Ouch! Hated it whenever that happened. I once fell asleep playing a tape once, only to wake up 90 mins. later finding that the unit ate it, putting severe strain on the motor, and making the unit extremely hot. Wasn't too happy about that.
Lol I had my realistic (that is a car unit now installed in my '98 s10) do this, somehow the motor had reversed polarity but with a little jumping I was able to make it stop and it works real great now gets used almost every day.
I saw a High quality Electrobrand 8 treck receiver it was quadraphonic, at a thrift I regret not buying it, it weighed a ton and it was ALL metal except the case which was made from veneer colored plywood and the back end,was made from masonite.
It had a TON of bass playing through some small "6" bookshelf speakers...
8 Track tapes do NOT suck. the reason for the formats failure was the fact that manufacturers made them cheap. almost all of the all in one units suck.. you gotta get components. go check an akai 8 track player/recorder out and tell me if you think they sound like shit. i have been listeniung to 8 tracks for a long time and have only had this happen in the cheap models. get a good 8 track deck, and THEN judge the format. 8 Track > Cassette anyday. the tape moves at TWICE the speed = better sound
@eyg2181 Yes, 8-tracks as a format are very high quality audio, you just have to connect it to a good sound system. Up until 1985 or so, all new Rolls Royces came with an 8-track tape player: easy to use, easy listening friendly, continuous sound(clunk, clunk sound aside..). They could have chosen other sound systems but chose 8-tracks... yeah!! Cheers to Mr. Leer.
I used own 8 tracks and they were always unreliable. As a technician I would also service 8 track players. However there was a major design flaw with the 8 track cartridge. The rubber pinch roller inside the cartridge would get hard and glazed and would cause damage to the tape. If you can't clean the rubber pinch roller in the cartridge it would deteriorate. So it doesn't matter how much maintenance you would perform on the player the cartridges were always a problem.
That's a bad sign. If you know your 8-track player works perfectly, but when you put a tape in and all you hear is dead silence...your tape is probably screwed...I've had this happen to me about 3 times already. That's just the way it is with 8-track tapes nowadays...you win some, you lose some...
Yeah, there is something to be said for a product with an almost dependable breakdown point. Like, if an iPod breaks down you get furious and shout, "This is NEVER supposed to happen to an iPod!" But if an 8-Track does the same thing you just sigh and say, 'Oh well, it's only an 8-Track."
The tape may be bound up tight, or, one VERY common 8-track problem, is that the splice breaks, and tape gets eaten up. Also, does the machine play the tapes at all? does it turn in the 8-track at all? Cause of none of that happens, then the belt might have deteriorated.
The tape does not appear to move at all. I just put it in and I'm not even sure that turning the button works because nothing happens, no sound or whatnot, but if I try to get it out (and there is no "Eject" function in sight) it comes out like that.
This is what I think is going on: The belt is deteriorated and the tape does not turn, and some melted (VERY sticky) belt stuff probably got on the capstan (the metal rod that turns the tape) and the tape sticks to the gunk when you pull it out, it pulls the tape out. Hope this helps, alcohol or Windex should clean the gunk, and if you don't have a replacement belt, a good quality rubber band should work.
I was just kidding MChelada. I can count at least 5 old radio/tape players that I refuse to throw out because at least the radio or something still works. Good advice given by all here to fix the problem, good luck 8^ )
Ouch! Hated it whenever that happened. I once fell asleep playing a tape once, only to wake up 90 mins. later finding that the unit ate it, putting severe strain on the motor, and making the unit extremely hot. Wasn't too happy about that.
electronmusicjunkie 1 month ago
Lol I had my realistic (that is a car unit now installed in my '98 s10) do this, somehow the motor had reversed polarity but with a little jumping I was able to make it stop and it works real great now gets used almost every day.
shoprat17 2 months ago
Hi I wanted to know the model number of that 8 track player.
lovepussy1966 4 months ago
I saw a High quality Electrobrand 8 treck receiver it was quadraphonic, at a thrift I regret not buying it, it weighed a ton and it was ALL metal except the case which was made from veneer colored plywood and the back end,was made from masonite.
It had a TON of bass playing through some small "6" bookshelf speakers...
raymondleeleggs 1 year ago
@raymondleeleggs DAG! I wish you had picked it up too.
MChelada 1 year ago
Point taken!!!!
punkrockpub 1 year ago
@punkrockpub Indeed ;)
MChelada 1 year ago
8 TRACKS RULE
urbanexplorer1996 1 year ago 4
8 Track tapes do NOT suck. the reason for the formats failure was the fact that manufacturers made them cheap. almost all of the all in one units suck.. you gotta get components. go check an akai 8 track player/recorder out and tell me if you think they sound like shit. i have been listeniung to 8 tracks for a long time and have only had this happen in the cheap models. get a good 8 track deck, and THEN judge the format. 8 Track > Cassette anyday. the tape moves at TWICE the speed = better sound
eyg2181 2 years ago 3
@eyg2181 Yes, 8-tracks as a format are very high quality audio, you just have to connect it to a good sound system. Up until 1985 or so, all new Rolls Royces came with an 8-track tape player: easy to use, easy listening friendly, continuous sound(clunk, clunk sound aside..). They could have chosen other sound systems but chose 8-tracks... yeah!! Cheers to Mr. Leer.
HunterMann 7 months ago
@eyg2181 I always had good luck with my 8 tracks, and I've been collecting almost half my life.
shoprat17 2 months ago
Quote my mom about 8 tracks "8 tracks suck , they spoil like milk" unquote
rwk1983 2 years ago
She's right ;)
MChelada 2 years ago
I used own 8 tracks and they were always unreliable. As a technician I would also service 8 track players. However there was a major design flaw with the 8 track cartridge. The rubber pinch roller inside the cartridge would get hard and glazed and would cause damage to the tape. If you can't clean the rubber pinch roller in the cartridge it would deteriorate. So it doesn't matter how much maintenance you would perform on the player the cartridges were always a problem.
movejefflynnelo 2 years ago
Thank goodness for progress. Now we hardly have any moving parts, if any.
MChelada 2 years ago
That's a bad sign. If you know your 8-track player works perfectly, but when you put a tape in and all you hear is dead silence...your tape is probably screwed...I've had this happen to me about 3 times already. That's just the way it is with 8-track tapes nowadays...you win some, you lose some...
ethen24 3 years ago
DAG!
MChelada 3 years ago
8 tracks suck this happened to me quite often in the 70's
chinasherry1961 3 years ago
Ah, but what a sucky time!
MChelada 3 years ago
It sucked so bad that people almost enjoyed the suckyness!
matkovicha 2 years ago
Yeah, there is something to be said for a product with an almost dependable breakdown point. Like, if an iPod breaks down you get furious and shout, "This is NEVER supposed to happen to an iPod!" But if an 8-Track does the same thing you just sigh and say, 'Oh well, it's only an 8-Track."
MChelada 2 years ago
The tape may be bound up tight, or, one VERY common 8-track problem, is that the splice breaks, and tape gets eaten up. Also, does the machine play the tapes at all? does it turn in the 8-track at all? Cause of none of that happens, then the belt might have deteriorated.
CassetteMaster 3 years ago
The tape does not appear to move at all. I just put it in and I'm not even sure that turning the button works because nothing happens, no sound or whatnot, but if I try to get it out (and there is no "Eject" function in sight) it comes out like that.
MChelada 3 years ago
This is what I think is going on: The belt is deteriorated and the tape does not turn, and some melted (VERY sticky) belt stuff probably got on the capstan (the metal rod that turns the tape) and the tape sticks to the gunk when you pull it out, it pulls the tape out. Hope this helps, alcohol or Windex should clean the gunk, and if you don't have a replacement belt, a good quality rubber band should work.
CassetteMaster 3 years ago
Time to throw that thing out.
Rammshtyn 3 years ago
Why? The radio still works, and honestly listening to Oldies 650 on that platform beats any of the high-end digitronics.
MChelada 3 years ago
I was just kidding MChelada. I can count at least 5 old radio/tape players that I refuse to throw out because at least the radio or something still works. Good advice given by all here to fix the problem, good luck 8^ )
Rammshtyn 3 years ago
Thanks
MChelada 3 years ago
true that
Staplesz 3 years ago
You forgot to wedge a matchbook under the 8 track!!
64m >:-)
64mung 3 years ago 2
D'oh!
MChelada 3 years ago
Try cleaning the capstan with a Q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Maybe the tape sticks to it.
aldiakaroofus 3 years ago 2
Thank you
MChelada 3 years ago