Sony TC-350 speed slipping

[lutello]

I cleaned everything, put some Regrip on the tires, and shortened the spring a little, but the speed still slips just enough to be noticeable.
Problem is worse in the picture at 3 3/4 with the tire on the edge of the flywheel and I thought it would be fine if at 7 1/2 if I kept it horizontal, but it slips on it's own.
Motor seems to have enough torque but I don't know how to judge.

Any tips on this one?

 

[shrtrnd]

The capstan motor's do sometimes go bad.
The first thing I would do is get a can of spray contact cleaner (that says it's safe for plastics), and spray out
all the roller/wheel assemblies. Friction material, dirt and grime, dirt, can get/wear into the moving roller parts.
Lubricate the swinging tension arms, just give it a GOOD overall cleaning and see if you can get it operating smoothly.

 

[lutello]

Just got some lube for the Pioneer cassette I want to fix up. (Not looking forward to that, I'll videotape the disassembly to keep track!) I'll see what I can clean on the Sony and try to take a closer look if something's slipping. Heard it could be the capacitor driving the motor too, guess I could test that easily

 

[shrtrnd]

Yes, the motors don't last forever, but I'd try everything else in the cleaning and care department first.
If that didn't work, (but usually does), I'd take a look at the signal TO the motors, before suspecting the motors themselves.