I've been volunteered to resurrect a Gerard A75 turntable and a Sony
250 reel to reel tape deck.Both the turntable and tape recorder have rubber idler wheels that have turned hard as a rock. Is it possible to soften the rubber with some chemical?
In the 1960's I would just replace the rubber parts, so this was not an issue. Now, I have to work with what's in front of me. Worse, I have one shot to get it right and can't really risk a failed experiment.
I've applied No-Slip goop to the outside of the idlers, which works for a few hours and then starts to slip. That's not going to work.
I also have a bottle of foul smelling Methyl Prapasol Acetate, which I use to clean and soften rubber parts in laser printers. It works well for printers. However, my experience with the stuff on really old rubber parts (over about 10-15 years) is that the rubber just crumbles. I don't want to risk it.
Duz anyone have a better potion, elixer, process, or incantation for softening rubber idler wheels?