Any 8 track player Gurus out there??

[Mr. Chevy]

OK, so I have 2 home 8 track players. One plays nice but the balance does not work. It only plays thru the right speaker. This is an NOS unit.

The other is a newer, used unit that sounds great and plays thru both speakers but the tape sounds like the Chipmunks are singing like the tape is moving to quickly.

Any ideas what may be going on with these units???

Much appreciated...

Rich

[Burd]

There’s a screw to adjust the speed on them. Small screw on top. You can still buy the belts too. I went through mine a while ago.
Unless you have A Alvin 8track in.
Did you try turning the balance on it?

[Mr70]

How does the left speaker cone look? both wires connected,or is it cracked,smashed etc?
Sounds like you might have an old belt,(they do shrink & can cause em to run fast), or even the wrong belt might have been installed on the 8tk drive wheel by someone.
Not all,but some of those decks do have a speed adjustment also.
What brand & model are we talking here?

[Mr. Chevy]

Thanks Burd, any idea where the speed screw is??

I had a Styx 8 track in there, not Alvin, but Dennis DeYoung sounded like Alvin LOL...

Rich

[Mr. Chevy]

The one that is running fast is a Soundesign. Speakers are brand new Polk speakers and wiring is all good and new.

Rich

[Mr. Chevy]

I figured out what happened to the Soundesign unit. It ate an old Fleetwood Mac tape of mine and I thought I had all the tape out of the machine but there was a small amount wrapped around the capstan. I saw it with a flashlight and had to pull it out with needle nose pliers. I guess this will cause the machine to speed up. You learn something new every day even when it comes to old technology. LOL...

Thanks for the responses. Rich

[Burd]

On the GM ones there is a screw on the top. I can’t remember if you have to take the top cover off or no, well good deal you fixed it. SPECMO her in the D used to carry parts, I’m not sure if they still do, that’s where I bought the belts, bulbs, the lady showed me a nOS face fir my 8 track, I couldn’t be,ieve it, $10 for the whole face. Lmao.

[Mr. Chevy]

Thanks Burd...

The other unit is an Electrophonic. This is an NOS unit that plays well just only through one speaker. The balance does not work. Don't know whats up with that. A friend told me that maybe the balance knob is dirty.

Rich

[Mr70]

Is it a Morse Electrophonic?

[Mr. Chevy]

Rick, it's a Solid State.

Rich

[Burd]

You could try using an Electric parts cleaner. Too bad, all the radio repair guys are now gone, at least around me.
Royal Radio was a good place but it’s gone too. ABL in troy might look at it.
When I put my OG 8 track back in, I went to Royal Radio and they still had GM nos radio plug kits. I picked up a couple for my car, but luckily I didn’t need the plugs.

[Burd]

Now that I think about it, I have a 50’s radio, the tuner was dirty, I took it to an old radio place years ago, he sprayed the cleaner in the tuner, it worked, it took all the cracking noise out too.

[Mr. Chevy]

Thank You

Rich

[KevinW]

I use Deoxit D5 (and Deoxit Gold) to clean my old audio stuff. Works great! But beware some plastics will react and soften (and ruin something). So do a test first. The metal pots will be fine.

https://caig.com/deoxit-d5-instructional-video-1-cleaning-pots/

[Burd]

I’m looking for a 8 track “ Pinball head cleaner”

[Mr70]

I've always collected 8tk tape players as well as hundreds of tapes.
Ever see a folding 8tk tape?They were meant to compete with cassettes.
...I've only seen three of these,and 2 of those I own now.

JU2Zpe2VPM4

[Crush]

I've always collected 8tk tape players as well as hundreds of tapes.
Ever see a folding 8tk tape?They were meant to compete with cassettes.
...I've only seen three of these,and 2 of those I own now.

JU2Zpe2VPM4

Wow never saw those before. How many were made and what bands used them? Maybe it was certain record labels?

[Burd]

That is cool.
I just picked up 2 nOS 8 tracks, LED Zep 1 and led Zep 2. I may sell. Hell of a find, still in the wrappers.
If pics would post here I’d toss up all my tapes for show and tell. Lol

[Mr. Chevy]

I have a pretty big collection and growing. I just picked up Pink Floyd the Wall and a cool Jimi Hendrix tape as well as some ELO stuff..

Rich

[Mr. Chevy]

Another question, what is the deal with some tapes playing better than others? I just picked up an NOS sealed tape, put it in the player and it destroyed the tape. Other tapes that look like hell play fantastic.

Rich

[parkbrau]

Check this guy out. He had same problems as you. IIRC the ones in cars had a small piece of tape on top of or the bottom of the player, you remove the tape and adjust the heads from there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdiPElv8hno

[Mr. Chevy]

Thanks... That's one cool Dude... LOL

Rich

[KevinW]

Huh?, 7:45 min of talking, 15 sec of useful information/pics :(