Pinch roller Ø 26 mm
for Studer A 807 / A 810 / B 67 and Revox B 77 / PR 99
A pinch roller has no drive of its own. When the tape machine is started, it is pressed onto the tape, which is transported by the rotating capstan shaft. The sensitive tape is therefore located between the pinch roller and the capstan shaft, which is a reason for me to pay increased attention to this important unit. In fact, the pinch rollers are a weak point on old machines. They become soft or even brittle and can damage the tapes during transport because they are squeezed or stretched, for example.
Since the beginning of the development of Studer and Revox machines, the pinch roller runs on a plain bearing. I don't dare to judge if this is a defect, but it shouldn't hurt if the roller has its own ball bearings. Athan Corporation in the USA thought about this and developed very high-quality pinch rollers. Since 1976, they have had the know-how of products for professional applications in audio technology, such as tape recorders and turntables. Instead of the black rubber material, a high-quality polyurethane material is now used, which is said to have a four to five times longer service life. The use of light-colored plastic makes it easier to detect dirt deposits. The brass rollers, together with the ball bearings, improve the vibration of the Capstan motor due to their precise concentricity.
I have had very good experience with this roller. For Europe it costs 128,-- € and can be ordered at SEPEA audio.
Look at the photo with the three rollers:
A) Used, softened pressure roller. (1) shows a slight rounding, which is convex when the roller is at rest. When pressure is applied, it can become concave and cause mechanical stress on the tape material.
B) Athan Corporation's new reel with brass core, two ball bearings and the newly developed brightly colored polyurethane material.
C) Replacement reel from unknown production. Such reels cost about 40,-- € and do not guarantee years of trouble-free operation. The last roll of this type I used failed after only four years of service.
Product: https://sepeaaudio.com/accessories/studer-parts/studer-pinch-roller-for-a-807-a-810-b-67/
Contact: orders@sepeaaudio.com Tel.: +421905612447
Photos: Claus Müller
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)