How to fix an audio cassette when one end of the tape has dislodged itself from one of the winding wheels?

Barbara Portee, June 2005

I have the recorded cassette tape called "The Early Years" and "The Modern Years", but it broke, so it will be fixed someday.

Joshua, October 2017

I found a good guide on how to repair broken audio cassettes

http://www.dvdyourmemories.com/blog/2010/how-to-fix-an-audio-cassette-audio-cassette-repair-guide/

John, January 2011

Check out the link that shows how to repair this problem.

http://fortressaudio.blogspot.com/2009/08/repair-audio-cassette-tape.html

You will find other great helpful hints for working with older audio cassette tapes in the blog for Fortress Audio

Terry at Fortress Audio, September 2009

Did I mention our prices are significantly cheaper than most audio cassette repair websites?

We look forward to helping you!

Kenneth Cheung, July 2009

Visit WWW.TAPE.COM
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http://www.tape.com/audio-cassette-repair.html

Kenneth Cheung, July 2009

Rochelle, did you ever fix your audio cassette? I have a similar problem with a family tape. It got stuck in the tape deck. The tape is now cut in half and bedraggled. I would like to salvage as much of it as possible.

T the K, July 2009

Hi,
I'm after any one that can help me, i have a audio cassette tape that is over 25 years old, the tape has actually snapped and not connected therefore can not be played, i am after any places that can repair the tape or if i can repair it my self, this tape is very dear to my family and holds alot of childhood memories. I made a copy of the tape a few years ago but that tape somehow was taped over, any help would be much appreciated.

Rochelle, November 2008

Working on a flat surface (with a dishtowel underneath),
I managed to open the casette using a serated knife.
I cut along the seam (mine had no screws) all the way
around. It will split/crack apart. Go slowly and gently.
When the top comes off, some of the spool may
unwind (mine did). Tighten that up on the spool by laying
the bottom of the casette with spool flat ~ using your fingers
to firmly but gently rewind it ~ as much as you can.

I also placed a piece of Scotch tape over the casette spool
with the tape on it to keep it in place and then replaced
the top half. I put a rubberband around them.

This tape is thirty years old and my mother is speaking
on it. Since she has passed on, I wanted to preserve
it. Now I am going to buy a screw-type casette and
see if the spools will slot in.

Paul C Walley, September 2007

if you mean inside the tape itself, you have to open it and stick it back on. if it'snot a screw together tape, you have to crack it open and when done, put it inside a screw together tape housing. you could use good scotch tape to put the tape back on teh wheel. youcould also glue it with epoxy (not a magnetic tape piece but the plastic leader) or put a tiny tack in.

eve, March 2006

Hi Barbara.

Depending on how your cassette is held together and how the spool holds the tape in place, your repair might take one of a few different routes. If the halves of the cassette body are held together with screws, remove them with a small screwdriver--they should be in each of the four corners, and maybe one in the center at the bottom. If the halves are glued together, you'll have to either do your best to break the glue at the seams so you can re-glue or tape together the halves of the cassette when you're done, or try to find a cheap screw-together cassette at a 99-cent store or the like to use as a replacement housing for the tape. Either way, be sure to lay the cassette down flat while you work on it so that the pieces stay in place when you separate the halves--it's a pain to get all the little wheels and the little guide bar thing back in place if they get knocked out.

From there, you'll want to take a look at the spools themselves. Usually, the tape is either glued to the spool, or it is pressure-fitted into a little detachable segment of the spool (about 1/5 of the spool). If it's the glue type (or even if it isn't and you just want to reattach the tape this way), simply reattach the end of the tape to the spool using either Krazy glue (be careful not to glue your fingers to it!) or a small piece of scotch tape. If you go the scotch tape route, be sure to wrap some of it on the side of the spool to hold the cassette tape in place. Otherwise, it'll just slip out when you rewind the tape. If it's the pressure-fit kind, remove the segment and slide a bit of the casette tape into the wedge-shaped hole. Then hold it there while you re-attach the little piece of the spool. If all else fails, you may want to consider buying another copy of the tape.

'Hope that helps. Happy repairing.

Jeff Wisdom, August 2005