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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Another M400 Question

From: tronbros <tronbros@aol.com>
Date: 2013-03-06

Bernie,

Check the distance between the pinchroller when depressed and the tape storage box lid.  There should only be a very small clearance.

Best,

M

1963 to 2013 - 50 years of mellotrons

mellotronics.com on my iPad




On 6 Mar 2013, at 17:08, lsf5275@aol.com wrote:

 

Buy a Man-D-Mag and a humidifier.
 
In a message dated 3/6/2013 6:54:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, tron400@yahoo.com writes:
 

Well, not just M400's.

Yesterday, after turning mine on and letting it warm up, I did the arm across the keyboard trick to the end of the tapes and 3 of them didn't return. I had to remove the keyboard to release them (loosening the pinch roller and pad didn't do it).

I played with one of the keys until the tape wouldn't return, even after removing the keyboard. The tape had bunched up in front of the capstan. When I unbunched it, I found that a small tape loop had gotten in between the capstan and the long felt pad in front of the capstan. The tape decided to take this route instead of going into the spill box. Static? The room is pretty dry with forced air heat.

I haven't ever demagged the heads or capstan. Does that sound like what needs to be done? I have an old fashioned head demagnetizer (this kind: http://www.splicit.com/images/Demagnetizer2.jpg), but I'm not sure it will work on the capstan. Suggestions?

Bernie