Eight-Track Attack!

**redfalken** · June 30th, 2008, 08:56 PM

So I thought I would unhijack the other thread and talk about 8-tracks!

By absolute coincident my mother-in-law sent me an old player. She loves garage sales. It is just a cube with a speaker on each side. Volume, balance, and tone sliding knobs. A handle on top. You can plug it into 110vAC or 12vDC. Also has 2 RCA plugs in back for external speakers.

I only have a Beatles tape and it sounds pretty good! I had to fix the big flywheel inside. It was sticky. Also fixed the speaker switch and cleaned the head.

I also have a Platters tape but the sponge that presses it against the head is gone. Is there a cheap fix? Also, the tape is stretched in a big loop outside the case. How can you reel it back in?

**Luva65wagon** · June 30th, 2008, 11:00 PM

That's pretty funky-delic. Just what everyone needs.

I'm sure Nathan can help you with that tape. As I mentioned somewhere you always had to rewind those tapes. It was a constant need. I recall it was an issue of pulling on the tape on one side and pulling it to sort of like spin it... speed it up... I don't know how to describe the process... it's hard to describe. Anyway "this" always wound up the other side and pulled the excess tape into the case. It took some finesse to get it to work. Used to be an expert at that... 30 years ago. Gawd I'm getting old...

**Nathan289** · June 30th, 2008, 11:24 PM

Very cool..

the price of 8 tracks just went up..

The foam can be bought in packs and you can also buy the metal sensor tape.

I've seen both items on e-bay and try the 8 track shack as a place to buy your goods and find new tapes.. they guarntee there tapes for life..

I havent had luck rewinding 8 tracks.. I had one that my machine ate.. I took it apart and tried to fix it.. didn't work.. I could get rewound to a point and then I would get twist in it..

ask justahairfalconloopy he has an 8 track collection and may know a thing or two as well..

Nathan

**justahairFalconloopy** · July 1st, 2008, 12:10 PM

ya had to go and spill the beans eh Nathan??

as for replacement parts...yup...Egay!!
or just do what I did over the years

...i would just buy 8's that i didnt want...just for parts!!!....(I'm allergic to C&W anyhow)

and ya....they'r a pain to rewind..but it is possible!

the trick is to keep the player 'demagnetized' ,,and the head clean!

as many 'trick' head cleaners as there was back in tha day...long Qtips and alchohol...still was the best way!!

my 2bits

**Nathan289** · July 1st, 2008, 12:16 PM

Justhair,

I had to spill the beans you have a wealth of knowledge on 8 tracks that i'm too young to know much about..
I think I was 6 or 7 when they quit making them..

Just save all the goodies for me

and pass on the C&W to Kenny

Nathan