On 11/27/2012 12:05 PM, Tony Duell wrote:
In most, if not all, such cartridges, the tape is not
fixed to the spools
(I've not dismantled a TU58 tape to check, I have repaired several other
cartridges though). If you wind too far, the tape comes off the spool and
you have to dismantle the cartridge to rethread it.
Back in the 80s when I was fooling around with QIC (DC600) carts, I had
a couple of carts (due to a malfuncitoning drive) that had the tape
despooled. A call to the 3M tech support hotline assured me that this
was an unocmmon occurrence--and the solution was straightforward.
Carefully open the cartridge, thread the loose end of the tape through
the guides and attach it to the empty spool hub.
When I asked how one "attaches" a tape end to the hub, there was an
awkward moment of silence and then a "well, saliva works for me" response.
Indeed, many cartridges later, I can attest that it certainly does.
--Chuck