Idler tyres for an old cassette deck.

[steve30]

I'm trying to repair an old Aiwa L22 cassette deck from the early 1980s.

The belts had turned to goo, so I replaced them, but the fast forward and rewind functions are driven by idler wheels with rubber tyres and these have gone a bit cracked.

There are a couple of large tyres, which I can easily get hold of from CPC, but there are several small ones (pictured), which are about 10mm in outer diameter, 6mm inner diameter, and 2mm thick, which I can't seem to find anywhere.

Can anyone recommend a source? Or maybe a way of rejuvenating them?

Thanks.
steve30.

[HAL-42b]

Maybe a Square Cut O ring.

Model 20006 seems to fit the dimensions.

It won't fit the inner groove though. You must think of something.

[helius]

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com - custom cut idler wheels and pinch rollers.

You can soak the rubber in a solution of methyl salicylate, this is sold as "MG Chemicals Rubber Rejuvenator". It will make dry rubber tacky and pliable, but won't heal cracks like the ones above and doesn't reverse the depolymerization that turns rubber into goo.

[DrGeoff]

There are a few sites that still have various rubber idler wheels and pinch rollers.
http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/

However they are becoming quite scarce now.
I have several old tape machines that need replacement rubber and it's all becoming too hard to be bothered.

[BurningTantalum]

If you end up with a round section O-ring and need to reduce the diameter or make it square, try mounting it on the wheel and holding the wheel on a thread or mandrel in a small lathe. Use a Dremel-type tool with a grinding disk or wheel and gently grind the ring down as the lathe turns it. Grind at right angles to the direction of rotation (or backwards to it.)
Regards, BT

[SaabFAN]

I think you could use the rubber wheels of a Lego Car. They should have similar dimensions if I remember them correctly^^

[xygor]

http://russellind.com/
http://russellind.com/downl.htm
http://russellind.com/client/download/replace.pdf

[gadget73]

I've used this guy for turntable idlers, but he does pinch rollers as well

http://www.terrysrubberrollers.com/

[cncjerry]

I've used terrys rollers as well for my TASCAM BR20 mastering deck.  Fast service, perfect product.

[steve30]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone . I'll post again if/when I make any progress.