It seems like the sensor for the auto-reverse mechanism is broken. It's erroneously sensing that it's at the end of the side and constantly trying to shift the heads and reverse the transport to...
It seems like the sensor for the auto-reverse mechanism is broken. It's erroneously sensing that it's at the end of the side and constantly trying to shift the heads and reverse the transport to play in the other direction.
Do you have a model number for your deck? If nothing is working but when you actuate a button it sounds like something is spinning up then my first look would be at the belts. Even if they have...
Do you have a model number for your deck?
If nothing is working but when you actuate a button it sounds like something is spinning up then my first look would be at the belts.
Even if they have not perished completely I would expect that they have stretched or hardened to the point where they are not engaging correctly.
Depending on the make and model of your device you can probably order belt set for it and then go about replacing them and relubricating the moving parts where required.
It's the Sony TC-KE200, a lower price model of the 300 and 400S. I was looking for belts, but they're all >£5 and I'd rather try something cheap for now. Now that I look closely at the inside of...
It's the Sony TC-KE200, a lower price model of the 300 and 400S. I was looking for belts, but they're all >£5 and I'd rather try something cheap for now.
Now that I look closely at the inside of the door, there's a little white plastic bit that's sort of loose, so I might try and fix that.
Might be an overly specific question for here, but I think the audience on here is pretty techy, so here goes. When I give it power, or put a cassette in, it makes three motor sounds and gives up....
Might be an overly specific question for here, but I think the audience on here is pretty techy, so here goes.
When I give it power, or put a cassette in, it makes three motor sounds and gives up. Play, FFWD, etc. not working. My first guess would be the belts, but I checked and they look fine. Any suggestions?
just seen this, I have some experience repairing tape decks. what happens with analogue auto reverse is a fly wheel which is always turning, picks up tension. Usually the end of a tape is tied to...
just seen this, I have some experience repairing tape decks.
what happens with analogue auto reverse is a fly wheel which is always turning, picks up tension. Usually the end of a tape is tied to the spool inside the cassette so if you get to the end of side A or B, it pulls tight and this tension is felt by the flywheel and activates a second switch to tell the motor to reverse direction. So you problem can be that 1) the tension is being felt despite there being lots of tape. This could be tape related if its old, but less likely. Heavy/longer tapes do get sticky as they degrade, perhaps try turning it yourself or try a short tape. 2) the flywheel isnt turning so it could be a belt which is not turning the flywheel which is then translated as tension. 3) the switch spring is misreading the tension, as a certain amount of tension is always present, it could have seized. It could be gunk, or the grease has dried up. Or the spring has stretched too far and lost its original springy nature.
You should be able to set the machine to not auto reverse, on Sony it looks like an arrow in a loop. If you can set the unit to play just one direction you might find it is the auto reverse. You can also take the lid off and try and observe when it happens. Changing belts might help, they lose their strength over a few years so the flywheel slips, and this is interpreted as tension. I have used swiss watch oil in the past, very high grade, just a drop on a cotton cue tip, onto seized moving parts. Dont get it on any belts as it causes slipping. you can also try moving the whole lot with your fingers and work out where the movement is or isnt.
this is all a pain in the arse, but I love tinkering with tape machines. I hope it works out
It seems like the sensor for the auto-reverse mechanism is broken. It's erroneously sensing that it's at the end of the side and constantly trying to shift the heads and reverse the transport to play in the other direction.
I didn't think this was an auto reverse deck. When I look as it's making a noise nothing around the head actually moves. You might be right though.
Do you have a model number for your deck?
If nothing is working but when you actuate a button it sounds like something is spinning up then my first look would be at the belts.
Even if they have not perished completely I would expect that they have stretched or hardened to the point where they are not engaging correctly.
Depending on the make and model of your device you can probably order belt set for it and then go about replacing them and relubricating the moving parts where required.
It's the Sony TC-KE200, a lower price model of the 300 and 400S. I was looking for belts, but they're all >£5 and I'd rather try something cheap for now.
Now that I look closely at the inside of the door, there's a little white plastic bit that's sort of loose, so I might try and fix that.
Well if you want to try more here's a link to the service manual
Thank you! I completely forgot that they made things easily repairable back in the day haha.
Might be an overly specific question for here, but I think the audience on here is pretty techy, so here goes.
When I give it power, or put a cassette in, it makes three motor sounds and gives up. Play, FFWD, etc. not working. My first guess would be the belts, but I checked and they look fine. Any suggestions?
The video has sound, by the way.
just seen this, I have some experience repairing tape decks.
what happens with analogue auto reverse is a fly wheel which is always turning, picks up tension. Usually the end of a tape is tied to the spool inside the cassette so if you get to the end of side A or B, it pulls tight and this tension is felt by the flywheel and activates a second switch to tell the motor to reverse direction. So you problem can be that 1) the tension is being felt despite there being lots of tape. This could be tape related if its old, but less likely. Heavy/longer tapes do get sticky as they degrade, perhaps try turning it yourself or try a short tape. 2) the flywheel isnt turning so it could be a belt which is not turning the flywheel which is then translated as tension. 3) the switch spring is misreading the tension, as a certain amount of tension is always present, it could have seized. It could be gunk, or the grease has dried up. Or the spring has stretched too far and lost its original springy nature.
You should be able to set the machine to not auto reverse, on Sony it looks like an arrow in a loop. If you can set the unit to play just one direction you might find it is the auto reverse. You can also take the lid off and try and observe when it happens. Changing belts might help, they lose their strength over a few years so the flywheel slips, and this is interpreted as tension. I have used swiss watch oil in the past, very high grade, just a drop on a cotton cue tip, onto seized moving parts. Dont get it on any belts as it causes slipping. you can also try moving the whole lot with your fingers and work out where the movement is or isnt.
this is all a pain in the arse, but I love tinkering with tape machines. I hope it works out
Thanks for your wealth of knowledge! I'll give this a go and see if it works :)
Ain't got no gas in it? :)