BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
I see a lot of requests from new cassette enthusiasts on how to repair tape decks. So I thought it might be a good idea to create a thread to consolidate a knowledge base. I do know something on cassette decks, but by no means a lot. These are complex electro-mechanical devices and you really need to get to know how it is supposed to work, if you want to have a chance at fixing.
I'm hoping others will jump in and add their own observations and comments. I'll start with my journey.
I got into cassettes about 8 years ago, again. I had a few decks as I was growing up, but never fixed any. One day, I got an Aiwa M700B. It was suffering from sticky belt syndrome, and who knows what else. So I ordered a belt kit and waited. On an impulse, I took my deck over to my go-to guy for electro-mehanical devices. He had already fixed a couple of tape decks I had found. This one didn't play out the way I expected. Six months later, he hadn't fixed it yet. While this was going on, I had acquired a few more decks, and decided I have nothing to lose trying to do them myself. So I started fixing them. At first, it was very hard. I spent a lot of time looking and getting nowhere. Then I got a Pioneer deck that worked fine, but output was like a screaming banshee with its tail pulled. By chance, I was reading another thread, and found a reference to this problem being caused by a mechanical switch in the record circuitry. All it needs is some deoxit to solve that problem. So I tried it. It wasn't too hard to find the switch, sprayed deoxit inside, and it fixed it! Wow!
Then I played with replacing belts. In some cases it was easy, in others, it was a real pain in the butt! But I got to the point I am comfortable changing most belts. It helps to have lots of screwdriver options, especially micro screwdrivers. Also, it really helps using hemostats and a long hook for hooking on the belt to pull through hard to reach places. I don't do any electronics troubleshooting. At least not yet. But I've gotten pretty comfortable with the drive assembly.
After 1 1/2 years, I got my Aiwa M700B back. The tech I left it with had had a stroke, and when I went to get my deck back, it was all in pieces. That was after 11 months. After hounding him continuously after he returned to work, I finally got it back. It had been cleaned of the belt gum, but that was all that had been done.
The evening I got it back, I dived in and changed all the belts. That went well, but I still had problems with fast forward and reverse. I looked at it for a while that night and put it aside. I like to give my sub-conscious time to digest problems. I often solve problems this way. Sometimes waking up in the middle of the night, or going for a smoke and getting sudden inspiration.
The next morning, I went right into it. I had a new approach that must have percolated out during the night. I took the innards apart from the front, and lo and behold, a small circular rubber piece had turned to gum inside. Cleaned it up, and decided to try the Bic Pen ink reservoir as a replacement. Cut it to size and fitted it in. It worked!
I also had an issue with the play speed being too slow.I found the adjustment, but I couldn't get it fast enough. So after another night of sleeping on it, I thought it won't hurt to put a few drops of deoxit in the spot I put the screwdriver in. Turned it back and forth a bit, and I could then adjust the speed correctly!
So what I'm suggesting is the following;
1) Make sure you have tools you need. Needle nosed pliers, small screw drivers, plastic prodder, and a long handled hook. I had most of these things from when I worked in field service, and they have been very useful!
2) Never work on a keeper unit until you are confident you can without damaging.
3) Never force anything. Outcomes can be disappointing.
4) Take your time. If you need to work on it over an extended period, reassemble after every session. If you don't, you can lose crucial parts or forget where they go.
5) Take lots of pictures as you go. These will be invaluable when you are trying to put things back together.
6) Label any wires you de-solder or disconnect so you can be sure of reconnecting them correctly.
7) You Tube is your friend. Look for similar decks and how the youtuber takes them apart and fixes them. It is a wonderful resource!
That's all I can think of right now. I'm hoping to see lots more feedback on this thread from others who want to share their experiences.
I'm hoping others will jump in and add their own observations and comments. I'll start with my journey.
I got into cassettes about 8 years ago, again. I had a few decks as I was growing up, but never fixed any. One day, I got an Aiwa M700B. It was suffering from sticky belt syndrome, and who knows what else. So I ordered a belt kit and waited. On an impulse, I took my deck over to my go-to guy for electro-mehanical devices. He had already fixed a couple of tape decks I had found. This one didn't play out the way I expected. Six months later, he hadn't fixed it yet. While this was going on, I had acquired a few more decks, and decided I have nothing to lose trying to do them myself. So I started fixing them. At first, it was very hard. I spent a lot of time looking and getting nowhere. Then I got a Pioneer deck that worked fine, but output was like a screaming banshee with its tail pulled. By chance, I was reading another thread, and found a reference to this problem being caused by a mechanical switch in the record circuitry. All it needs is some deoxit to solve that problem. So I tried it. It wasn't too hard to find the switch, sprayed deoxit inside, and it fixed it! Wow!
Then I played with replacing belts. In some cases it was easy, in others, it was a real pain in the butt! But I got to the point I am comfortable changing most belts. It helps to have lots of screwdriver options, especially micro screwdrivers. Also, it really helps using hemostats and a long hook for hooking on the belt to pull through hard to reach places. I don't do any electronics troubleshooting. At least not yet. But I've gotten pretty comfortable with the drive assembly.
After 1 1/2 years, I got my Aiwa M700B back. The tech I left it with had had a stroke, and when I went to get my deck back, it was all in pieces. That was after 11 months. After hounding him continuously after he returned to work, I finally got it back. It had been cleaned of the belt gum, but that was all that had been done.
The evening I got it back, I dived in and changed all the belts. That went well, but I still had problems with fast forward and reverse. I looked at it for a while that night and put it aside. I like to give my sub-conscious time to digest problems. I often solve problems this way. Sometimes waking up in the middle of the night, or going for a smoke and getting sudden inspiration.
The next morning, I went right into it. I had a new approach that must have percolated out during the night. I took the innards apart from the front, and lo and behold, a small circular rubber piece had turned to gum inside. Cleaned it up, and decided to try the Bic Pen ink reservoir as a replacement. Cut it to size and fitted it in. It worked!
I also had an issue with the play speed being too slow.I found the adjustment, but I couldn't get it fast enough. So after another night of sleeping on it, I thought it won't hurt to put a few drops of deoxit in the spot I put the screwdriver in. Turned it back and forth a bit, and I could then adjust the speed correctly!
So what I'm suggesting is the following;
1) Make sure you have tools you need. Needle nosed pliers, small screw drivers, plastic prodder, and a long handled hook. I had most of these things from when I worked in field service, and they have been very useful!
2) Never work on a keeper unit until you are confident you can without damaging.
3) Never force anything. Outcomes can be disappointing.
4) Take your time. If you need to work on it over an extended period, reassemble after every session. If you don't, you can lose crucial parts or forget where they go.
5) Take lots of pictures as you go. These will be invaluable when you are trying to put things back together.
6) Label any wires you de-solder or disconnect so you can be sure of reconnecting them correctly.
7) You Tube is your friend. Look for similar decks and how the youtuber takes them apart and fixes them. It is a wonderful resource!
That's all I can think of right now. I'm hoping to see lots more feedback on this thread from others who want to share their experiences.
Last edited:
