Servicing a SONY DAT machine (Pictorial)
- Thread starter SaSi
- Start date
Afternoon,
This is a great thread and i'm hoping someone can help me please.
Would someone please advise how to align the rotary encoder on a Sony dtc1000es.
I have 2 machines that don't run. One had a jammed head drum (jammed solid) the other had a cracked cog on the rotary encoder. I hoped to take the encoder from the machine with the jammed head and put it into the other and have a running machine... Not so simple sadly.
Once I swapped the encoder I managed to get the machine to load a tape but either the guides and pinch wheel don't extend far enough or the extend too far and the pinch wheel pushes up against the capstain shaft.
eventually the guides retract and and the machine displays causion and fast winds the tape back and forth a few times. I have a service manual but I cant find and encoder setup instructions.
Thanks in advance
Dave
This is a great thread and i'm hoping someone can help me please.
Would someone please advise how to align the rotary encoder on a Sony dtc1000es.
I have 2 machines that don't run. One had a jammed head drum (jammed solid) the other had a cracked cog on the rotary encoder. I hoped to take the encoder from the machine with the jammed head and put it into the other and have a running machine... Not so simple sadly.
Once I swapped the encoder I managed to get the machine to load a tape but either the guides and pinch wheel don't extend far enough or the extend too far and the pinch wheel pushes up against the capstain shaft.
eventually the guides retract and and the machine displays causion and fast winds the tape back and forth a few times. I have a service manual but I cant find and encoder setup instructions.
Thanks in advance
Dave
Hi
I have done this a couple of times.
There are no instructions in the service manual. You can find instructions in the service manual of the DTC-300 or the DTC 55 which are similar but it is not fully relevant for the 1000es.
First you have to remove the tray loading mechanism and hold the tape shell with a small weight.
Then with the arms retracted set the encoder with the line pointing at the point (not the arrow/triangle).
Screw the encoder in position and here comes the tricky part.
Alternate between play and stop, and turn very slowly the encoder to find the right position where the pinchroller gently (but firmly) presses the capstan..
Beware that your encoder is maybe dirty inside. When servicing a 1000es for the first time I always open the encoder to inject contact cleaner.
I have done this a couple of times.
There are no instructions in the service manual. You can find instructions in the service manual of the DTC-300 or the DTC 55 which are similar but it is not fully relevant for the 1000es.
First you have to remove the tray loading mechanism and hold the tape shell with a small weight.
Then with the arms retracted set the encoder with the line pointing at the point (not the arrow/triangle).
Screw the encoder in position and here comes the tricky part.
Alternate between play and stop, and turn very slowly the encoder to find the right position where the pinchroller gently (but firmly) presses the capstan..
Beware that your encoder is maybe dirty inside. When servicing a 1000es for the first time I always open the encoder to inject contact cleaner.
Hi Hdrobien,
Thanks for your advice. I will give it a go. I assume the capstain does not start until the encoder is in the right position. I did notice the head spinning as soon as play is pressed but the capstain didn't.
Is the encoder just a potentiometer inside? or a set of switches?
Kind regards.
Dave
PS
i'll keep this updated for others..
Thanks for your advice. I will give it a go. I assume the capstain does not start until the encoder is in the right position. I did notice the head spinning as soon as play is pressed but the capstain didn't.
Is the encoder just a potentiometer inside? or a set of switches?
Kind regards.
Dave
PS
i'll keep this updated for others..
Rotary encoder insides !
Hopefully if this works is an image of the inside tracks on the Sony rotary encoder form my DTC-1000es.
They come apart easily and go back together easily.
I used a knife to shave off the plastic pips that hold the encoder together.
Once opened I used contact cleaner and a cotton bud to clean the tracks and bushes. I also slightly bent the brushes so the apply slightly more pressure onto the tracks (very slight amount, you don't want to wear the tracks away)
Fingers crossed I'll fix the machine
Hopefully if this works is an image of the inside tracks on the Sony rotary encoder form my DTC-1000es.
They come apart easily and go back together easily.
I used a knife to shave off the plastic pips that hold the encoder together.
Once opened I used contact cleaner and a cotton bud to clean the tracks and bushes. I also slightly bent the brushes so the apply slightly more pressure onto the tracks (very slight amount, you don't want to wear the tracks away)
Fingers crossed I'll fix the machine
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Dtc 60es
I all
I have a Sony DTC 60ES bought on Ebay that came faulty.
A technician rebuild the mech and it worked fine for afew time, but after a month or two without working the dat loses sound at the same time the cassete stops for moments.
After some FFW / RWD it works better until finally after some listening it's working ok. But in the next day it happens again, losing sound etc, but not as basd as before.
Since after a few time all is ok i guess the head is ok, it must be some problem on the mech or eletronics. Should i lubrificate some especific part / motor.
Right now i'm ecercising hte mech (FFW / RRW) lot's of time, since i believe the deck as been stored a long time before i bought it.
FFW an RRW it's working 100%, or at least it's fast.
It's really a shame since when it'sworking 100% it give a very nive sound particulary from analog recording with SBM on.
Sorry for my English ( i'm from Portugal).
Rgard's
Artur
I all
I have a Sony DTC 60ES bought on Ebay that came faulty.
A technician rebuild the mech and it worked fine for afew time, but after a month or two without working the dat loses sound at the same time the cassete stops for moments.
After some FFW / RWD it works better until finally after some listening it's working ok. But in the next day it happens again, losing sound etc, but not as basd as before.
Since after a few time all is ok i guess the head is ok, it must be some problem on the mech or eletronics. Should i lubrificate some especific part / motor.
Right now i'm ecercising hte mech (FFW / RRW) lot's of time, since i believe the deck as been stored a long time before i bought it.
FFW an RRW it's working 100%, or at least it's fast.
It's really a shame since when it'sworking 100% it give a very nive sound particulary from analog recording with SBM on.
Sorry for my English ( i'm from Portugal).
Rgard's
Artur
Hi
It could be a lot of things:
- dirty reel tables
- too much back tension
- dirty pinchroller
- weak capstan or reel motor
I would first try to clean the pinchroller and the capstan, check if both reel tables turn freely when clutch is disengaged, then lightly increase reel motor torque.
It could be a lot of things:
- dirty reel tables
- too much back tension
- dirty pinchroller
- weak capstan or reel motor
I would first try to clean the pinchroller and the capstan, check if both reel tables turn freely when clutch is disengaged, then lightly increase reel motor torque.
Today after a lot FFW and RRW and after 6 hours off it's still running ok.
I guess the FFW and RRW is loosening the mech.
Making crosses it's all ok.
Nevertheless where should i do "lightly increase reel motor torque"?
Sound wise it's a very excellent deck although i personally still prefer recording analog to the TC-K808ES.
Regard's
Artur
I guess the FFW and RRW is loosening the mech.
Making crosses it's all ok.
Nevertheless where should i do "lightly increase reel motor torque"?
Sound wise it's a very excellent deck although i personally still prefer recording analog to the TC-K808ES.
Regard's
Artur
Some updates,
After some experiments I conclude:
If I leave the deck connected and on, after 5/6 hours it’s still at 100% playback.
If I disconnect it form main or leave it power off after some time it exhibits minor fails at playback
After being disconnected if I leave I a few time on before playing it plays at 100%
Can this be some problem with the transformer or some capacitors?
Regard's
Artur
After some experiments I conclude:
If I leave the deck connected and on, after 5/6 hours it’s still at 100% playback.
If I disconnect it form main or leave it power off after some time it exhibits minor fails at playback
After being disconnected if I leave I a few time on before playing it plays at 100%
Can this be some problem with the transformer or some capacitors?
Regard's
Artur
Minor glitches in sound like scratch noise.
Then i'm stuck, i have no idea how to make the tracking perfect, probably need some pro tools that i don't have.
I guess it's getting better with each tape i record, and the results are superb.
After 5 minutes warming and a tape rewind and foward it plays 100%.
The first times i notice the cassete stoping for brief moments. Now is getting better.
I guess a little warm up before playing it's not a big thing.
Thanks and regard's.
Artur
I guess it's getting better with each tape i record, and the results are superb.
After 5 minutes warming and a tape rewind and foward it plays 100%.
The first times i notice the cassete stoping for brief moments. Now is getting better.
I guess a little warm up before playing it's not a big thing.
Thanks and regard's.
Artur
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It is maybe obvious but did you clean the heads ?
Your deck probably suffers from several minor problems which combined together generate glitches:
- dust or hardened grease in the mecha
- dirty heads
- tracking settings
- worn back tension felt pads
A DAT is not very tolerant to any minor problems.
Your deck probably suffers from several minor problems which combined together generate glitches:
- dust or hardened grease in the mecha
- dirty heads
- tracking settings
- worn back tension felt pads
A DAT is not very tolerant to any minor problems.
The deck was bought on EBAY and was DOA (came from a studio en England) .
A technician rebuild the mechanism (there was missing parts), and it was working ok, but i left it stored for 4 months.
I cleaned the heads with a tape and later manually. I also took the mechanism out and it seems clean without hardened grease.
The pinch roller is not new but seems ok.
That's all I can see and my knowledge permits.
Yesterday i recorded 3 65m tapes and all played flawlessly, but the deck as been connected all the time.
I can live with it like this as long as after warming up it produces good sound.
Regard's
A technician rebuild the mechanism (there was missing parts), and it was working ok, but i left it stored for 4 months.
I cleaned the heads with a tape and later manually. I also took the mechanism out and it seems clean without hardened grease.
The pinch roller is not new but seems ok.
That's all I can see and my knowledge permits.
Yesterday i recorded 3 65m tapes and all played flawlessly, but the deck as been connected all the time.
I can live with it like this as long as after warming up it produces good sound.
Regard's