RE-201 - Pinch Roller Tension & Cleaning Felt

[WWBJD]

Hi again all,

So now I own two RE-201's. I've got all my audio issues sorted out (thanks again!), but now have new issues.

Both machines are exhibiting a problem where the tape is getting stuck at the pinch roller, between the felt on a little arm and the roller itself. (I may be using the wrong terminoligy, regardless, it's the roller and felt towards the front of the unit).

The tension must be very tight between the felt and the roller as the tape won't move through. If I bend the arm with the felt on it back just a bit, the tape flows freely for a minute or so, but of course now that there's no tension, the tape isn't hitting the heads properly and that means no echo (or very distant faint echoes). It appears that its a VERY FINE BALANCE between too much tension and not enough tension.

So a few questions,

1) Is this extremely fine balance between the felt and the roller normal?
2) Would cleaning the felt help out? If so, with what?
3) Replace the bearings of the roller? (one of the machines has a rather large roller, while the other is fairly small)
4) One piece of felt is very, very loose, how to stick it back on?

Thanks!