22
CARE AND MAINTENANCE
ABOUT CASSETTE TAPES
Whenever you record on a cassette any previously recorded material is erased as the new material is recorded.
To prevent you from accidentally erasing material which you wish to save, blank cassettes are equipped with
erase prevention tabs for each side of the tape. If the erase prevention tab for side A is removed, you cannot
accidentally record on side A. The record key cannot be depressed if the erase prevention tab on the cassette
has been removed.
To prevent accidental erasing on side A of a cassette use a small screw driver or similar tool to break off the
erase prevention tab for side A. This prevents the record key from locking.
If later you do wish to record on side A of the cassette, cover the tab opening with a piece of cellophane tape. This
will allow the record key to function again.
CASSETTE CARE
Two common causes of trouble experienced when using cassettes are:
1.) Tape jamming — Leading to uneven speed in playback, and
2.) Tape tangling — Where the tape wraps itself around vital parts of themechanism.
To reduce the likelihood of these problems occurring, the following precautions should be observed:
• Check that there are no loose layers of tape visible through the cassette center window (see Fig. 1).
Take up any loose layers, using a pencil or hexagonal barrelled ballpoint pen, before inserting the cassette into the
machine (see Fig. 2).
• If the cassette feels “tight” while performing operation shown (see Fig. 2), the tape may be jamming due to “ridges”
formed in the winding of the tape (visible through the center window). These may be removed, in most cases, by
fast winding of the cassette from one end to the other and back again.
• Use only well-known brands of tape. Avoid use of C-120 cassettes.
Furthermore, do not expose cassettes to direct sunlight, dust or oil, and do not touch the tape surfaces.
A
COVER OPENING WITH TAPE
IN ORDER TO RECORD AGAIN.
A
TAB FOR SIDE A.
SM51TR.p65
2001/7/3, PM 02:25
22