8 track problem

[wildcard]

I want to install an 8 track tape player in my truck. I have 2 players.
The first was given to me and I was told it had never been installed. It doesn't have a scratch on it and the wires still had the soldered ends on them. I installed it a month or so ago. It had a habit of breaking some tapes. Not all of them, but once in a while when it changes tracks it will break one. Also the left side balance only puts out static. The right side was fine. So I decided to get another one.
My wife ordered one online from somewhere that was "'new in the original box." Gave it to me for Valentines Day. ( I gave her a stuffed dog. ) Anyway, I got it hooked up and dang if it's not the same problem again with the balance. Leaving me to think it's not the players. I am positive it is hooked up according to the diagram. It only has a red wire for power, a black for ground , a green for the right side speaker and a gray for the left speaker. I even hooked a complete different set of speakers, swapped wires around and still only static on the left. All speakers work great on the right side. This was all done on a work table using my boat battery so there was no question concerning the grounds.
Is there anything I'm doing wrong or what ? Any ideas would be worth a try.

[tmcalavy]

So I'm guessing you have confirmed that your tapes are good by playing them in a known-good, working tape player? It could be your tapes, but more likely the play head is dirty or damaged. I would open the case on the player and blow everything out with canned air, then clean the play head with some alcohol and a couple of cuetips. If there is a balance switch/knob/function, that could be the problem. Only other cure I know of is to split the right channel wire and feed it to two speakers...not true stereo, but a lot of music back in the day was recorded in mono and then re-recorded on a two-track deck to give the illusion of stereo. And, I gotta ask...where are you getting 8-track versions of your tunes?...1st Monday Trade Days? I really miss that place.

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Age and oxidation. The tensioner in the players is probably stiff/tight, as the 40 year old lube in it is certainly inspissated... the polished read head probably has a nice coating of oxidation, and your tape(s) is/are probably brittle and partially demagnetized.

[wildcard]

I've considered splitting the right side to both speakers. I also have 2 head cleaners that I've came across and cleaned the heads.
I do have a Doobie Brothers tape that will play in either one with no problem. And an Andy Gibbs. Almost afraid to try some of the others.
I haven't been to First Monday in a long time. Most of them came from Tyler, Longview or Texarkana. The Goodwill stores are a good place to find old music on 8 track and 33 rpm albums. I got my wife a home stereo unit with a CD player, AM/FM, cassette and phonograph. We go to flea markets and thrift stores and pick up lots of older music in all forms. I would like to find a 4 track tape player. Haven't seen one of those since back in the 60s.

[basketcase0302]

1st Monday Trade Days? I really miss that place.

Still such a place down here just South of me, (real close to FreakyFords).
You can get anything there from a bull to a water pump pulley for a 302.
I so remember "scotch-taping my 8 track tapes back together!
And here I'm hoping to put something in my truck with MP# capability!

[tmcalavy]

After a good night's sleep I remembered something else you can try. Open the player case and look for an adjustment screw on or near the play heads...some 8-track players had one or two adjustments to seat the tape against the play head(s). Might be worth a try anyway. That could be why some of your tapes break...other than age and wear...too much pressure on the tape. Good luck.