Mellotronists

When attempting to make pinch rollers nice n' silky smoot, what's the 
preferred method of cleaning and then lubing of those little rollies?
thanks,
Blake
m400 - #542

btw - if you've thought about replacing your motor card, get a 
Streetly one.  I recently installed one and it's a whole new 
experience: no whine, perfect.  The installation is easy, even if 
you're the worst solder monkey like me.  Perfect complement to that 
new tapeset.  Thanks MS & JB!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "KathnRich" <kathnrich@...>
To: "Blake" <heltonb@...>
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 12:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Pinch Roller Funtimes


> I've always used a little carburator cleaner on a cloth and rub each
wheel.
> Makes the dead rubber come off and leaves the pinch roller silky soft.
> Rich...
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Blake" <heltonb@...>
> To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 11:43 AM
> Subject: [Mellotronists] Pinch Roller Funtimes
>
>
> > When attempting to make pinch rollers nice n' silky smoot, what's the
> > preferred method of cleaning and then lubing of those little rollies?
> > thanks,
> > Blake
> > m400 - #542
> >
> > btw - if you've thought about replacing your motor card, get a
> > Streetly one.  I recently installed one and it's a whole new
> > experience: no whine, perfect.  The installation is easy, even if
> > you're the worst solder monkey like me.  Perfect complement to that
> > new tapeset.  Thanks MS & JB!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> >
> >
>

In a message dated 10/16/2003 11:49:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
heltonb@... writes:

> Subj: [Mellotronists] Pinch Roller Funtimes 
>  Date: 10/16/2003 11:49:13 AM Eastern Daylight Time
>  From: <A HREF="mailto:heltonb@...">heltonb@...</A>
>  To: <A HREF="mailto:Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com">Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com</A>
>  Sent from the Internet 
> 
> 
> 
> When attempting to make pinch rollers nice n' silky smoot, what's the 
> preferred method of cleaning and then lubing of those little rollies?
> thanks,
> Blake
> m400 - #542
> 

Isopropyl Alcohol does the job nicely, makes 'em spin and spin most of the 
time.  I prefer cleaning with this and not lubing with anything.  In my opinion, 
once they're clean and spinning, lubing will just gunk them up again 
eventually and can possibly get on the tapes (especially if you don't use the right 
stuff). You can also consider giving them the "rounded treatment", a Streetly 
specialty (as shown on the web link here).  Look at frames 12 to 15 on the page 
linked here:

<A HREF="http://www.tronsounds.com/mkii_tape_changing.htm">http://www.tronsounds.com/mkii_tape_changing.htm</A>


Ken M.

>>When attempting to make pinch rollers nice n' silky smoot, what's the
>>preferred method of cleaning and then lubing of those little rollies?

The Professor's 100% alcohol.  Cleans *anything*!!!  :-)

Way back in #805 I used some emery cloth to scruffify the rollers---they 
were too shiny---then cleaned them with isopropyl alcohol.  It's also OK to 
take the edge off a tiny bit if bowed/chipped (or get Martinized where he 
turns them into something like a radial tire).  You really want the meat of 
the pinch roller biting down on the tape---as much of the roller as 
possible, not the edges.

I believe Ken M. dipped his rollers into isopropyl to loosen up the 
stubborn ones, and that may be the way to go.  I got some of that 100% 
stuff in there, and in lieu of using oil to loosen 'em, the 100% alcohol 
worked great.  I bet the regular isopropyl would work well, too (100% 
alcohol is not available to us common folk).  I don't know the long term 
effects of such harsh stuff, though, but oiling the pinch roller's axle 
also has its issues.  YMMV.

Another trick:  Look carefully at the edges of your tapes.  If the pinch 
roller isn't absolutely straight, you may see the edges of your tape 
becoming worn/jaggy or even bent (as in a long line down the length of your 
tape).  I have used a big pair of pipe pliers to straighten out some cocked 
rollers so the tape flows perfectly straight and no longer has the tendency 
to be pulled to one side or the other.

...kl...M400 #805 - scruffy but uncocked

* Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
* Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
 >> Mystery writer Rick Blechta Shoots Straight in the Dark:
 >>   http://www.rickblechta.com/Pages/SSitD.html -> Special Promotion!

In a message dated 10/16/2003 1:37:45 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kenmerb writes:

> Isopropyl Alcohol does the job nicely, makes 'em spin and spin most of the time.  I prefer cleaning with this and not lubing with anything.  In my opinion, once they're clean and spinning, lubing will just gunk them up again eventually and can possibly get on the tapes (especially if you don't use the right stuff). You can also consider giving them the "rounded treatment", a Streetly specialty (as shown on the web link 
> here).  Look at frames 12 to 15 on the page linked here:



Doesn't alchohol dry out rubber!!??

fd

>Doesn't alchohol dry out rubber!!??

Yeah, and that's the problem with it.  The saving grace is how often I've 
ever had to do this---basically once on any given machine.  I would like to 
try the stuff they use on professional recording decks 
(cleaner/rejuvenator)---do you happen to have a product/brand name or two 
and source?  I also wonder how badly it affects the 'tron's pinchies, as 
they're barely flexible to begin with (at least the ones I've run across, 
which are all old) and probably aren't too badly affected by the alcohol 
with one application.

A band-aid for rollers that won't turn well is a drop of oil---we did this 
at the 'tronposium.  Unfortunately that hastens the death of the roller by 
eating the bearing, but it at least gets a dodgy roller to work in some 
cases.  If that trick doesn't work, the roller's dead anyway, and it needs 
replacement (unless Ken's alcohol bath works to free up any crap in the 
bearing/spindle of the roller---again possibly hastening death, but...).

...kl...M400 #805 - would rather be drinking alcohol

* Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
* Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
 >> Mystery writer Rick Blechta Shoots Straight in the Dark:
 >> http://www.rickblechta.com/Pages/SSitD.html > Special Promo!

In a message dated 10/19/2003 6:36:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time, FDoddy 
writes:

> Doesn't alchohol dry out rubber!!??
> 

Good point, Fritz.  The question for me was, when were my pinch rollers last 
considered "rubber"?  If they were new and and somewhat spongy, I probably 
would have thought about the implications of giving them a dunk or two in 
alcohol.  When I did the ones on my MKII, I was more interested in getting them to 
spin than any longer term implications of using something that may not be 
friendly to rubber.  Most of these pucks are probably from 1965.  They will all need 
to be replaced eventually.  I agree with KL, the ultimate solution would be 
some type of rubber rejuvenator / pinch roller cleaner combo, if such a product 
exists (someone let us know if it does).  I tried to order some of the rubber 
rejuvenator stuff (used for rollers in Xerox machines, tape decks, etc.) a 
while back, only to find out that the place I ordered it from stopped carrying 
it, so it's apparently not a high demand item.  Does anyone else out there have 
experience ('tron related or otherwise) with these products?


Ken M.

I just found a place where you can get some of the rubber rejuvenator I 
mentioned earlier, for possible use on pinch rollers.  CAIG corporation sells 
it, and you can find it on their web site:

<A HREF="http://www.caig.com/">http://www.caig.com/</A>

     It's called CaiKleen RBR.  I've never used this particular product, but 
it looks like it's made for items similar to mellotron pinch rollers.  If 
anyone has used this, let me know.  I've used the Caig DeoxIT product (cleans 
electrical contacts) on my MKII connections and inside a pair of problem 
headphones, and it works very well.  It looks like you can buy the rubber rejuvenator 
in a decent size container, which should be enough to do all of your problem 
pinch rollers (even if you have a MKII).  Again, I haven't tried it myself, but 
it looks like it might help.  Could be worth a try if your pinch rollers are 
hard and shiny and are giving you problems.


Ken M.