Help: Hitachi D-550 Cassette Deck Chewing Tapes

Restoring an 1977 Hitachi D-550 cassette deck, I have oiled, replaced all the belts and cleaned the heads.

I am having a problem with the machine, on some cassette types like newer chrome tapes, I find the pinch wheel is creasing the tape.

I have fully cleaned the wheel, but I fear I will have to replace it as due to it's age is hard and looks like sand paper.

Pinch wheel is in a black plastic arm and has a bar passing through it.

The question I have is how do you remove the wheel? Is is part of the arm or can I just pull the bar out with a pair of pliers.

Have seen (I think) on a Sony model the bar rested in cut out but on my machine this is not the case.

I have ordered a service manual, hoping it will help.

Any help or advice will be most welcome, thank you.

IIRC most friction wheels were "friction fit", so yes, pliers should remove it, although in the process it will completely knacker it.