I was researching CB's Denon and I stumbled over this "tip" anyone here able to add any weight to this claim?

"Occasionally over the years belts on cassette decks tend to 'slacken' of which deteriorates the speed and performance of the machine... but there is a simple quick method of 'shrinking' the belt(s) back to their original size by boiling a saucepan of hot water, placing the belt in the hot water for around 5 minutes of which then shrinks the belt back to it's original size! - it saves on hunting around for belts of which are difficult to find at the best of times..."

Referenced from here... http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-s...ssette-deck/93185569

 I seriously doubt it, but I'm going to give it a try. I have a pot on the stove as we speak.

Five minutes didn't do the trick, but fifteen did.

In all fairness the belt I boiled wasn't deteriorated badly nor had it lost much elasticity. It wasn't sticky at all. It was out of shape from years of sitting in the same position as I hadn't put a tape in it in probably 10 years or possibly more. It had retained the shape of the motor and capstan pulleys.

Putting it in boiling water for fifteen minutes did the trick. It went back to being round. Your results may vary.

That is interesting. Guess it is worth a shot at the very least.

Obviously if the belt has gone mushy and totally lost all elasticity then there isn't much hope really for it at all.

As a further to, on this tip. I wonder if boiling deformed pinch rollers takes out the dents too?

Rollers becomer stiff and need an opposite treatment to 'soften' the surface using solvents

Rubber Renue : Xylene + Methyl salicylate + acetone

http://www.mgchemicals.com/msd...lish/408a-liquid.pdf

http://www.mgchemicals.com/products/408a.html