GEC multitrack cassette transport |5 | detach & reinstall reel base | Porta One Two 05 MT3X X-15

This video demonstrates how to remove and reinstall the reel base, part of the GEC transport found in several brands and models of 4 track cassette recorder including the Tascam porta one, two and 05, the Yamaha MT2X and MT3X and the Fostex X-15.
This style of cassette player is susceptible to seizing due to old grease becoming gluey, and the reel base must be removed in order to lubricate the various button levers underneath. It can also be necessary to lubricate the moving parts contained within the reel base, and it cna be necessary to shorten or replace springs to ensure the mechanisms operate properly.
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[@justinwilson178]

I've been watching your videos for a while but this series finally made me sit down and fully disassemble and fix multiple parts units that have been plaguing me last night. Had s crusty ffwd cog that had some chopped teeth that I was able to replace from a parts unit and I then used that same parts unit to replace the entire sliding play mechanism on another unit with a broken spring plate. I have now turned 3 broken units into two functional units. Thank you!

[@dghjsghkfktukryuistyi]

Hi there! Your videos have been a great help since embarking on a Porta One restoration project this week, so thank you! Is it possible to take apart the reel-base itself? And which lubricant would you recommend for the spinning parts? As the take up reel feels a bit stiff, and seems like it needs some lube to help it move smoothly when the idle tire makes contact. MANY THANKS in advance!

For some reason the spring you are putting in at 12:20 doesn't seem to be in my Porta One :O I tried to find some replacement springs on AliExpress. Is there any other supplier you know of? Love your videos BTW! Helped me allot! :D

[@Tetrakan]

Thanks. If you can't find an assortment of springs in a component box (I thought I'd seen this sort of thing on ali/amazon, maybe not) I might be able to sell you a spare dm me on fb or Instagram

@@Tetrakan Thank you! I just ordered a variety of springs from Ali. Hope they arrive this century :P hahaha. I'm trying to figure out some weird high pitched noise in the ministudio while I wait for the springs. Sounds like bad Caps :( Been changing out the old ones wiht some Nichicon ones I bought from Mouser long time ago. Sry for the rant hahaha first time today since I looked up from the spaghetti/pcb today... Cheers form Iceland!

[@fionamoonchild6203]

Any tips for removing the fast forward gear? Mine is completely seized up on a porta two. Can I just pull up on the little stop ring and pull the gear out?

[@Tetrakan]

Just the way you're describing it, I wonder if you mean the play idler? It has a rubber tire on it, immediately visible from the front of the transport once it is removed from the plastic case of the portastudio? If so, then there is a plastic part shaped like a tack you can pry up using a flathead screwdriver, then clean (isopropyl?) and lubricate (silicone grease?) the bore of the wheel and the post on which it spins before replacing. If you mean the gear that turns the take-up reel in fast forward ( no tire, only visible from the rear of the transport after the flywheel has been removed) then that is held on with a plastic clip, it has a split in it that is hard to see, I usually.pry that off with tweezers.

[@fionamoonchild6203]

@@Tetrakan yes this is super helpful. I mean the gear that turns the take up reel in FF.

[@fionamoonchild6203]

It’s very yellow and brittle I’m a little worried about it breaking, do you know where to find a replacement if that happened?

[@Tetrakan]

Where are ypu based? I have spares but I'm in the UK. Tascam Ninja pieces put that sort of thing at a big markup but he's in Greece. A spares donor from ebay etc might be the most realistic option until someone starts 3D printing these things... which I will do if no-one else does, but that's an idea that'd take years to realise.

[@fionamoonchild6203]

@@Tetrakan I’m in LA

[@Neronickguitar]

Hello! Thanks for your videos. I repaired the play function on my little Porta 05, but now the take-up reel got too much tension. I can feel it with my fingers, the tape is moving faster than the pitch wheel rotates and it sounds like Mickey Mouse, mainly at the first half of a cassette. Any idea how to loosen the take-up tension? I don't understand this clutch. Greetings from Germany!

[@Tetrakan]

Hi. So, the head is raising enough to pick up signal from the tape, but your pinch roller is not making proper contact with the tape and capstan, meaning the playback speed varies with the circumference of the tape on the take-up reel. If the pinch roller and capstan pin were gripping the tape properly, the tape would move at the speed of the capstan, regardless of the take-up reel circumference. It is intentional the take-up reel moves faster than the capstan, because if the tape is gripped properly, the tension only exists from the right of the pinch roller to the take-up reel, preventing tape chew...to the left of the pinch roller to the supply reel the tape tension would be low, does that make sense? Anyway, there are several factors which could explain why your pinch roller and capstan do not grip the tape tightly. Most common cause is the black plastic plate at the base of the head assembly is cracked, requiring a spring to be reshaped. Gluey grease on the gears which raise the head assembly can also contribute, please watch all the videos in the series, I discuss these issues and their solutions.

[@jer0051]

Hey sorry to keep bugging you but we have a problem with the transporter just barely not letting the idler pulley engage the take up reel, we put fresh grease on the gears and the white base which helped and we cut the spring about 3 winds but it just won’t engage, and we replaced the belts and the idler tire, just curious if you have any other suggestions? Thanks

[@Tetrakan]

Have you checked the black plastic base for the heads, the problem where one corner cracks so the black spring inside needs to be reshaped? This effects how far the head assembly raises, which effects how hard the idler is pushed against the take bup reel do maybe this is an issue? Also I'd try taking another 3 winds off that spring you already shortened.

[@jer0051]

@@Tetrakan yeah we actually reshaped the spring even though it wasn’t broken thinking that maybe there wasn’t enough spring to push it but we’re just scratching our heads at this point..

[@jer0051]

When we get the heads to engage the tape just spills, its like the transport needs an extra little nudge to get the take up reel to engage..

[@Tetrakan]

So the idler is turning, but not touching the take-up reel? In that case I guess just keep shortening the spring until it firmly engages. I might be able to be more specific if you could upload a video demonstrating the problem?

[@jer0051]

@@Tetrakan we will try cutting the spring a little shorter and see what happens if that doesn’t work I’ll try to post a video, thanks I appreciate it.

[@atetraxx]

thanks for sharing this information man. You're making the internet just a little better. I'm picking up a broken mt2x today. Seller says the head doesnt stay engaged. I'm wondering if this reel base is the issue. I will be studying this video once I get it. Thoughts?

[@Tetrakan]

I’m not experienced with Yamaha stuff but I heard that model has the GEC transport in there and yeah the problem being described sounds consistent with the plastic base below the heads being cracked. You can reshape the spring inside, I cover that as part of this series, also check out 3rd island’s video on fixing that issue.

[@atetraxx]

@@Tetrakan thanks for the response! Ill try to let you know what I find out