[Boatanchors] Re Tape Recorder Passing Gas?

[Duane B. Fischer, W8DBF]

Alright guys, go ahead and laugh. 

I have purchased four of these $50 cassette tape recorders from Radio Shack. I
use them for taking notes while on the telephone here in the den/home
office/computer control center. They last about one year. Then they start to
make anoise I can only describe as a farting sound! I have cleaned the heads,
pinch rollers, rubber drive wheel and everything else I can get at. I have used
pressurized contact cleaner fed through a tiny plastic straw-like tube and
sprayed the switches as good as I could without tearing the thing apart. Did the
usual worked the switches X number of times. I tried a new cassette tape. I
changed from external AC power to internal battery power. Nothing helps.		
	
The only thing that makes it stop, is to reach out and smack it several times
with the fingers or palm of the hand! This generally requires several swats.
Then it is just fine.	
	
Now it does not matter if I press 'play', 'play+record', fast forward, rewind
etc. They all make the annoying sound! If you do record while it is passing gas,
or whatever it is doing, you do hear it on the recording. However, this is due
to the built-in mike picking up the noise and not from the unit actually
recording a signal from its internal circuits.	
	
Why do they all fail after a year and what the heck is giving these things this
gas? 	
	
FYI: This is the model that sits flat on a desk, has the push buttons and handle
on the same end and measures about 5.75 wide by 10 deep by 1.75 high.	
	
Thanks for your suggestions.	
	
Duane W8DBF