we are anal retentive when it comes to rebuilding 8 track tapes. we thoroughly clean them, removing any old deposits from the tape reel/pinch roller posts. they are then lubed with a non-deteriorating post-polish so that they spin more freely than their original state. pinch rollers are cleaned and refreshed with rubber cleaner/conditioner giving them a renewed grip. plastic pinch rollers are modified for extra traction. tape tension is reset by hand. splice-foil tape is replaced. splice point is reinforced with certified splice tape (not scotch tape, which oozes its adhesive after a short time, causing the tape to stick to itself and jam). foam pads are rebuilt. felt on metal wing clips are replaced/reglued depending on condition. finally, the tape is re-assembled and play tested. we are very good at opening all types of carts, knowing several tricks that cause no or negligible damage to the shell and labels.