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I'm trying to recondition an Akai GXC760D Hifi cassette deck
(late 70's vintage I believe.)

This is a twin capstan (both engaged at once) design that uses
11.0mm diameter pinch rollers. The diameter is quite critical
as there is only just enough travel on the carriage, the
clearances are tight, and I think the nature of a twin
capstan design makes pinch roller pressure fairly critical.
The common replacement sizes (9.6mm and 13.0mm) do not fit.
I think an acceptable range would probably be 10.5-11.5mm.

The height is 7.9mm and hole diameter 2.5mm, though these
are somewhat negotiable.

I've looked through a variety of usual UK parts sources
(RS CPC/Farnell Grandata CharlesHyde Seme etc)
and I get the feeling nobody stocks other than the two
'standard' sizes.

Anyone know of somewhere that stocks 11.0mm? Anywhere
in the world (though UK would be ideal.)

Alternatively, has anyone successfully machined down a larger
size (e.g. 13mm) on a lathe? My gut feeling is that rubber
is unlikely to machine down smoothly, though I've not tried.
Or maybe, if a VCR pinch roller of the right diameter existed
(is there a table of VCR model to diameter anywhere??) then
as these seem readily available, could one be cut down in
length?

Thanks for your help!
Mike.

I've sometimes found that with oddball sizes, they are more a function of
the hub diameter, so if you can get a replacement 9.6mm roller of the
correct width, removing its tyre, and refitting this to the original hub,
will get you a 'new' pinch roller of the correct diameter. The rubber is
quite flexible, and will normally stretch over a slightly larger hub without
too much trouble, helped if necessary, by a little washing up liquid. I've
also performed the same trick where the hub is the same size, by cutting a
short length of heatshrink tubing to fit over the centre part of the hub.
When that is then shrunk on, it will boost the diameter of the hub by up to
a mm, which will do the same to the outer diameter of the tyre when it is
fitted over it. When refitting the tyre, make sure that it has gone into the
hub recess squarely all round. This technique only works of course, for
pinch rollers with a central plastic hub, not those with a moulded-in brass
bush. Bit of a bodge I suppose, but it does work, and is a lot less trouble
than filing and lathing and so on.

Arfa