For maintenance cleaning (light amount of grime) use the solid blue cleaning strip already loaded into the cartrige. Place one drop of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol near the arrows indicated on cart label. Allow cart to play through 4 track changes twice. After removing cart, push the flap up on player where carts are inserted and look to see that the Track Change Sensor/Playhead/Capstan Shaft (part of the shaft the play tape contacts, the areas above and below will NOT be shiny) are shiny.

 

If the aforementioned parts are heavily soiled, allow the cleaning cart to run through 3 complete cycles. Removing it after the first 2 and reapplying Isopropyl Alchol per the instructions on the cart label. If the capstan shaft still appears to be dirty after 3 complete cleaning cycles with the solid blue cleaning strip . You may need to open up the cartridge and replace the solid blue cleaning strip with the slightly thicker blue and white cleaning strip. This one is more heavy duty and will more easily remove large amounts of grime from the track change sensor/playhead/capstan shaft. However in some players it may not advance as easily as the solid blue one. Follow the directions on the cartridge label and allow to run through 1 complete cleaning cycle (4 track changes). You may need to help it along by pushing the cartridge slightly to the right to help the cleaning strip start rotating (this will temporarily increase the pressure of the strip against the capstan shaft).

 

If the blue and white cleaning strip is being stubborn and will not advance, it can be used as a heavy duty capstan cleaner.   Remove the cartridge from your player and advance the cleaning strip with your finger so that the sensing foil disappears into the cart. Then advance it a little more. Apply one drop of the Isopropyl Alcohol to the cleaning strip, on the pinch roller. Re-insert. Even if the strip does not advance, this will clean the capstan shaft. Leave in the player for about 10 seconds and then remove (if its not advancing). You will see a line on the cleaning strip where the grime from the capstan shaft was deposited. For future cleanings with that blue and white cleaning strip (if it does not advance properly on its own) simply advance it with your finger until that spot with the grime is no longer on the pinch roller. And reapply the drop of Isopropyl Alcohol to the blue/white cleaning strip at the pinch roller. Only do this if your player does not like this strip and will not advance it.

 

Replace and discard the solid blue cleaning strip after 8 total cleaning cycles (one cleaning cycle is 4 track changes). Do the same with the blue/white cleaning strip. Unless it does not advance (does not change tracks) in which case it is only cleaning the capstan shaft. In that case you can use it until the entire strip is filled with lines of grime from the capstan. Replacement cleaning strips are available from my online store https://www.8trackavenue.com/8-track-tape-repair-supplies

 

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