11 Replace Pinch Roller (fix your Tascam 244 Portastudio)

In this video we will change the pinch roller on a Tascam 244 Portastudio - the same instructions will work for a Tascam 246.
This is the 11th video in a how-to course showing the replacement of belts and change of other rubber parts (e.g. the pinch roller and idler tires) on the Tascam 244 Portastudio 4 track, as well as cleaning and demagnetising the unit.
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TETRAKAN - Fix & Use Tape Recorders
Overviews; tear-downs; repair vlogs; techniques; tutorials; demo recordings...
...covering every cassette multitrack recorder ever made!*
*(eventually)
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I prefer to answer questions in the youtube comments where my answers can help more than one person, but if you need to share photos etc, you can message me via facebook.
/ tetrakan
Tools and equipment I use when repairing portastudios;-
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[@Drinkyoghurt]

Thanks for all your videos. They helped me in the right direction with my Portastudios. I've now fixed a 424MK1 and a 244 with a Porta Two needing minor servicing after a belt refresh. I've used dime a dozen pack of belts for them (one wide variety pack and one square pack) which seems fine. I even measured wow/flutter and it seems to be within factory specs which is wild for something so old! So nice to see a community of people fixing old gear instead of chucking it away.

[@sethvanek9805]

Bless you for this! I never would have been able to get through this without this perfect video. 246 running like new!

[@alexlightningboyedwards5350]

I was able to get my 244 back up and running all because of you and your videos!!!!!!!!! Thank you So much. I can now transfer my originals from the 80's to Digital.

[@Tetrakan]

That’s great, I’m glad the videos were helpful

[@leslie19611]

Very helpful thanks. I managed to do this quite easily after watching this video.

[@BogoEN]

Thank you thank you! Just what I needed for my 246 (and eventually my 244).

[@Tetrakan]

Glad to be of service!

[@tmbaz66]

professional work

[@madsfisker]

Hey Brother! thanks a lot man!

[@sonfx]

Cheers. Great, informative video. The pinch roller on my 246 is making a screechy sound during playback. I heard about cleaning it but it doesn't cut it so I guess it is time to replace it. What are the kits you're referring to at 3:54?

[@hairdigital633]

A serious thank you for doing these videos. They are invaluable to me. I have an issue, if you wouldn't mind maybe giving a little advice. My 246 pinch roller seems to be causing issues. I get warping and tape dropouts as the tape pulls through the transport. I removed the head cover so that I could see more of what was going on. It seems that the rubber wheel is pushing the tape up and down the pinch roller. Occasionally when I stop the tape, the tape is stuck to the rubber and is pulled slightly from the cassette shell as it pulls back from the tape. I'm guessing perishing rubber that needs replaced... I'm a bit hard up for cash at the minute but can afford a few risks, so do you think this is a simple pinch replacement or perhaps something larger? I'm happy to replace the rubber but is there any solution that should be tried before opening it up? Cheers!

[@AT-rx1nj]

Thanks for your work, I'm only at the beginning of my refurbishing job on my tascam 244. I found a pinch roller for a tascam 112 for sale on eBay....are they compatible?

[@philcass995]

Good Evening from Bristol. Thanks for your excellent videos which have given me the confidence to tackle my original from new 244. Idler tyres removed (tarry s*** still going everywhere...from such a small source!) and replaced, now to do the pinch roller tyre which has completely disappeared apart from a bit more tar (I think I'm buying a replacement tyre from Europe somewhere as I can't quite tell which similar one to buy cheaply from UK ...AS2?). Anyway, your video at 3'20" or thereabouts shows how the spring should sit in the V. Mine (not yet removed I should add) does not sit in the V to start with. This is worrying me as I want to put it back like you say. I had some repair done to the transport controls years ago and I can't say it was ever right after but it's so long ago. They might have mounted that spring wrongly, is your way the only correct way ('V') please? I have a good photo but no idea how to post it here. Apologies for the rambling style. Best wishes, Phil

[@Tetrakan]

hi, The way I'm demonstrating the positioning of the spring is the way it has sat in most units I've received with rotten original pinch rollers, and so its my guess they left the factory. Early in my "career" refurbishing these I did manage to place it a different way via guesswork (longer arm of the spring strung through a hole in the pbrass arm) and it worked - perhaps this is how your tech did it too? But its a fairly robust piece of metal so don't worry too much about it, nothing should break if you reinstall it my way having previously been installed some other way.

[@philcass995]

@@Tetrakan Thanks mate! Appreciate your replies

[@DailyBrusher]

Wow, I thought I was ready for that c-clip to go, but it REALLY jumped out of there! So now I'm on my hands and knees... with my "cheater" glasses on! Found it!!

[@givethemrope]

Thank you so much for this series! I’ve lost the c clip. Any idea what size it is so I can source another?

[@Tetrakan]

Not off the top of my head, I think they're labelled according to the diameter of the tube they clip to, so if you eyeball that with a ruler you should have a good idea what to order?

[@MegaNafo]

thanks

[@39thala]

Hi Tetrakan, your videos have helped me greatly. I have an issue I'd like to get your take on. I just obtained an old 244 which look to be in really good condition. Appears to be well cared for generally. Opened up the bottom and the wiring and boards all looked in tact, clean and in good shape. Of course, the belts and pinch roller tire needed to be replaced as they were deteriorated. So, I replaced those as well as I went ahead and replaced the idler tires also. Powered up and put in some old tapes I had from a previous 244 unit that I had made a number of years ago and played them to remind myself what all I had on them. (Tapes are in very good shape, kept in cases, stored well etc.). It worked like a charm and everything sounded great. Spent about an hour listening to the tapes (I listened to 3 or 4 different tapes and all did great). I decided to take a break so I stopped the tape I was listening to, pulled the tape out, turned it off and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Decided to power back up and put the tape in to continue listening, and now the the sound of the music is slightly dragging (wow or flutter?) as if the speed seems to be varying slightly in places like what you would hear in an old analog movie soundtrack. I tried another one of the same tapes I was listening to before that was previously working great and same thing is happening to it now. So, the tapes are not the issue as they were playing fine before. Do you have any idea why would it be all of a sudden having this problem when it was working perfectly just 20 minutes before? Would the new belts be failing some how? Or the idler/pinch roller tires possibly slipping or loosening etc? I would think that would be unlikely with brand new belts and tires, especially if it wasn't a problem just 15 to 20 minutes before. Like I said, everything was working great until I turned off the machine, let it sit, then turned back on later. (Note, The belts and tires I specifically ordered on eBay were for the unit. And everything seemed to fit) Thanks!

[@39thala]

I took off the bottom plate to take a look and everything looks good, Nothing melted or broken as far as I can tell. the belts etc look good. As I mentioned before, the motor was running fine before with no wow, flutter or distortion in speed. It wasn't until after I cut it off and let to sit a while then turned it back on and tried to play a tape, this started. If I put my face down very close to the unit with the bottom plate off I can detect just a very slight warmth and slight electrical smell. But I would think that would be normal after it's been running for a time as with any electrical appliance of any sort etc.?

[@39thala]

I'm now starting to wonder if it's one of the motors going out on the transport. I tried playing the tapes again, and they were doing the same thing with the slight wow, but then started to get better and smoothed out for several minutes (a couple of songs played fine). But then it started to do the wow again and got even worse to the point the pitch is now sounding like its dragging and playing slower than the music is supposed to sound with an extreme wow. I can't see how the new idler tires or the pinch roller would possibly be sounding that extremely bad now. I do hear a very slight clicking noise in the transport so i looked at your video about noises in the transport, making sure the large capstan pulley has just a little clearance and if the pullies are dirty etc but all of that seems to be ok (I cleaned them pretty good when I replaced the belts) and the noise sounds like what your video says is normal. So, I'm really thinking a motor is going bad. But not sure which one it could be (capstan motor, idler motor, or control motor.).. or if any of those can even be replaced. I admit at this point, i'm a little frustrated and dejected about this because I was hoping all this unit needed was new belts and tires. However, I'm still puzzled as to why it was doing so well at first for a whole hour listening through 3 or 4 different tapes but then didn't start to have problems until after I turned it off and let it sit for awhile. Seems strange

[@Tetrakan]

If the idler tires aren't slipping (new ones can be too smooth - try roughing up.the surface with high grit sandpaper) the regulation circuit for the capstan motor could be at fault. Its very hard to find a direct replacement for the motor, but you could try to find replacement components for the internal PCB. The electrolytic capacitor will be easy to replace, I've never searched for the semiconductors in there, but they have part numbers printed on them, and new old stock replacements may be available?

[@39thala]

@@Tetrakan Ok, thanks! I'll pull the transport and try roughing up the idler tires a little. One other thing I noticed since I last posted. While listening through the headphones, I noticed that the sound would slowly pan back and forth (L & R) occasionally. For exampleI'd have the guitar track panned left and the vocal track in center and then midway through the song, it would all very slowly pan right then eventually pan back left. Or just one track would pan while another track stays the same. That's just an example. It seems to be random. And seems to get better as unit warms up.

[@39thala]

@@Tetrakan Hmm, now it's making a Loud squeaking noise inside the transport while a tape is playing. It stops when the tape s not playing. Tried several different tapes and it still does this. So, it's something inside the transport. I'm going to pull the transport and check out everything and I'll go back and watch your video about noises. Seems you mentioned something about that.

[@robertoraineriseith]

Your videos helped me a lot repairing my beloved Tascam 234, thank you so much! I replaced the belts succefully and my next step will be the replacement of the pinch roller who has become sticky. Are the replacements for the 244 and/or the 122 also suitable for the 234?

[@Tetrakan]

The 244 PR definitely fits the 234, I can’t speak to the 122 though, haven’t had one of those, I assume the cassette player is the same?

[@Tetrakan]

I’m sure the 244 PR will work in the 234

[@robertoraineriseith]

@@Tetrakan That's great! Thanks a lot again Tetrakan for your feedback and precious help!

[@ADVENT_MarkPtak]

Hi TS - your vids are great. Saved me a lot of money refurbishing my Tascam 246...Thank you! Question: Are there replacements available to replace the 2 small rubber parts on the two white arms above the heads and pinch roller? Also, what about the brown roller to the right of the idler tires (if you're holding the transport cage with the heads on the bottom)? Don't know what they're called, so am having a hard time googling them to purchase replacements. (Already replaced belts, idler tires and cleaned contacts. Ordering a pinch roller, and figured I'd get the other above parts at the same time.) Thx!

[@Tetrakan]

Can you show me pictures of the parts you mean via Facebook message?

[@ADVENT_MarkPtak]

@@Tetrakan Sure... Just sent.

[@henrikschimmel4025]

Hi. Love your vids. I just put on a new tire for the pinch roller, but no matter if the pinchroller is engaged or not, its pressing the tire against the pin? Do you have an idea how to fix that?

[@Tetrakan]

Thanks. Please clarify - do you mean the heads and pinch roller are always raised? So you can't remove the cassette? You can send pictures via Facebook messenger or Instagram if you like.

[@rOhmz]

bloody brilliant videos mate! Curious though, is this roll swap similar to the 234 in how it comes apart? I recently got a 234 for an insane deal and of course the original roller has turned to tar now and needs to be changed. Ive got a roller on the way, but am worried that spring setup will be different in the 234.... Anways, thanks for all of your great video's and knowledge kind sir!

[@Tetrakan]

The pinch roller arm is the same, but getting the transport out of the 234 chassis is really different…I think I found someone else has done a partial tear down of that model so refer to that meantime , but I have one in the pipeline

[@dylonbangss2804]

Do you recommend that we order a new pinch roller with a bearing for a pinch roller replacement or just the rubber

[@Tetrakan]

I've seen Ali express sellers selling just the rubber, but never tried it...on the face of it that seems slightly less work, good luck?

[@lanes58]

Hi again. I replaced the two belts and pinch roller tire. Is there anything in particular that would cause playback recording to slow down and speed up?

[@Tetrakan]

The first thing to check is clean the pitch control potentiometer - the sort of dirty contacts which manifest as crackle or signal dropout on a guitar volume pot can manifest as pitch changes if the pitch control potentiometer is dirty

[@DailyBrusher]

I have the Portastudio 246, what is the name of the tool that allows me to remove the head block cover? Little flathead screws, with two pin holes or divets in them?

[@Tetrakan]

I think its called a crab claw screwdriver? I don't own one! If I ever need to remove the panel you're talking about ( I only ever do that to clean a really filthy 244/246 - for changing the pinch roller etc I always remove the entire transport from the rear) then I put the pointed tips of the green hook-nose tweezers you see me use in these videos into the two holes and use that to loosen the screws until there is enough of them protruding I can turn them by hand.

[@macros303]

Hello thanks again for these videos just going through replacing all the rubber elements on my transport.. Quick question.. My pinch roller feels very tight after installing the new one.. it does turn but there is quite a bit of resistance.. Im worried i made metal either side very tight trying to remove the center spindle. Does it need to move quite freely or does this sound ok to you?

[@Tetrakan]

The pinch roller should move freely. If it has plastic sides you can wear those down with sandpaper before installing, but ideally fit the rubber from a cheap one with a plastic center to the original brass center from the original pinch roller, I will paste links totwo relevant videos I produced below.

[@Tetrakan]

source a cheaper pinch roller kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5KcdHaglLGoatk

[@Tetrakan]

Replace rubber on tascam 244 or 246 pinch roller kzbin.info/www/bejne/j366eYSdm6iGa6s

[@macros303]

@@Tetrakan Thanks so much for getting back to me.. On Christmas day no less :) My problem was the pinch roller.. I removed the transport again and added some lubricant to the pinch roller axel and its all working a treat.. Transport feels like new cleaned it thoroughly and replaced all rubber parts. Now i want to remove the top panel and clean all contacts for some reason my machine wont record to track pgm 3? If I put physical pressure on the master faders the signal passes through to this track then.. Also my machine has as intermittent problem where it looses power to the tape section.. I need to re-boot the machine (sometimes a few times) until it starts letting me use the tape section again.. Do you think it could be fuses? Mine is a UK model

[@Tetrakan]

Sounds like your master fader needs a good clean, I have a video on that, hard to acess but not especially hard to do once you get the fader out. If it was your fuses it wouldn't come back on no matter how many times you used the power switch. I'd suggest a dry or broken solder joint - might need to do a fairly extensive visual inspection/deconstruction to find this...be careful near the power switch transformer and large capacitors (I.e. work with the unit unplugged and several minutes after powering off)

[@fin7899]

hello! my 244 has started eating tapes, getting caught in the pinch roller and the right cassette transport wheels stopped moving, do you reckon this is due to the pinch roller needing replacing? I'm tryna diagnose what exactly is causing it not to work. Cheers!

[@Tetrakan]

No, idler tires, though if one part of the rubber is on its way put you'd be wise to replace all of it while youre in there.

[@fin7899]

@@Tetrakan nice cheers i’ll take a look at that

[@brendanbarbour8568]

Great Video: I have a 244 that is afflicted with this black tar disease....Could you tell me where I can source a replacement pinch roller or Pinch roller kit ?.....Best Regards

[@Tetrakan]

Thanks for watching, I did a couple of videos on this topic, here's the first kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5KcdHaglLGoatk

[@Tetrakan]

But the best thing is to get a really cheap PR of about the same size and use the rubber to refurbish the existing brass core, see this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/j366eYSdm6iGa6s

[@jocknarn3225]

Here here

[@CAVALERAROCCO]

Hi, I'm Rocco from Rieti (Italy) your videos are beautiful and have helped me a lot to fix my 244 tascam. finally this morning, after various components changed) I managed to turn it on, in play it worked well but I could not record anything. when I tried to record, the input signal was ok but when I wanted to listen again you could not hear my recording but the previously recorded music. I noticed a strange noise coming from the pinch roller, it seemed that the tape was constantly sticking and detaching from the roller. I touched it and it was sticky and very, too soft. I can't find a pinchroller here in Italy, I don't know how. can you help me to solve this problem please? why do you think my tascam 244 didn't record? could it be because very large pieces of tape remained stuck to the pinch roller? thanks for your help and you are great :) I spend hours watching your videos

[@Tetrakan]

Hi try this link to order a pinch roller, cut the plastic core off and put this rubber on your original brass pinch roller core www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-Rubber-8-8-x-6x-1-5-mm-Pinch-Roller-for-Cassette-Decks/264525828422?hash=item3d96f7d146:g:cKQAAOSwBP1efyRs

[@Tetrakan]

For the recording problem, It is very unusual for the unit to make NO recordings on all 4 tracks... change the [p[inch roller rubber first, then check - did the red record button light continuously? (I ask because some people don't realise the record and playback buttons must be pressed simultaneously - if you don'rt do this the record light will flash, and no recording is being made)

[@CAVALERAROCCO]

@@Tetrakan hi good morning, thanks for the replies, I mounted the pinch roller and it works perfectly, also it was my mistake for the recording now it works on all 4 channels. while recording I noticed another problem, however, by adjusting the input volumes and recording I noticed that in play some volumes are higher than others. I think there is a need for calibration. I saw the video where you explain how to calibrate but I don't understand the details very well, I'm Italian and sometimes I don't understand English well. could you write me how can I do the calibration of the meters, the rec and the play? sorry for the questions and thanks in advance.

[@CAVALERAROCCO]

all day today I spent it trying to calibrate playback and record amplifier, now the levels are more or less similar but channel 3 now gives off a strong rustle and the low frequencies are very badly heard.

[@Tetrakan]

@@CAVALERAROCCO I'm going to write a short article for my blog explaining the calibration process for the benefit of viewers for whom English is not a first language. I'll comment back here with a link once it's done.

[@TylerShackleford]

What is the spring to the left

[@Tetrakan]

That spring is part of the magnetic head assembly, preventing the heads from pushing into the tape too hard.

[@teejteejteejteej]

So, I've just fitted new pinch roller and idler tyres. As well as new belts are now on. Mechanically everything seems to be working nicely but nothing will record... any ideas on this? I've been looking to see if I missed a connector or something but no luck with that so far...

[@teejteejteejteej]

Actually it could be recording but I can't hear playback... (unfortunately got no previously recorded tapes to try it). I feel like I am doing something simple wrong and being stupid but I can't figure it out.

[@Tetrakan]

Hiya, this seems like a simple question but actually it is very broad! Keep checking these comments and I will try to talk you through troubleshooting this issue, and please do not be offended if any of this seems condescending, I just don't know what your experience level is :). The first thing to check is have you armed the tracks you are recording properly... for instance if you are recording a monosynth into onto track one of your cassette using mixer channel 1;- fader 1 AND master fader should be set between 7 and 8; Input switch on mixer channel 1 should be set to "Mic/line"; mixer channel 1 pan control should be set all the way to the left; record mode should be set to "SYNC"; Buss left should be set to "TRK 1"; the mixer channel 1 trim knob should be set so the channel 1 VU meter is showing an average signal of at least -7Db. If this is all set correctly, are you pressing record AND play buttons firmly AND SIMULTANEOUSLY? Let me know :)

[@teejteejteejteej]

@@Tetrakan doing all this yep. The only thing I hadn't done before is panned hard left.

[@teejteejteejteej]

Just tried panning and not hearing any playback either. I did once manage to hear something I recorded on the cue mix knob but now no luck reproducing it.

[@teejteejteejteej]

And for no reason I can explain I can hear something I recorded on track four from yesterday when trying to repeat the process