Audio Systems: Audio Cassette Player repair, audio cassette player, pinch roller

Question
Hello Gary,
I have an audio cassette player/recorder that recently failed.  It plays and records on standard cassette tapes at 1/4 normal speed for the purpose of recording night-time radio programs.

Aside from playing at a slower than normal rate, it is still a standard cassette recorder and player.  The problem is that whenever I select PLAY or RECORD the drive motor shuts off almost immediately, as if the tape has reached the end.  It FAST-FORWARDS and REWINDS perfectly, but it is as if it is mistakenly sensing a resistance which is not there (I have tried several new tapes and they all behave the same way).

Is there an adjustment or an easy way to repair this problem?  I do not have the money to purchase another unit right now.  It has programmable ON/OFF times and I am using it to record my favorite night-time talk show.  Now it refuses to record (or play) due to the problem I just described.
Thank you in advance.
-Don

Answer
probably a belt or something like that, make sure pinch roller is engaging all the way, sometimes a spring breaks applying pressure to capstan shaft thru pinch roller, if it has idler wheel, clean it thoroughly with 99% alcohol, regular rubbing alcohol has way too much water. there's other problems that can cause this, but they are much too complex to get into in this forum. hope this helps, g.....