Hoping I can get some help on this, not been on here a while but following this topic below I finally got round to getting this back together:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14279
Before strip down speed of tape playback was fine but as with most old Sharps the capstan spindle drive rubber was screwed. I have replaced it with a short piece of silicone rubber tube as usually recommended and very carefully put everything back together. Also included new drive belts all round (5 % shorter than old ones). Tape playback now works great and no chewing tapes BUT it is s-l-o-w...
I took it apart again to check everything and thought maybe the rubber may be rubbing inside the (not sure of name) capstan housing - the part that the flywheel/spindle rotates inside with the opening for the drive tyre to move against.
I cut the rubber down so it was only as long as the window.
Back together and a definite improvement but still too slow. With drive belt removed the spindle rotates freely.
Any ideas please?
Oh and how long should the silicone rubber tube part be (whole length or just the window length)? Does the external diameter of the hose have to be an exact size?
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14279
Before strip down speed of tape playback was fine but as with most old Sharps the capstan spindle drive rubber was screwed. I have replaced it with a short piece of silicone rubber tube as usually recommended and very carefully put everything back together. Also included new drive belts all round (5 % shorter than old ones). Tape playback now works great and no chewing tapes BUT it is s-l-o-w...
I took it apart again to check everything and thought maybe the rubber may be rubbing inside the (not sure of name) capstan housing - the part that the flywheel/spindle rotates inside with the opening for the drive tyre to move against.
I cut the rubber down so it was only as long as the window.
Back together and a definite improvement but still too slow. With drive belt removed the spindle rotates freely.
Any ideas please?

Oh and how long should the silicone rubber tube part be (whole length or just the window length)? Does the external diameter of the hose have to be an exact size?