Tascam 414Mk II Capstan Shaft Question

[Siegfried Meier]

Hey guys,

I've got one of these cassette multitrackers here and my issue was that it was missing the washer that goes on the top of the capstan shaft - the shaft simply falls through with gravity right now and the belt falls off.  So I finally got a replacement washer from TEAC but for the life of me I cannot figure out how this is the ONLY thing that keeps that capstan shaft from falling through...

TEAC says there are no other parts that go on there, and the service manual which I have confirms it.  But, how can a washer simply hold it in place?  Does anyone have any idea how these cassette things do it?

Thanks,
Sig

 

[ruffrecords]

Are you certain it is a washer and not one of those split spring washer thingies whose real name escapes me right now?

Cheers

Ian

 

[Siegfried Meier]

That's what the service manual states, as well as what the tech at TEAC told me...

 

[Walrus]

On a normal cassette deck, there is a black plate with a nylon bush thingy against which the other end of the capstan shaft sits. I would have thought the Tascam should have the same.

 

[sahib]

...
TEAC says there are no other parts that go on there, and the service manual which I have confirms it.  But, how can a washer simply hold it in place?  Does anyone have any idea how these cassette things do it?

Thanks,
Sig

Normally there is a groove on the shaft and the nylon washer locks in it. The inner diameter of the washer is smaller than the diameter of the shaft. You push it down until it clicks in that groove.

Are you certain it is a washer and not one of those split spring washer thingies whose real name escapes me right now?

Cheers

Ian

Circlip.

Edit.  Didn't read your message properly. They are simply locking washers.

 

[Siegfried Meier]

Yes, I see the groove on the capstan shaft - so what do I need to do?  Force the washer down until it clicks?  I've noticed there's another washer on the underside of the tape mechanism, which would be above the flywheel where the belt attaches. 

 

[sahib]

Yeap. Go ahead.

 

[Siegfried Meier]

Ok, so I just took it all apart again, and it makes no sense...

The washer fits over the shaft fine, but it can't possibly click into the groove...it's wider.  I mean, if it fits over the shaft, how can it possibly fit into the groove??  Man, I've fixed and built a lot of stuff in my day and I can't believe something like this is stumping me in such a way...?

???

 

[ruffrecords]

What happened to the one that was in there originally?

Cheers

Ian

 

[sahib]

If the washer they sent you is wider then I can't comment on that. But normally in this sort of application the inner diameter of the washer is smaller than the shaft, and because it is nylon and stretches, you simply push it over the shaft until it clicks into the groove. In fact sometimes there is not even a groove. It just grips tight onto the shaft.

 

[RuudNL]

If I was a manufacturer, I wouldn't dare to sell a construction like this! 

 

[Walrus]

Can you scan the part of the manual which shows the exploded view of the mechanism and post it here?

 

[Siegfried Meier]

Haha ya, totally terrible design.  The unit came like this, although it might have gotten shuffled in shipping or something.

I'll scan that part of the service manual and link it here.  Good thing I paid $15 for the service manual, it's coming in handy now!