TU56 restoration

Ashley> I am supposed to be getting a TU56 DECtape unit today. I Ashley> believe it was functional when it was retired, but it Ashley> supposedly now has a grimy film on it. Isopropyl alcohol to the rescue -- carefully scrub the heads and the tape guides (including the spring mounted side guides). Ashley> Can I easily test the mechanics, on/off switches, lamps, Ashley> motors, etc, without hooking up the TC11? I think there is a Ashley> local mode switch and wondered what all could be tested Ashley> easily without hooking up the TC11. I don't know to what extent, if any, this depends on having a controller hooked up, but... if you load a tape and turn on the drive, and observe that the motors establish tape tension and hold the tape steady (no creep) then a lot is working. Then you can hit the left/right switch and observe that the tape quickly accelerates to a steady motion, and just as quickly stops smoothly when you release the switch. paul