Common Machine Problems
Standard Cassette Players
Here are a few of the recurring problems that patrons experience with their standard cassette players:
- My cassette plays too fast.
Caused by a loose tape, static electricity build-up or the wrong speed. Eject the tape from the cassette player, place the tape in the palm of your hand and rap it against a flat surface three (3) times. Re-insert the tape in the cassette player, rewind the tape for a minute, then stop. Fast forward the tape for a minute, then stop. Press the play key and it should play at the 15/16 ips speed. If it does not, check the rocker switch to be sure it is on the 15/16 ips setting.
- The sound is weak or plays two voices.
Caused by dirty heads. Get a q-tip and some alcohol. Eject the tape from the cassette player, leave the door open and press the play key. Tip the machine at a 45-degree angle toward your body and look through the glass door. Submerge the q-tip in alcohol, remove it from the alcohol and place the q-tip on the heads through the open door. Swab the q-tip from the left to the right until the heads are clean.
- I cannot hear the whole book.
Caused by the side selector switch not being in the right position. Once side one is finished playing, turn the tape over and press the play key and listen to side two. After side two is finished, change the side selector switch to side 3-4, which is pressed down to the right. Turn the tape over again to side one, but because our tapes are recorded on four tracks, you will actually be listening to side three. After side three is finished, turn the tape to side two. When you press the play button, you will then be listening to side four of the tape. Return the side selector switch to side 1-2, which is pressed down to the left, and repeat the process to listen to the next tape.
- The sound fades from high to low volume.
Caused by the battery losing its charge. Remove the power cord from the rear of the cassette player and plug it into an electrical outlet for recharging. This takes approximately 14 hours. You should not play your cassette player during the recharging process.
- The machine plays and then stops.
Caused by a defective battery. Contact Wolfner Library and request a replacement cassette player. A replacement cassette player will be mailed out to you the same day if you call before 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
- The machine does not play when unplugged.
Caused by a low battery. Plug the electrical cord into the wall outlet and do not play the cassette player for fourteen hours. This will recharge your nickel-cadmium battery so you can once again listen to a book up to six hours while the machine is unplugged.
- A commercially produced recording sounds too slow.
Caused by the rocker switch being in the incorrect position. Wolfner Library has supplied you with a cassette player that plays tapes at either 15/16 ips or 1-7/8 ips. Our cassettes are recorded at 15/16 ips, so the rocker switch should be in the 15/16 position when listening to our tapes. Set the rocker switch to 1-7/8 ips when you want to listen to commercial recordings such as music, radio plays or books on tape from your public library.
- The keys are hard to push down.
Caused by faulty metal. Contact Wolfner Library and request a replacement cassette player. A replacement cassette player will be mailed out to you the same day if you call before 10:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please call the Wolfner Library's Machines Department for assistance.
Archie L. Andrews, Machines Coordinator
Email: archie.andrews@sos.mo.gov
Office of the Secretary of State
Wolfner Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped
PO Box 387, 600 West Main St.
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (800) 392-2614 or (573) 751-8720
Fax: (573) 526-2985
Email: wolfner@sos.mo.gov
Wolfner Homepage: http://www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/