Adventures in Digitizing Reel to Reel Tapes (Question)

I'm currently working on a documentary, and have encountered a number of
reel to reel tapes that could be used as audio footage. I've always
wanted to own a reel to reel deck since a child, so this was a perfect
excuse to purchase one.

To do this task I obtained a Teac A-3300SX for a reasonable price. The
tapes I'm transferring are 30-35 years old, and consist of lectures, no
music. The tapes are 1/2 track, and the Teac is a 1/4 track deck. Both
sides of the tapes were used in recording.

Of course, since these are 1/2 track tapes, and both sides were recorded
on, I have to adjust the balance to hear the desired channel. The problem
I'm encountering is that Side 2 (or the right channel) bleeds into the
left channel in reverse, even with the right channel's output
disconnected. Most of the time this isn't a big deal, but occasionally it
becomes annoying, especially on one tape.

Is there a way I can fix this? Is this occurring because of misaligned
heads on my deck? Could it be the design of the heads these tapes were
recorded on? Maybe the recorder's heads were misaligned? Or could it
just be the chemicals in the tape breaking down after so many years? Do I
have any alternatives without spending a fortune?

I'm having fun with this otherwise :)I'm currently working on a
documentary, and have encountered a number of reel to reel tapes that
could be used as audio footage. I've always wanted to own a reel to reel
deck since a child, so this was a perfect excuse to purchase one.

To do this task I obtained a Teac A-3300SX for a reaosnable price. The
tapes I'm transfering are 30-35 years old, and consist of lectures, no
music. The tapes are 1/2 track, and the Teac is a 1/4 track deck. Both
sides of the tapes were used in recording.

Of course, since these are 1/2 track tapes, and both sides were recorded
on, I have to adjust the balance to hear the desired channel. The problem
I'm encountering is that Side 2 (or the right channel) bleeds into the
left channel in reverse, even with the right channel disconnected from my
reciver. Most of the time this isn't a big deal, but occasionally it
becomes annoying, especially on one tape.

Is there a way I can fix this? Is this ocurring because of misalinged
heads on my deck? Could it be the design of the heads these tapes were
recorded on? Maybe the recorder's heads were misalinged? Or could it
just be the chemicals in the tape breaking down after so many years? Do I
have any alternatives without spending a fortune?
.

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