Trying to Revive OEM Stereo for Playing Cassette Tapes

[pentode]

Great news. Cassettes are underrated.

 

[Rick W]

View attachment 140297
Could this be what’s needs cleaning? Seems to be a pressure switch

I don’t know where you’d find a stereo shop these days that would have one, but if you look online, you can find a cassette “head cleaner.“. It looks just like a cassette tape, but the ribbon is a little rougher and it’s coated with whatever that will clean the head that reads the tapes. That’s what you want to clean the head.

 

[SenorNoob]

I remember those for VHS being just a cloth tape that you put a "cleaning solution" (I used alcohol) on. With the deck apart, I'd use a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. Just be careful not to leave any fibers behind.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Yep, alcohol is the magical ingredient.