I had the same problem with my 7974 at home.

I sent it to an manufacturing engineer buddy
about a year ago.  He said it was made of a
stuff they don't use anymore.  It also used
to be used as a coating on similar spindles
in old movie cameras/(projectors?).

The problem is with old age and temperature,
like the old joke about finding shelter under
a tree when it rains.  When the tree starts
to drip you cannot find shelter under another
tree, they are all dripping.  Unless you can
find a spindle that has been kept in a refrigerator
for 20 years, they have all gone bad.

The last resort is you could take the item
to have it re-coated but it would cost you a
bundle.

I was really bummed when he mentioned the
thickness of the coating was directly related
to the speed with which the tape is fed and
is also a timing issue.

So if you find a place to have it recoated,
be sure to get it exactly right.

Tracy Johnson
MSI Schaevitz Sensors


-----Original Message-----
From: Lee Courtney [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 8:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HP7974 Tape Drive


Hi all,

Does anyone have a drive wheel for a 7974 tape drive (reel-to-reel). This is
the small (~2" diameter) metal wheel with a rubber coating that actually
"drives the tape across the heads (not the takeup reel). Please call/email
with any info or pointers. Thanks!

Lee Courtney
Monterey Software Group Inc.
1350 Pear Avenue, Suite J
Mountain View, California 94043-1302
(650) 964-7052