On Sun, 14 Aug 2005 23:17:38 +0000, mroberds wrote:

Tom Felker wrote:
I recently dusted off an old Allied Solid State TR-1035 reel-to-reel
tape recorder (circa 1969) in an attempt to transfer some old tapes
to the computer. After fixing mechanical problems, it worked fine,
until, after about an hour of playing, the motor died. [...]
Red and green are hooked up to a big 1.5uF capacitor.

It could be that this capacitor is dying of old age. You might try
replacing it with a 1.5 uF, 125 V AC (or better) capacitor. You can't
get this at Radio Shack. Strangely enough, you may be able to get it at
the hardware store - some ceiling fans use similar capacitors for their
motors. Try to get 1.5 uF if you can - either on its own or as part of
a multi-capacitor assembly. If you can't get 1.5 uF, it might be worth
buying a 2 uF capacitor for experimental purposes. Disconnect the
existing 1.5 uF cap and wire the new one in its place. If you have a
multi-capacitor assembly, insulate the unused wires individually with
electrical tape. Try the motor again. If you got a 1.5 uF capacitor
and the motor operates OK, you're probably good to go. If you got some
other capacitor and the motor mostly works - it runs cool but possibly
at the wrong speed or with reduced torque, then it's probably worth
seeking out a 1.5 uF capacitor and trying again.

Something else you might check - can this deck be set to operate on
multiple line voltages? 100, 120, 220, 240 are common choices. If so,
make sure it's set for the right line voltage.

Yellow is connected to the same power terminal via, in parallel, a
tape-detector switch and a component labelled "0.1(K) 400 JB."

This is probably an 0.1 uF, 400 V capacitor, that helps reduce arcs at
the contacts of the tape-detector switch when it opens.

Matt Roberds

Thanks alot for the tips. I was able to simply take the capacitor from
the second recorder and install it in the first, and so far the motor has
been running fine. And now if this one fails I'll know where to find
another.

Michael, thanks for the offer, but it doesn't look like I'll need any
spare parts. I've learned that the motors themselves are fine, and I have
two of all the other parts, enough to make a working Frankenplayer.

Have fun,
--
Tom Felker,
http://vlevel.sourceforge.net - Stop fiddling with the volume knob.

Try not! Do! or do not. There is no try.
-- Yoda