in one direction only; in the other
direction, the music sounds fine; it's a reversible deck). I have run
the (wet) cleaning tape through the machine about 15 times, to no
avail.

Does anyone know of a safe method to remove corrosion from audio
cassette tape heads? Not sure if I'm savvy enough to try to remove the
tape head from my old player and put it in the new player. Maybe I just
need to buy another used deck from a more reputable seller.

Many thanks.




--
Farmer Bill

I transfer reel to reel tapes to CDR as a hobby, and side line.
If you think cassettes shed oxide, imagine a 30 year old reel to reel tape
stored ina garage, being played for the first time in 20 years. Even after
a mild baking, they shed!
I use naptha (lighter fluid) (very sparingly!) on a q-tip.
You want just enough to wet the crud, not enough to run where you dont want
it. Let it sit for a bit, and then with a clean swab, also lightly
moistened in lighter fluid, start scrubbing it off. Several applications
may be needed.
I would avoid anything plastic, metal, or generally harder than your
fingernail. I've also used a #2 pencil eraser to encourage the crud to be
gone.
After you get it off, then use alcohol to rinse the head, and remove the
slightly oily film lighter fluid will leave.
HTH!

Peace
Deke