How To Clean An 8 Track Player

Are 8 Track Player Questions Okay?

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Post subject: Are 8 Track Player Questions Okay?

Posted: Aug Fri 06, 2010 7:12 pm

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Joined: Mar Wed 04, 2009 5:15 am
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Location: New Port Richey, FL 34653

Don't believe I've ever seen anyone ask about an 8 track player. Lady who cuts my hair asked me if I could clean hers for her. She wants NASA to bring back 8 track tapes. It's been years since I've even seen one but I brought it home with me anyway.

It's a home unit with two decks. Player deck and record deck. Stacked. Also has a AM/FM radio and a 33, 45 & 78 record player on top. Lloyds is the name on it and I would guess late '60's early '70's. I remember cleaning them years ago but don't remember all the details. I think I used regular old alcohol to clean the capstans and pinch rollers. But being older and wiser tells me that alcohol could dry out the pinch roller rubber.

So if it's okay to ask... Does anyone have any tips on cleaning 8 track tape decks?

Thanks much,
Johnny

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gary rabbitt

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Posted: Aug Fri 06, 2010 8:27 pm

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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am
Posts: 9831
Location: Middle Tennessee,USA 37174

Hey there Johnny.
There have been many threads about the 8 tracks.

As far as cleaning, yes, alcohol on the capstains and pinch rollers/ tape heads will work..
However, the main things that will fail in these machines is the belt, which may have already turned to goo, and the tapes themselves. Inside as yo uknow, there is a pressure pad, backed with foam rubber. Over time I'd say 99% of these type will have also turned to gummy goo. The sponge particles will get on the head and capstain, creating more of a mess.

There are some carts that have a felt and metal springy pressure pad. These are probably still good.

Oh, one last thing that you might find with the tapes. The place where the continuous loop was spliced may have come apart. This was usually a metal foil , adhesive backed splice. The metal would change the track as t passed a set od contacts.

It's nice to have a unit that has the recorder installed. I have 2 recorders packed away here.
You may get lucky and have the belt in good condition. A lube of the track changer (where the solonoid is) and the slide where the tape head slided up and down is all that's needed.

If the tapes she's going to use are gummy, you can replace the pressure pads.
You can make your own like here:

http://www.silysavg.com/tutorials/8trac ... e_pad.html

Or order them already made.

http://www.8-track-shack.com/8-track-ta ... 144da71717

There is the need to IDing the type of cart, and how they are put together. Some snapped together, others had a screw and snaps, you will have to do some investigating i and when you need to open the cart. Oh, be very careful as you do, These are wound a certain way and if the tape falls out in a bunch, you are almost up the creek to get it back together. It can be done (ask me) but takes some time.

A good site to browse:

http://www.8-track-shack.com/

Google around and find many 8 track sites.

Hope this helps.
Gary.

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Johnny

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Posted: Aug Fri 06, 2010 11:31 pm

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Joined: Mar Wed 04, 2009 5:15 am
Posts: 2857
Location: New Port Richey, FL 34653

Brings back memories. Good stuff. Thanks Gary!

Johnny

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Arran	Post subject: Re: Are 8 Track Player Questions Okay? Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 12:06 am
Joined: Apr Sun 08, 2007 6:47 am Posts: 5215 Location: British Columbia	Johnny wrote: Don't believe I've ever seen anyone ask about an 8 track player. Lady who cuts my hair asked me if I could clean hers for her. She wants NASA to bring back 8 track tapes. It's been years since I've even seen one but I brought it home with me anyway. It's a home unit with two decks. Player deck and record deck. Stacked. Also has a AM/FM radio and a 33, 45 & 78 record player on top. Lloyds is the name on it and I would guess late '60's early '70's. I remember cleaning them years ago but don't remember all the details. I think I used regular old alcohol to clean the capstans and pinch rollers. But being older and wiser tells me that alcohol could dry out the pinch roller rubber. So if it's okay to ask... Does anyone have any tips on cleaning 8 track tape decks? Thanks much, Johnny The player doesn't have a pinch roller only a capstan, the roller is built into the cartridge unless it is a four track cartridge. Sometimes the alignment of the heads goes a little off or the head mechanism gets a bit sticky changing tracks so you may have to look into that. In my experience most of the problems with eight tracks are with the cartridges not the player itself, the only part that can go bad in the player is the rubber drive belt if it has one, the rest are related to head cleaning and alignment. Best Regards Arran
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Daniel Hilderbrand	Post subject: Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 2:15 am
Joined: Jan Wed 09, 2008 9:03 pm Posts: 3810 Location: Indiana	I have fixed few 8 track players , used belts from a VCR on one of them , there are places that sell belts also , I have boxs of them old 8 track cartrages , most are still good , Good Luck Daniel
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Ken G	Post subject: Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 7:09 am
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 9407 Location: ID 83301	I think I used regular old alcohol to clean the capstans and pinch rollers. But being older and wiser tells me that alcohol could dry out the pinch roller rubber. Alcohol should not be used anywhere in electronics because there are far better things to use these days . For something that old you will need something stronger to clean it .
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Curt Reed	Post subject: Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 1:37 pm
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 20548 Location: Sandpoint, IDAHO 83864	I recall most of the 8 track decks used a flat belt to drive the capstan. I have seen these belts get a glaze on them that ends up making them slip a lot. And nothing sounds worse than when Iron Butterfly switches tracks in the middle of the song Inagodadevita or however it is spelled and it takes a while for it to come up to speed. My trick was to simply turn the belt inside out and reinstall it. That usually worked until it was completely shot. Curt _________________ Curt, N7AH (Connoisseur of the cold 807) CW forever!
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Randy Bassham

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Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 2:37 pm

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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am
Posts: 2168
Location: Poplar Bluff, MO USA

In my Magnavox days we had quite a bit of trouble with one particular model with the tape slipping because of the capstan getting a hi polish shine on the area where the tape ran. I solved the problem by taking the capstan out, putting tape on the area where the bearings ran and sand blasting the capstan to give it some traction...It worked. 99% of 8 track problems were the cartridges, the players are very simple.

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However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.
Winston Churchill

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startinagin	Post subject: Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 2:53 pm
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 1680 Location: Shelton, WA	Belts to fit almost anything may be purchased @ www.adamsradio.com Good service great prices will let you know what you don't. No minimum billn
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Johnny

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Posted: Aug Sat 07, 2010 3:37 pm

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Joined: Mar Wed 04, 2009 5:15 am
Posts: 2857
Location: New Port Richey, FL 34653

Sounds like any problem I run into won't be a problem at all with all the info I've received on this one. Lots of sites I've bookmarked with good reference material. Thanks for the adamsradio site Bill. Lots of good stuff there too.

Johnny

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FM Refugee

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Posted: Aug Sun 08, 2010 2:31 am

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Joined: Sep Fri 07, 2007 2:21 am
Posts: 1709
Location: Brunswick, ME 04011 (USA)

[holding hands in front with index fingers in the form of a cross]

...gaaah!...8-track!...get it away from me!!...

(I never did like those things!!...)

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terry h	Post subject: Posted: Aug Sun 08, 2010 3:59 am
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 5787 Location: Valley City ND USA	Hi, I seldom comment here, but I was an 8 track fan. Loved my Kraco car player. Used a buddy's recorder to transfer some of my 45s. Party days, and nights times. When 8 tracks were being phased out I bought some blanks in blister packs. Still have several unopened. (probably shot) I bought 2 of the Lloyd's player recorder combos from Pamida. The last two. I told the manager I wanted a two for price of one deal, and wouldn't complain if I had problems. SOLD! When my friends phased out they gave me their tapes and equipment. Hard to say what works and won't now, but I haven't thrown any away. Frankly, haven't done anything with the stuff for years, but 8 tracks were great for the time.
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radiorich

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Posted: Aug Sun 08, 2010 5:59 am

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Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am
Posts: 11726
Location: Omak,WA,usa

Hello Johnny,
last month I just scraped out thaty stereo
Rich

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Johnny

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Posted: Aug Sun 08, 2010 4:16 pm

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Joined: Mar Wed 04, 2009 5:15 am
Posts: 2857
Location: New Port Richey, FL 34653

Well Terry lets go on a campaign to "Bring Back 8 Track Tapes". Sounds like the fat guy from the Bruce Willis' Armegedan movie. He'd go kill the asteroid if they brought back 8 track tapes.

Johnny

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