Optimus 16-132 Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality, Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts

16-132.fm Page 16 Tuesday, July 20, 1999 8:46 AM

Restoring Tape Tension and Sound Quality

After you play a cassette tape several times, the tape might become tightly wound on the reels. This can cause playback sound quality to deteriorate.

To restore the sound quality, fast-for- ward the tape from the beginning to the end of one side, then completely rewind it. Then loosen the tape reels by gently tapping each side of the cassette’s outer shell on a flat surface.

Caution: Be careful not to damage the cassette when tapping it. Do not touch the exposed tape or allow any sharp ob- jects near the cassette.

Cleaning the Tape-Handling Parts

Dirt, dust, or particles of the tape’s coat- ing can accumulate on the tape heads and other parts that the tape touches. This can greatly reduce the cassette player’s performance.

To prevent noise and poor high-frequen- cy response, clean the cassette player’s tape handling parts after every 20 hours of use. Your local RadioShack store sells a complete line of cassette clean- ing supplies. You can use a cassette tape cleaning kit (such as Cat. No. 44- 1162), or follow these steps.

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1.Set TAPE/RADIO/TV to TAPE.

2.Remove the batteries or disconnect the AC or DC power source.

3.Open the cassette compartment cover.

4.Hold down the erase-protection tab sensor, then press RECORD to expose the record/playback and erase heads.

illus of tab sensor

5.Use a cotton swab dipped in tape head cleaning solution or denatured alcohol to gently clean the capstans, pinch rollers, tape guides, and tape heads.

illus of tape handling part

6.Press STOP/EJECT and close the cassette compartment cover. Then reconnect power.