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On the rear of that machine make sure you are using the left set of audio outputs, labelled "Norm/HiFi". This will allow you to toggle between the audio tracks using the switch on the front of the machine.
Check and see which sounds better on your problem tapes. Sometimes, especially with lectures or other voice, I have resorted to the linear ("Norm", in Panasonic lingo) audio because the HiFi had too many problems. The linear tracks are poorer fidelity and tend to have a healthy amount of tape hiss like a not-so-great old audio cassette, but better than nothing. If it is possible that some of your father's dubs were done on equipment that lacked HiFi, linear may be all those tapes have.
Also note, very important: your Panasonic deck further subdivides the linear audio track into two channels (they call it 1 and 2 rather than L and R per their custom). It was an extremely unusual feature usually only found on pro gear, and there it is. Make sure you are listening to both channels in your headphones or speakers when capturing! It will be in mono, but one channel may be quieter and/or more muffled than the other since most (if not all) consumer gear recorded one big track for liner audio rather than two.
I would also take a moment to pop the top and clean the stationary heads if it were me.
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