Symptom: Cassette deck player won't turn. Repair or Junk?
Hello, my regular home stereo is on it's third tape deck. I've never had a really good/new one(in 20 years of owning my system!). My first was a POS hand-me-down. My second that I acquired has it's problems. You guys inspired me to hook it all back up a couple of years ago after it was on a 5 year hiatus.
During the summer I couldn't pass up an old mixed component system. For $20 I got a great 1970's Kenwood receiver. Excellent, big Pioneer speakers from about 1980 (those are what sold me). Sony turntable--very usefully, not great, an entry level model but it works well. I'll yell you--these old component systems sound great! When I brought it home I set it up on my back porch, dialed in a classical music station and turned it up. It sounded like someone was playing a Cello outside the house! I'm not using any of this stuff now but thought I'd put the tape deck into service tonight. It is a "Realistic" SCT-84 duel cassette player(1988?); I tried it after I brought it home and had troubles so I stored it away. Now I've decided to change out the existing Sony TC-WE605s duel deck(1990?) that is OK at play-back but doesn't record well and has other idiosyncrasies. The Sony was given to me by my aunt when she "upgraded". Both Decks are beautiful but have their problems. I only give you the model numbers for inquiring minds. Now that I've swapped in the new/old unit (Realistic) it won't start up. Motors are going but something is holding the mechanism from starting--sort of like a brake. I can spin the weighted fly wheel and get it going, it sounds good too. When the tape stops it seems to put the brakes on again. Not sure if this is related, but it also physically locks out the eject at times.
I have the cover off and added a little light oil--VERY sparingly to some of the mechanical parts because I thought the "no-go" was just from disuse.
Anyone know from their vast experience what would put the breaks on the cassette movement? It won't play/ FF /or RW by itself. Remember, it is duel and has "relay tape" feature...
Now the dilemma is; I don't have any emotional attachment to either units. To me they do represent the peak of cassette recording dominance so I like them for that--LED indicators, all the bells and whistles. I hate to junk them out if I can get this REALISTIC unit going. HOWEVER,it's a buyers market for tape decks like this. The price of shipping is usually more than the unit. There are so many units available it makes it difficult to choose. I need DUEL. I like the feature of direction change and tape relay for recording. Adjustable level is important. You know; EVERYTHING.
Any comments, direction or instruction is appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris C

If your belts are shot they can wind/stretch around the motor spindle.As they cannot release they will lock ,this causes the mechanism to stay in the play position so not letting you eject the tape.So my first port of call would be new belts for sure

Even though the belts might look ok chances are they have stretched, causing them to slip. If they are logic decks(soft touch) slipping belts can cause the problems you are having.

You may be right about the belt. I have the tape transport removed except for wires so I can get a better look. There is only one flat belt. When "play" is pushed the motor pulley starts and stops after about 3 seconds. The belt doesn't move. The odd thing to me is the first time you play, the mechanism (belt/rollers start up, moves, then stops. I'm going to look at the belt(s) closer next. I'm really surprised how easy the #2 tape well came out. Looks like the motor and belt system can be removed as a unit, just not sure what else may fall out if I do this. At this point it's purely educational and enjoyment. I'm afraid to ask how to find belts for this thing. I think there are a couple of local electronics shops I could inquire at.
I checked craigslist and there is a local fellow selling his stereo components fairly cheap and his Sony 2x deck is relatively new.
Amazon still lists several tape decks NEW for $114+. Then again, if I want something really good.......

Nothing special about Sony and duel cassette, except that's what I've been using for the last 2 years and I'm familiar with it. I like auto-rev because if I tape something off the radio (little Steven's Underground Garage on Sunday nights) I don't have to worry about flipping the tape after I've gone to sleep.

All tape decks will need service eventually.
Belts replaced, cleanin etc.
Thats normal.
Dont junk it just because it stoped working.

I have a Onkyo TA-RW244, dual well Dolby B/C NR in good condition. Reason why I don't need the Onkyo TA-RW244 because I just had my nakamichi dragon rebuilt and haven't used the Onkyo TA-RW244 deck since, let you have it for almost nothing, just pay shipping and for the box, and you can get it. Rather give it to someone that can use it, then let it sit around.

Wow, thanks for the offer! I'd like to take you up on it but...I should have posted sooner with my results...
I picked up a Craigslist local Sony TC-WE625 that is identical to the one I've been using except it doesn't have Dolby-S. Glad I could rescue it--the guy was selling a system and probably thought he'd be stuck with the C deck. He is down on his luck, living in a friends apartment sleeping on a floor listening to an ipod now. I remember those days myself, but I had a boom box!!
Now I have 2 units stored because they shouldn't be thrown out.
Here is the funny part. I really was intent on getting a another unit because I couldn't dub tapes. Turned on the new one and--same results. Downloaded an owners manual and come to find out you have to press pause to start dubbing. Yea, press pause to start. The existing deck was a bit more messed up too, wouldn't record well over existing recordings and also had a broken circuit board behind the REC level knob. Meanwhile the REALISTIC unit needs new belts--I really liked the back lighted cassette wells! Anyway I am rambling now but I would just like to thank you for your kind offer and sorry I have to pass--You can't beat that; an Onkyo that is ready to go...

I love the world of high end decks! So many great ones!