Tascam 238S warm up speed

[jegg...@googlemail.com]

Hello there chaps,

I have a Tascam 238 S which is in somewhat regular use. When I first switch it on it makes a bit of noise, like a 2 stroke engine half a mile away. If I record or playback after I've just started it up, it runs quite a bit slower, maybe 10-15%. The pitch of this noise gradually goes up along with the tape speed over time. After about 10-20 minutes of it being on, the noise has gone completely and the speed is stable. I've read on forums that there is a surface mount capacitor on one of the motor PCBs that is the cause of this.

I can be handy with a soldering iron, but I'm generally happy with the way this machine runs. I can handle a bit of a warm up, and the tape transport is nice and torquey. Is it worth me opening it up and trying to address the problem? I'm concerned that I'm likely to cause more damage to it taking it all apart and desoldering a few caps than if I leave it be. Are there any known electrolytics in these known to leak and wreck it?

Many thanks,
Gregs

[Don Pearce]

Problems don't go away. They always get worse, so yes, bite the bullet
and fix the problem. While you are in there clean or replace all the
drive belts/pinchwheels. Use contact cleaner on switches.

d

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