1969 8-track belt keeps falling off

[hollandaises]

The replacement belt on my 8-track player keeps falling off. Does anyone know where to source a correct belt, or is there a mechanical misalignment in the player that would require the unit to be rebuilt? Each time it's happened during driving and while the car is coming to a stop, which could just be coincidence. I've played the 8-track player for about 30 mins while parked and the belt does not come off, but once I start driving its guaranteed to go again.

[TonyC]

Odd...but that has to be a coincidence, the tape player's operation has nothing to do with motion of the car. Apparently you have seen the inside of the player; do you know whether the pulleys have ridges in them to keep the belt in its track? From what I remember of 8-track mechanisms, I want to say that the belts are of flat configuration as opposed to squared cross-sectioning that cassette belts have; and the pulleys don't have tracks cast into them to retain the belts, which would explain why yours keeps slipping off. I would think there would be a plate of sorts to retain the belt, but I may be confusing with cassette units I've disassembled.

When you replaced the belt in your unit, how did it feel? Was it snug, or was there slack in it? If it felt even a bit loose when installed and you're sure it was properly installed, that could be the reason that it falls off: It's too long.

---Tony

[action]

Maybe the pulleys the belts ride in need cleaning.

Posting a picture would be nice. I just picked up a 1966 Ford accessory hang on 8-Track. Looks like it has never been used. I have to get some literature on how to connect to see if it works.

Action

[action]

It is a flat belt like this one?

Action

[hollandaises]

The replacement belt is smooth, as was the original belt that had snapped. Both pulleys are smooth, though the small drive pulley does have a large retaining flange on it. It appears nearly identical to the one posted by action above. When the player is run with the cover off, the belt is centered on both pulleys.

[action]

The belt in the player above is flat like the one on the left in this link
http://8trackrepaircenter.com/Belts.html

Action

[George W]

I would expect the belt to be too loose if it keeps falling off. Projector-Recorder belt Co. used to make all sorts of drive belts for electronic devices. Not sure they're still in business. What you have is capstan drive belt. It should fit tightly around the pulleys.

[hollandaises]

The belt has some tension but is not particularly tight. It also feels somewhat old, though never having opened up a 8-track before I'm not sure what is normal.

[action]

The belt on my 8-track shown above is tighter than that. There is a bit of tension and feels tight. The inside felt kind of smooth so I flipped it over since it is a flat belt.

Sounds like time for a new belt

Action

[hollandaises]

This is a "new" (old) belt off ebay. Do you know anyone who sells the correct belt?

[action]

This is a "new" (old) belt off ebay. Do you know anyone who sells the correct belt?

The link I posted above.
The posts are not numbered, count down from the top to post 6

Period correct "new" (old) rubber anything is old rubber that has never been used. However most of the time old rubber anything is at the end of it's life.
Like the 50 year old original spare tire that has never been used. It is OK for a display and neat to see. Just don't put it in service. The result will disappoint.

Action

[George W]

It appears that Projector-Recorder Belt company is still in business. They're a major supplier to the electronics repair industry as belts are used regularly in projectors and tape machines. You're looking for a flat rubber belt, their "FR" series. They come in various widths and they're cataloged by their width and their length. Measure your old belt for width and if it's still intact cut it and lay it flat to measure it's length. You'll want a belt that's about a 1/4" shorter than the belt that's falling off.

[TonyC]

Action and George are right; you need a new belt, one that does feel particularly tight when installed. Follow the advice on measuring, and order a new one. If you're not comfortable cutting the current belt, you can lay it flat on its side, place weight on it to fully flatten it, measure the length then double that figure, subtract a quarter-inch from that figure, and place your order.

It's fun venturing into uncharted territory, innit? Luckily 8-track players aren't quite so complex to navigate internally as some cassette players are, and I'm not even going into CD units!

---Tony