Teac Multitrack Series - Cleaning; Demagnetizing (Degaussing)

Tape Guide
Capstan Shaft Pinch Roller
Guide Roller Erase Head Tape Lifter Playback Head
Record/Sync Head
Cleaning ——
Heads
When the tape deck is used for a long time
magnetic oxide from the tape, dirt and dust
tend to accumulate on the heads and along
the tape movement path. If this happens,
the sound quality will begin to worsen, high
frequency response will suffer, there will be
a loss of output level and drop-outs will
occur. Eventually the heads may begin to
wear unevenly and much quicker than
normal. At an extreme condition, the heads
may not be able to erase, record or playback
at all.
To avoid this unnecessary problem the
heads and tape path must be cleaned re¬
gularly, at least after about every 8 hours of
record or playback operations and before
every important recording session. Especial¬
ly clean the heads and pinch roller and
capstan shaft. TEAC produces a special kit
called TZ-261 which contains rubber and
head cleaning fluids. If this kit is not availa¬
ble, pure alcohol may be used or similar
type recorder cleaning fluids which are
made and recommended by reputable manu¬
facturers may be used.
Pinch Roller and Capstan Shaft
The pinch roller and capstan shaft have
been called the heart of the transport and
well they might be. If they become dirty,
wow and flutter will increase and tape
movement may become more erratic. These
parts should be cleaned whenever you clean
the heads. Use the TZ-261 B fluid for
cleaning the pinch rollers.
Maintenance Accessories
Tape Recorder Cleaner (sold separately)
TZ-261
The sound quality is strongly influenced by
the cleaning of the heads, capstan and other
metal parts. Head cleaner fluid A and pinch
roller and rubber cleaning fluid B are com¬
bined with cleaning sticks in this kit.
Demagnetizing (Degaussing)
If the heads are touched with magnetized
tools, such as scissors or screwdrivers or if
the tape deck is used in play or record mode
for long periods of time, the heads and
other parts in the tape path may become
magnetized. This residual magnetism will
introduce noise onto your pre-recorded
tapes, cause a decrease in high frequency
response and may begin to cause erasure of
tapes even during playback operation. To
avoid such problems, periodically (about
once every two weeks) degauss the heads
(especially) and the other parts in the tape
path which normally contact the tape (tape
guides, capstan shafts, tape lifters, etc.) The
TEAC E-1 Head Eraser or similar eraser can
be used to remove this harmful residual
magnetism.
1. Switch off power to the tape deck.
2. Turn on power to the head eraser and
move the tip of it very close to the head
or part to be degaussed. Move the tip
back and forth slowly across the head or
part about 4 or 5 times.
3. After slowly moving to each part and de¬
gaussing them as explained in step 2,
slowly move the eraser at least 30 centi¬
meters or more away from the deck and
then turn off power to the eraser.
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