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[repair help] Iomega Ditto 800 head / capstan needs repair (finished)

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First post, by Nexxen

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Hello,
I have this tape since from 1997. After a wee while it was stored and never used again.

I wanted to read an old cartridge but it wasn't doing anything, just spinning and diagnosing the unit as defective.
As you can guess, I opened it and saw that the rubber around one of the heads capstans (I think it's just a wheel that drags the tape or pushed the tape on the "magnetic" head) was more like Nutella than anything.

A black sticky paste a little thicker than toothpaste.

Now, I have no idea how to repair it as I don't have the right thickness value and material to replace it with.
In the pictures it's the wheel on the left, that still displays some black remnants of the was rubber. 😀

If anyone can give advice you are more than welcome.

Edit: Software used is Ditto tools 5.1a on wayback machine:
https://archive.org/details/TAPEW51_EXE

works with win98se

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Last edited by Nexxen on 2021-10-13, 21:47. Edited 3 times in total.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 1 of 8, by BitWrangler

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Might need to do something like this... http://www.mattmillman.com/info/qic-tape-driv … ic-tape-drives/

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 2 of 8, by retardware

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BitWrangler wrote on 2021-09-16, 22:35:

Might need to do something like this... http://www.mattmillman.com/info/qic-tape-driv … ic-tape-drives/

I like what this guy did.
Reminds me of me replacing the disintegrated soft plastics that was missing on a number of guide rollers of a 1980s professional-grade plotter with a few layers of shrink tubing.
After doing this, the plotter worked like new 😀

Maybe you are lucky and find some suitable shrink tubing and it magically/by lucky chance has the required diameter when pulled on and shrunk?

Reply 3 of 8, by Nexxen

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BitWrangler wrote on 2021-09-16, 22:35:

Might need to do something like this... http://www.mattmillman.com/info/qic-tape-driv … ic-tape-drives/

That is overkill. But great job.

retardware wrote on 2021-09-16, 23:45:
I like what this guy did. Reminds me of me replacing the disintegrated soft plastics that was missing on a number of guide rolle […]
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BitWrangler wrote on 2021-09-16, 22:35:

Might need to do something like this... http://www.mattmillman.com/info/qic-tape-driv … ic-tape-drives/

I like what this guy did.
Reminds me of me replacing the disintegrated soft plastics that was missing on a number of guide rollers of a 1980s professional-grade plotter with a few layers of shrink tubing.
After doing this, the plotter worked like new 😀

Maybe you are lucky and find some suitable shrink tubing and it magically/by lucky chance has the required diameter when pulled on and shrunk?

This is something I can try. Good idea!

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 4 of 8, by Nexxen

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I ordered some and will post back after doing the job.
The first suggestion is a maybe if nothing works, but it's a really demanding task.

If anyone feels to suggest something else I'm open to try.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 6 of 8, by Nexxen

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Did 3 wrappings and it works. I had to glue it as it would otherwise come off and give a hardware error. I used some epoxy and have to wait until tomorrow when it's cured.
It needs a very grippy ring, mine is 2mm.
Cartridge has issues. Might need to buy a new one.

Does anyone have a pic of the inside, after opening it the spring came off and I can't put it back.

Note: it's slow and honestly I'd go for an LTO unit. Not worth the trouble even for retro something motive.
I don't recommend getting one. I'll put it back in storage

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

Reply 7 of 8, by charly2k18

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Nexxen wrote on 2021-10-09, 19:43:
Did 3 wrappings and it works. I had to glue it as it would otherwise come off and give a hardware error. I used some epoxy and h […]
Show full quote

Did 3 wrappings and it works. I had to glue it as it would otherwise come off and give a hardware error. I used some epoxy and have to wait until tomorrow when it's cured.
It needs a very grippy ring, mine is 2mm.
Cartridge has issues. Might need to buy a new one.

Does anyone have a pic of the inside, after opening it the spring came off and I can't put it back.

Note: it's slow and honestly I'd go for an LTO unit. Not worth the trouble even for retro something motive.
I don't recommend getting one. I'll put it back in storage

Hello, I have an Iomega Tape 250 unit which unfortunately also has the capstan head destroyed. Please, could you tell me exactly what silicone tube or what material you ended up purchasing and the procedure for creating it? I suppose that since so much time has passed it will be complicated, but could you perhaps post a photo of how it turned out? Thank you very much in advance.

Reply 8 of 8, by Nexxen

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charly2k18 wrote on 2024-02-12, 23:28:
Nexxen wrote on 2021-10-09, 19:43:
Did 3 wrappings and it works. I had to glue it as it would otherwise come off and give a hardware error. I used some epoxy and h […]
Show full quote

Did 3 wrappings and it works. I had to glue it as it would otherwise come off and give a hardware error. I used some epoxy and have to wait until tomorrow when it's cured.
It needs a very grippy ring, mine is 2mm.
Cartridge has issues. Might need to buy a new one.

Does anyone have a pic of the inside, after opening it the spring came off and I can't put it back.

Note: it's slow and honestly I'd go for an LTO unit. Not worth the trouble even for retro something motive.
I don't recommend getting one. I'll put it back in storage

Hello, I have an Iomega Tape 250 unit which unfortunately also has the capstan head destroyed. Please, could you tell me exactly what silicone tube or what material you ended up purchasing and the procedure for creating it? I suppose that since so much time has passed it will be complicated, but could you perhaps post a photo of how it turned out? Thank you very much in advance.

I used some heatshrink material. It sucked though. I'd just put layer after layer: layer, shrink, layer, shrink... until it did reach the required width. In my case 2mm.
Because of friction it would come off, hence the glue.
Maybe find some online retailer and discuss the matter with him. If you are in need of the unit, hope it works. Otherwise steer away from it as it's a huge waste of time.

No problem, if I can help I'll help.
Pic I have to check if I made one then. Right now it's in my basement buried behind a mountain of stuff I have to throw away, i.e. out of my reach.

PC#1 Pentium 233 MMX - 98SE
PC#2 PIII-1Ghz - 98SE/W2K

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