How to Clean Tape Recorder Heads and Drive Wheel

Though many people are using digital recorders, some still use tape recorders. A simple procedure will help clear up recordings and playbacks, as well as lessen the likelihood of a tape jam.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Cotton swab(s)
• Rubbing alcohol
• Small receptacle to hold alcohol
• Tweezer

1. Make sure your recorder has available power. Open the lid by pressing eject or the appropriate button or lever, and remove the cassette.
2. Look for a lever designed to be depressed when a tape to be recorded is inserted. You will want to clean both the recording and playback heads if the device is so equipped, so with the lid open look for a lever that is designed to be depressed when a tape to be recorded is inserted. On certain small recorders like a General Electric hand-held recorder this step will not be unnecessary.
3. If there is lever to detect a tape that can be recorded, gently push the lever in and hold it for step 4.
4. Hold lever while pressing play and record. Making sure your hands and fingers will be away from all moving parts, gently depress record and play until both heads (if the device is so equipped) are visible, locked into position and the motor is running so the rubber drive wheel is turning.
5. The recorder should now be running, and you should be able to carefully remove your finger off of the lever that detects a tape can be recorded.
   Take a cotton swab an dip it into some rubbing alcohol so that it is mostly wet. You do not want the swab too wet.
6. With gentle pressure, wipe the heads with the swab. Check the swab, and if it is too dirty or frayed, anoint another swab and continue. Keep checking the swabs you use, and do the heads first before you get to the rubber drive wheel.
7. Cleaning the drive wheel. Observe the rubber drive wheel as to whether it is rotating clockwise or counterclockwise. Place a freshly anointed swab either at the 10 o'clock position on the wheel if it is rotating counterclockwise, or the 2 o'clock position if it is rotating clockwise. The proper position will prevent the fibers of the swab from being caught between the rubber wheel and the rotating shaft of the motor.
   Apply gentle pressure upon the wheel moving the swab up and down the circumference of the wheel as it makes a number of rotations. Check the swab to see if you have to use a fresh one.
8. While the recorder is still running, take a new swab but do not dip it into the rubbing alcohol. Instead, dry the heads and drive wheel with it.
   Inspect the heads and drive wheel for any stray fibers, and remove the fibers with a tweezer.
   When the heads and wheel are dry, stop the recorder, and reinsert the cassette if so desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Using a small receptacle to pour a little rubbing alcohol in and then dip the swab(s) into it will keep the whole bottle from be contaminated.
• Never force any buttons or levers! Instead, review the steps, looking at the pictures, and try again.
• Keep your hands and fingers away from all moving parts.