Hello Group,
 
I am working on a Fluke 9010a Tape Drive.
 
The main drive belt was like totally "melted" and turned into some black gunk, which I removed with some thinner. I replaced the belt with a generic type that matched quite good.
 
The drive seems to work properly now, I do not have a tape yet, but reading the tape with the tape detector switch pushed in, it winds and rewinds nicely.
However, before I insert my expensive and only tape in this drive, I am wondering about the end-of-tape detection. It seems this is done via a LED opto coupler on the left side of the recording head. I cannot see this LED being lit though.
 
So my question is, Should you be able to see the LED being lit when the tape drive is operating? The reels operate with quite some torque and I don't want to rip my only tape to pieces the very first time I try it.
 
Also, this drive has no Capstan / Pinch Roller. Seems weird for me because the tape speed will vary depending on the size of the pickup reel without it. Is this normal for this type of drive?
 
I hope someone can take a look at the LED to see if it's on while operating for me.
 
Kind regards,
 
Mendel Pearl