12 source a cheaper pinch roller (Fix your Tascam 244 transport)

Kits for the tascam 244 and 246 which include a replacement pinch roller are expensive at the time of posting , so I explore simple modifications to accommodate inexpensive and readily available pinch rollers.. a similar approach could prehaps be used with Yamaha and Fostex 4 tracks as well?
This is video # 12 in a comprehensive how-to course on refurbishing the cassette transport of the Tascam 244 Portastudio 4 track, as well as cleaning and demagnetising the unit. Check out the whole playlist here;-
• 1 Introduction (Fix Yo...
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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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Tools and equipment I use when repairing portastudios;-
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[@brmarko]

This video series about 244 model is so damn useful! Encouraged me to fix 244 which came to me by a fellow owner. All the rubber parts were melted and disintegrated, I successfully replaced all of them, got the idle tires fixed by rubber seals, just waiting for a pinch roller to arrive from Aliexpress. Anyway, thank you so much for this exceptionally useful videos, couldn't think of a better "service manual"! :)

[@freddykwon7094]

Any idea where I can get a replacement pinch roller pin? Or any alternatives?

[@kevinclark8617]

Hey. Thanks for your work. Yesterday I replaced my pinch roller on my 424 mk1. Before I replaced it, tape loops would stall at the splice half the time. Now it plays consistently, but it will randomly change speed drastically. Any thoughts?

[@travisraab]

So great!! Do you have a video about general maintenance/tuning? (lube, solder, etc)

[@Tetrakan]

Hmmm, no not specifically, so maybe I should tackle that one day….how I go about soldering is is this old video where I was refurbishing a 424 mk III kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJ2uoHqfdt-ko8k but lubrication is really baked into the various series about specific cassettte transports, I think there’s stuff about dried grease, silicone grease etc in the series about the GEC transport that appears in a lot of late 80s multitrackers from various manufacturers kzbin.info/aero/PLYsfQOh0tsJVl859LSG8MXisbMwLEW-L5 and there’s definitely stuff about lubricating faders and pots in the cleaning playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLYsfQOh0tsJUCG0P0xLw_IpytH37ew_s0

[@travisraab]

@@Tetrakan thanks!! Happy Thanksgiving

[@DarkGlassly]

What an excellent series of videos on this, well done. Are the exact dimensions of the original pinch roller known for seeking out direct replacements?

[@Tetrakan]

Thanks. Not off the top of my head, but as shunt in a later video in this series you can transplant the rubber from an AS2 onto the original brass core and it works very well

[@DarkGlassly]

@@Tetrakan Thanks. FWIW my own measurements: Rubber roller height=6.4mm Rubber diameter=12.8mm Spindle rod=1.99mm Ferrule hole=2.4mm (ish...) Ferrule total height=8mm I've sent for a couple from aliexpress which appear to be very close to those measurements.

[@Tetrakan]

Thanks for sharing, good luck with your refurbishment!

[@redtapemusic]

Hello Tetrakan, fantastic videos, very helpful. Unfortunately in the last stage of an otherwise successful repair the C clip on the top of the pinch roller bracket pinged off, and after a days searching I can’t find it! Any ideas what size it is and where I might get a replacement? Thanks, S

[@Tetrakan]

Not off the top of my head but that size will be included in a multipack of c clips, you can get those off UK amazon or eBay gfor about £7

[@redtapemusic]

@@Tetrakan thanks for the quick reply. Sod’s Law working wonderfully here, I ordered a replacement and immediately found the original !

[@nirodha7028]

Hello sir. I have a strange question perhaps. I am looking into these pinch rollers for an entirely different use case than what they are intended for and am interested in learning about the friction coefficient of the rubber. More specifically in the ability of the rollers to resist ‘sliding’ over a (clean and hard) table/desk surface. I need tiny wheels that readily roll but don’t slide side to side. Any intel is appreciated.

[@Tetrakan]

Sounds like these are a feasible option for your project, but I don’t know the friction coefficient for the rubber if that’s what you’re asking, good luck!

[@nirodha7028]

@@Tetrakan thanks! No I am simply trying to get ‘hands on’ feedback from someone who has experience with them. To know if they are indeed grippy in a manner that stops them from sliding side to side when used as wheels.

[@Tetrakan]

@nirodha7028 they are, and dirt cheap if you go through Ali express etc, so worth a go, I think...what are you building?

[@nirodha7028]

@@Tetrakan Thank you :-) Not at liberty to say what. But I am building a prototype of a product concept I came up with for my employer. I am a professional industrial design engineer. And I appreciate you giving me some info. Thanks!

[@Tetrakan]

@nirodha7028 Gotcha: Strictly need to know basis, very hush hush, you don't have the NDA in your briefcase, but you'll get legal to send it over. Amazing. I'm imagining a WMD now hahaha. Good luck!

[@Tetrakan]

Has anyone watching this found other substitute parts which can be used with the Tascam 244 or other models of 4 track? If so, please comment below!

[@blanchardvictor5519]

Hi ! Just replaced pinch roller and idler tires with cheap parts. Let me know how i can share the links. Still have one problem though : PLAY (and REC) button won't do antyhing (pinch roller goes in for 2 seconds, and then comes back). Maybe it has something to do with a black plastic piece that didn"t find its way back in the 244... I can't remember its use. Could I send you a picture ? Many thanks for your videos.

[@Tetrakan]

Sure, send the pic via Facebook messenger?

[@fasionevans]

Is there any way you could share the link to the parts? Trying to get a pinch roller for less than £14.16 for just the rubber is seeming like a massive task at the moment!

[@Tetrakan]

This is the cheapest suitable PR I can find on uk eBay at the moment, about £5 ebay.us/W7exvx

[@valdelduca8325]

Sorry to bother you..Is there a cheaper source for the half inch pinch roller rubber for the Tascam 38 ..Kindest regards

[@Tetrakan]

I'm sorry I haven't looked into that yet. I do actually own a 38 and a 32 (same pinch roller I think?) Which I haven't refurbished yet, and those will be the subject of tear down series etc in future, so stay tuned.

[@valdelduca8325]

@@Tetrakan Thank You for your reply I’ve found one on EBay..I was trying to save some money lol I also owned a Tascam 234 Synacest I ended up selling it and buying the Tascam 38 ..Both excellent machines

[@BogoEN]

Couldn’t you just remove the rubber tire from the plastic wheel of the Porta02 and put it onto the wheel of the 244’s?

[@Tetrakan]

Years of doing this and I that never even occurred to me ...I just tried removing the rubber from an AS2 (same type as porta one)and slipping it over the brass core from an old 244 pinch roller...and it works! THANK YOU. I'll pin this comment & add a note in the description, and once I make a follow-up video I'll direct people to that :)

[@BogoEN]

Tinkering with Tascams Happy to help :-) It’s exciting to think of folks getting there 244s and 246s working - IMHO I think it’s the best way to get high fidelity analog sound recording at home - iow really glad you’re doing this and glad I could chip in in a small way

[@Tetrakan]

@@HanfordTapeSessions Yeah pretty straight forward. I used sharp scissors to clip the thin plastic atone side which was fiddly but after that the rubber came off easily. Pushing the rubber over the brass core form the old pinch roller was a tight fit but thats good because you won't want it slipping.

[@rundownrecording6073]

This works if you have the patience! I have two porta 02 parts machines with bad heads. I removed the pinch roller and was able to pop out the plastic hub with ease. I then held it open with a pair of needle nose pliers while i inserted the 244 brass hub using a small screwdriver.