Abstract: A helical-scan tape recorder has a pair of tape wrapping guides, for engaging a magnetic tape and helically placing it around a recording drum, which are mounted on a pair of coaxial ring gears. Each guide is biased for cooperation with the ring gear upon which it is mounted. By providing a stop member on the recorder to intercept and restrain the yieldable guides, against their bias and before the ring gears stop, any "play" in the gearing is taken up and the guides are optimally and accurately positioned for precisely placing the span of tape around the drum.