Nigel again thanks for your'e reply. You are right it is seriously old,I purchased it in 1983, I have done the heads, Pinch roller and Idler tyre only once in all that time. It has been a family recorder, player and every thing else. It's one of those machines that has been too good to let go but back at the bench and I think it's something deeper than just the sicronizing of the mode switch. As I said before it loads the tape no worries but thats all. It wont thread the tape ar perform any functions, it recognises the tape in the machine with the tape indicator light on the door illuminating. Again thanks for all you're help but I think this one goes to the spare parts bin. Oh sorry this one lives in Australia, possibly similar to the one sold In UK, PAL/240vlt