On Jul 14,  9:27am, Wolfgang Rupprecht wrote:
} 
} If you have the HP, pop off the top cover and clean the head, capstan
} and pinch roller with a damp q-tip dipped in isopropyl or ethenol.
} (If you have the Python you'll have to reach in from the front.  Its
} not fun.)  Observe how much trash just came off.  Repeat until clean.
} Dry.  Do not put a tape in until everything is really dry!!!!  You
} will just disolve the magnetic slurry off of the mylar tape and make
} everything much dirtier than before the "cleaning".

     Ugh!  This is some of the worst advice I've seen come across this
list.  Never do this.  For starters, take a look at a Q-Tip(TM), and
notice all the little fibres on it that come off (lint).  Helical scan
tape drives have very delicate mechanisms.  The lint can get into the
mechanism and cause damage.  The lint can also get caught in the heads
and destroy them (a rather expensive component).  Although, you could
use isopropyl alcohol (99% pure stuff, and don't use ethenol), you
would be better off with proper head cleaning fluid.

     If you want to do the above procedure, go to an electronics
store, and get a head cleaning kit, which will consist of proper head
cleaning solution and lint-free cotton swabs.  Do not touch the swab
or anything in the tape path with your fingers.  Hold the swab
straight up and down gently against the drum, and spin the drum.
Also, don't forget the erase head.  Don't take pokes at mechanism from
the front.  You can't see what you're doing, so may jab something
harder then you should.

}-- End of excerpt from Wolfgang Rupprecht