Tascam 244 belt replacement

Replacing the belt of a Tascam 244 4-track cassette recorder. Belts of these machines can vanish over time, leaving a black sticky mess on the rest of the parts. In this video I show you how to put new belts in your 244.

[@lukesaintloup2174]

Thank god you made this video. Mine just arrived and the belts had perished despite being advertised as working well..

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Luke Mitchell Oh that’s too bad...! Be careful to clean everything up inside, take your time. There may still be belts available. Also check the idler tyres

[@lukesaintloup2174]

Found some belts online, have just cleaned off all the perished rubber.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Luke Mitchell OK great! Keep me posted

[@cresshead]

I has 244 back in the early 80's was a great portastudio and i recorded quite a few bands with it...was great fun.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

cresshead I can imagine that...the 244 is one of my favorites

[@robertorourke6614]

Thank you , you've done me a great service

[@DaveZula]

Thanks for posting this!

[@mindcontrol67]

I still have mine which I bought in the 90's and the belt would fall off back then so I had to always open it up,I need to get my working again as it has some issues maybe other belts fell off.I have tapes I need to play as those are only on the multitrack recording. Mixed down tapes were lost.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

mindcontrol67 probably your main belt had been worn out, becoming too loose. There is also another belt, a smaller one, which drives the tape head engagement. One other part is a little plastic wheel with a rubber "tyre" around it, which is a little harder to replace. Be careful not get the sticky vanished rubber all over when you open up your old recorder...good luck! Thanks for sharing your experiences

[@mindcontrol67]

Thanks!

[@allstellar]

I have the "black goo" all over from my bad belts.. I'm going to attempt a repair tonight.. I'll keep you all posted.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Good luck and keep your patience 👍

[@NorthAnchor]

Thank you!

[@NorthAnchor]

Did you ever replace it with “original” belts? You have link online to share? Thank you!

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

North Anchor No, I thinks it’s really hard to find original belts. Just try to find something that fits well

[@flyingnewzealand5695]

Great vids - just what I needed - Thanks! I have a 244 from years back and have removed old belts & residue, but tried replacing with rubber bands as a temporary measure (I just need to play 1 cassette and the only proper belts I could find cost £54 posted from Australia!) but the ordinary rubber band on the main capstan flywheel rides off after a couple of revolutions. Anyone any ideas how I can remedy or where I can I buy the correct belts at a reasonable price?

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Finding belts is the hardest part. I once ordered a pack of 35 belts in different sizes and shapes, none of which fitted into the 244. I also shortened a rubber band once, this worked to some extent

[@owencooke5461]

could a video on how to clean the 244 (like the heads, pinch roller, capstan etc)

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

owen mwnap Some day I will, but I don’t a have demagnetizer yet

[@Hartweizengriesspudding]

yes please!

[@joshschoenly2777]

Anyone know if aftermarket belts are ok? Or who makes the best anymore?

[@danitscoled]

Is it possible to use rubber bands if they fit correctly if I cant get hold of the original belts? Would this damage y machine in the long run? Great video series by the way, you have already helped me out a tonne!

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

DanItsColed Thank you for your kind words. I would use regular rubber bands only as a temporary solution, they can be a good help in determining the correct size of the actual belt to look for. I believe rubber bands don’t have the right tension, and they will wear out faster. I don’t really think they will damage your machine, but they’re not reliable enough to work with. Try a local audio/video engineering shop, they might have a box with several spare belts for recorders or video cameras. There might be one that fits

[@guitarpenter3357]

I have replaced both belts, pinch roller tires, idler tires and the heads will not retract. Any support would be appreciated thanks for a Great Video gave a 👍

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

There is, for 4-track repair videos, a far greater channel than mine out there: Tetrakan Supermonobloc. Hope it helps...!

[@maresv]

I have 6 4 track cassette recorders. I really want to get a Marantz.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

That’s a rather rare appearance, the Marantz. Why do you want one?

[@maresv]

@@MultitrackCassetteFans I collect them.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Victor Mares Which ones do you own, and do they all run? I have several too, but I think I will sell most of them after I’ve done a video which each recorder

[@maresv]

@@MultitrackCassetteFans VESTAX Mr300. Fostex X-12, Tascam 424, Tascam 424 MKIII, Fostex XR7, KORG CM4, Fostex Multitracker 280. All work, and most in mint condition. I have a Yamaha MT50 that does not work. I tried to fix it but it's the motherboard.

[@maresv]

@@MultitrackCassetteFans Check this two videos I made kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJmqia2YrtJni8k kzbin.info/www/bejne/imHFgoKVoKt5la8

[@mariasoleada2337]

The rubber tires become soft and start to disolve as well as one of the belts (not the flat one -capstan belt is flat)

[@romainlabaye]

Hi! I had the same problem, got a 244 without the belts. I changed them and nothing happens ... the record button is red but no other button are reacting. Any idea of what it is ? Thanks

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Romain Labaye I’m sorry, I really don’t know. Perhaps this channel can help you: kzbin.info

[@rowanweckman3849]

If anyone has links to where I can purchase the belts please help

[@humorustrout.]

westcoastbelts.com/product/new-2-replacement-belt-set-for-teac-tascam-portastudio-244-4-track-recorder/

[@jonnel28]

Hoi, ik heb precies hetzelfde probleem met mijn oude Portastudio, ook een 244. Mijn vraag is: hoe kom ik aan goed passende aandrijfriempjes, die ik kan gebruiken om de kapotte riempjes te vervangen?

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

John Romkes Ik heb de recorder eerst provisorisch gerepareerd met gewone rubber elastieken, zodat ik wist welke lengte en breedte ik nodig had. Daarna ben ik op zoek gegaan naar een echte snaar met die afmetingen. Bij een bedrijf wat reparatie en onderhoud doet aan geluidsapparatuur vond ik in een doos snaren iets wat er op leek, en dat paste redelijk. Op deze manier heb ik al meerdere recorders weer aan het spelen gekregen. Ik heb op ebay ook een keer een zakje met 35 verschillende groottes snaren gekocht, maar voor de 244 zat er niets bij. Succes! PS waar woon je in NL?

[@jonnel28]

Kun je me de naam en/of het telefoonnummer van dan bedrijf geven? Ik woon in Delft.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

John Romkes Je kunt het proberen bij muziekserviceschijndel.nl, of bij hanexservice.nl Ik woon zelf in schijndel

[@ferhatdunden]

How many belts does porta 05 have? I'm thinking of buying a broken one.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

ferhat dünden I think 1 or 2 belts. My 25 year old porta 05 had a broken belt, which at first I repaired with a rubber band, just to see if I could get it running again, and it worked. Later I got a better belt to do the real repair. Not an original one, but some belt from a videocamera, we searched for a belt that had about the right size

[@mariasoleada2337]

2 belts, and two rubber tires found on the too of the cassette entry chamber, must remove the cassette assembly to access. Temporary fix for the rubber tires, round seal from a plumbing shop

[@stonedcologne]

Spiritus is alcohol. Alcohol is a solvent. You should use something more appropriate if you get in touch with old machines with old plastic parts.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

Okay thanks for the tip...what should I be using?

[@flexines]

Hi Frans ik heb een 244 e een 488 portastudio met zefde probleem. Ik zoek iemand die deze kan repareren zodat ik de tracks van de cassettes kan digitaliseren. Daarna mogen ze beide weg. Interesse?

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

flexine2 Hoe wil je ze digitaliseren, in losse sporen of als mix? Laat ook even weten waar je ongeveer woont :)

[@flexines]

@@MultitrackCassetteFans Hi Frans, Losse sporen. ik dacht 2 tracks naar bv Logic studio, dan terugspoelen en dev volgende op 3-4 etc. Dan checken of het synchroon loopt en dit handmatig aanpassen. Woon in IJmuiden.

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

flexine2 Die manier lijkt me erg tijdrovend en is qua synchronisatie niet betrouwbaar. Dan zou je beter een 4 of 8 kanaals audio interface kunnen kopen of lenen, waarbij je alle sporen tegelijk naar je computer haalt. Om hoeveel cassettes gaat het ongeveer?

[@flexines]

@@MultitrackCassetteFans Omdat ik de multitrack recorders niet meer gebruik wil ik ze eigenlijk verkopen maar eerst alles digitaliseren. Het gaat om een stuk of 30 cassettes. Sommige voor de 244 maar de meeste 488.

[@flexines]

Helaas weet ik nieman d met een interface te leen....

[@frederickaleidoscope]

Such a great and helpful series of videos, I've really been learning a lot from these. I have a rather uncommon issue with a tascam 246 I'm about to buy which is making a high pitched whining noise during playback/record, it grows higher in pitch and louder as playback continues, here's a link to the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6HToZSubKmbbK8 I'm beginning to worry that it may be a motor dying rather than a belt or idler tyre problem. I've searched the internet for answers but haven't found any similar cases yet. I also don't have much experience and would be hugely grateful for a second opinion. Have you encountered anything similar before? Big thanks!

[@quebecclassicrock8812]

Hi man, I need your help on this. I installed a replacement belt on my 244 but it keeps moving upwards on the silver plate and half of it is disengaged. Why does that happen ?

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

I really wouldn’t know. Have you tried turnin the belt inside out? There is also a very useful channel on repairing 4-track recorders: Tetrakan Supermonobloc, you should check it out

[@quebecclassicrock8812]

Multitrack Cassette Fans Oops I actually thought I was on his channel lol

[@MultitrackCassetteFans]

QuebecClassicRock hahahah