On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:37:56 GMT, dave wrote:

I've an old 4 track tape recorder I'm trying to revive! (Fidelity Argyll Major
4).

The electronics all seems to work just fine and it plays tapes - although the
take up spool needs a bit of a nudge to get it going.

The problem is that Fast Forward and Rewind don't work at all. I Guess this is a
mechanical problem but don't really know where to begin. Is there a separate
drive belt for FF/Rew functions? I've taken just the top cover off and can only
see one rubber drive belt. I'm not too good at the mechanical side so don't want
to totally destroy it by fumbling about (in other words the more detailed any
help the better :-) )

From memory, there is probably a large, flat rubber idler wheel in
there somewhere that is responsible for FF/RW.

As the take up spool needs a nudge it's possible the reel clutches are
also worn.

On a related thing, the old tapes I'm trying to play are broken in a few places
(they are 40 years old!). Is there some way of splicing them together - or maybe
there is a kit I can buy to help me do this? If so I appreciate details of where
from.

There are kits available on eBay: 5851883417

sponix