RCA VMT395 Plays for 2-3 seconds and stops

[doowteelf]

I picked up this circa 1986 Unit and would like to get it going. I have cleaned the tape path and replaced the long reel belt, capstan belt and the belt that goes from the take up reel to the white pulley.

The cassette will load and gets pulled into place but stops after 2-3 seconds. Everything seems to function properly until it shuts down. Fast forward and rewind work fine.
Under the take up reel there is one sensor that I cleaned so far.

Is this problem a tape sensor issue or something else?

I attached a few pics. When I opened this thing up the metal plate that holds down the flywheel was missing...wth!
Is this a common mech that I should be able to find the metal plate on a donor unit..perhaps Panasonic or Hitachi?

[doowteelf]

Playing with this again this morning. I put a longer/thinner belt on the take up reel and I have it playing tape now with colours and sound on an old 13 inch TV for testing...lol always like the Lion King. The belt I had on it was tight.

There is a sensor under that take up reel so I am thinking this might be what is shutting it down. Perhaps the reel was slowing with the tighter belt?