[T3] update: Sapphire PlayTape I

[Greg Merritt <gregm@vwtype3.org>]

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	Here's an update on my Sapphire PlayTape I AM radio / 
PlayTape player, as availabe from US VW dealers around 1970 or so.

	While anticipating the arrival of a playtape cartridge, I had 
another look at my Sapphire Playtape I with the bottom cover off. 
There's a little blue nub that pokes through the floor of the 
cartridge bay; when a tape is inserted, the nub is depressed and a 
switch is pushed to activate the motor.

 	Well, the motor whirs, but the motor's little pulley just 
spins against the belt.  The large driven pulley opposite the motor 
turns freely by hand, but is a bit stiff.

	I may consider trying to lubricate the large pulley's shaft 
by placing a drop of oil on the shaft from inside the tape bay. 
Another possibility would be to get a new belt, in case the old one 
has stretched and lost elasticity and/or pliability.

	Well, I got my playtape cartridge today.  It's a cute little thing!

	I fired up my Sapphire unit and put the tape in.  As 
expected, the motor's little pulley slipped in the drive belt.  I 
removed the drive belt and spun the large driven pulley by hand.  I 
got an odd warble-warble-warble out of the speaker.  I switched to 
the other track, and got another -- but differently-toned -- 
warble-warble.  Was I spinning it too fast? Too slow? Was it just 
broken?

	It seemed that the sound I was perceiving was predominantly 
influenced by the inconsistency in my ability to drive the pulley by 
hand -- the predominantly-perceived changes in pitch were due to the 
variations in speed of the pulley.

	I hooked the drive belt back up.  When I gave the large 
pulley a helping spin, the belt would engage for a bit, and there was 
Petula Clark singing away!  After a couple of spins, it kept going on 
its own and played and played.

	I tried turning the unit right-side-up again (the removable 
cover and the pulleys and belt are all on the bottom).  The belt 
began slipping again.

	So, it seems that a fresh belt and a more freely spinning 
driven pulley would make my player play like new.  Here's hoping!

-Greg

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