Audio Systems: Audio Cassette Player problems, motor speed control, audio cassette player

Question
Hello Tom,
I have an audio cassette player/recorder that recently failed.  It plays and records on standard cassette tapes at 1/4 normal speed for the purpose of recording night time radio programs.

Aside from playing at a slower than normal rate, it is still a standard cassette recorder and player.  The problem is that whenever I select PLAY or RECORD the drive motor shuts off almost immediately, as if the tape has reached the end.  It FAST-FORWARDS and REWINDS perfectly, but it is as if it is mistakenly sensing a resistance which is not there (I have tried several new tapes and they all behave the same way).

Is there an adjustment or an easy way to repair this problem?  I do not have the money to purchase another unit right now.  It has programmable ON/OFF times and I am using it to record my favorite night-time talk show.  Now it refuses to record (or play) due to the problem I just described.
Thank you in advance.
-Don

Answer
Don,
The problem may be due to a defective motor or perhaps a worn drive belt that is slipping. The slow motor speed could be related to a defect with the motor speed control circuits. If this tape player has a normal/high speed dubbing mode, the circuit that controls the speed may be at fault. Please give me the make and model and I will check to see if I have a service manual for this model. With the service manual I can give you some ideas on some things to check out.

TOM,
T&D ELECTRONICS
[email protected]