My recently rebuilt Duo-Art has a problem where it frequently
damages the right paper edge on old, original rolls, especially long
play rolls.  These rolls "wander" on the take-up spool as the tracking
system adjusts the supply spool to the left and right to keep the paper
centered.

The tracking system does its job very well.  However, except for recut
rolls, and shorter original rolls, no matter how slow I rewind, the
right edge rides up on the right supply flange and inflicts many tears.
The take-up brake is off, and indeed I can usually (but not always)
alleviate the tearing by spinning the take-up by hand to take _all_
tension off the rewinding paper.

I have a theory as to why the problem occurs.  If you look at the first
picture (right-flanges.jpg) you see a how a recut roll accumulates on
the take-up spool.  There is a nice "gap" because the tracking is in the
absolute middle.  When this recut roll (or any original roll that
maintains a nice gap) rewinds, it loads straight onto the supply spool
without (or just barely) touching the right flange.  All is happy.

When an older roll loads onto the take-up spool, this gap on the right
disappears as the tracking mechanism moves the supply spool, as needed
to maintain correct tracking.  However, when the roll now rewinds, the
tracking mechanism is turned off and the supply spool is centered
again, causing any length of the paper that is hard against the right
side of the take-up spool to not load correctly onto the supply spool
(see second photo right-side-tearing.jpg).

Is there a solution to this dilemma (besides playing only recuts or
shorter originals or less brittle originals)?   _If,_ during rewind,
I could set the supply spool slightly to the right, I think this would
solve my problem.  Note that I place a small rubber band or two on the
_left_ flange of original rolls to allow more wiggle room on the left
during rewind.

I'd appreciate any ideas (I've read all the MMD articles on this).

Cheers,
John Hupcey

 [ Right Flanges - recut roll
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/02/08/150208_174032_right-flanges.jpg 

 [ Right side tearing - original roll
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/15/02/08/150208_174032_right-side-tearing.jpg 

 [ I just grab the supply spool tracking linkage rod and force it to
 [ behave!  -- Robbie