Servicing a SONY DAT machine (Pictorial)

[chercheur]

And, for all of those searching for a way to remove the SCMS protection at a low price, I've just acquired a Behringer ultramatch model src 2000.
That one does it on the fly.

It also offers 20khz to 60khz SPDIF or AES/EBU input, to 44.1khz or 32 khz output.

Perfect match for our needs and costs between 40€ and 80€ on eBay or other second hand sites.

 

[chercheur]

to delete

 

[noverko]

Hello, Help me repair Sony DTC-ZE700, I need help to buy this part, it is very loose.

 

[hdrobien]

Hello

This part is usually quite loose until it locks in the V-shaped end socket (the "catcher").

Sometimes the underneath white part dissociates itself, but can be glued back.

 

[noverko]

The problem is that it does not lock into the socket, it rests above the socket because it dangles. It is not possible to tighten the screw any tighter.

 

[hdrobien]

Before tightening the screw, you should try to re-insert the white part on a lug underneath.

 

[noverko]

I inserted the white part, most likely the thread is damaged and the screw does not tighten. I think this part needs to be replaced.

 

[H2s04]

Sony TCD-D10 (4DD)

Arrite here’s a new one- I’ve been reading DAT repair threads for days, I haven’t found mention of this issue.

Friend bought a dubious TCD-D10, missing cover screws and knobs, left guide post detached, was rattling around inside compartment, and rotary encoder gear missing. Reattached guide post, applied power, screen turns on and rewind motor immediately spins at full speed when deck is turned on. 3D printed a working encoder gear and installed, performed the alignment, applied power with encoder at believed correct position in loading cycle, no change in behavior. Rewind motor immediately spins on power up of deck, runs for about 10 seconds and stops, deck remains powered on, no effect from pressing transport buttons, when tape is inserted, no action takes place. I believe the cassette icon on the LCD also flashes while rewind motor is spinning, disappears when motor stops. I’m hoping this isn’t a dead IC, the boards in this unit are wafer thin. Note the new homemade blue encoder gear in the photo.

What do we think could be the sources of this problem?

 

[hdrobien]

Hi

I would start buy checking / cleaning all switches (S9**, with "contact spray"), especially the rotary encoder (don't need to open it at that stage, but soak it).

You can fin directions of how to set the rotary encoder in the DTC-55ES/75ES/700 service manual.

With no tape in, and while the power is off, extend the guides by rotating the worm gear. Then power the unit and check that the guides fully retract.

 

[H2s04]

Very good point about setting the guides to extension to see if they return home. Will try that as soon as possible, next time with deck will be in two days.

Thank you!

 

[hcanning]

My DTC-60ES has started misbehaving.

It pulls a tape in and loads it fine, but after that I hear a rather strained whirring for a few seconds and then nothing - the tape won't move and it won't play, fast forward, rewind, or anything. It won't even eject unless I power it off and then hold down the eject button while powering it on.

Any ideas before I remove it from my stack and disassemble it?

Edit: I should clarify that the whole thing is in excellent condition overall and after I replaced the loading belt and cleaned up the mechanism a bit, it loaded and played/recorded tapes flawlessly. It just doesn't get used that often. So I'm hoping it's just something that has dried up/a belt that has perished.

 

[hcanning]

Update to the above - the two tape guides seem to move really slowly and maybe don’t engage the whole way. But they stay there and don’t retract. The head stops spinning and I have to power cycle it to get it to eject.

Any ideas?

 

[hdrobien]

You have probably sticky grease on the gears that drive the guides. Parts 375 to 378 of the exploded view.

 

[hcanning]

You have probably sticky grease on the gears that drive the guides. Parts 375 to 378 of the exploded view.

Thank you, I’ll get it apart and focus on them. Can I just use iso alcohol to clean them up?

 

[hdrobien]

Yes, but it some occasions, you have to scrub hard to remove the hardened grease from the axles.

Another tip : you can make it easier to remove the gears by heating them with an hair dryer (don't burn your fingers).

 

[hcanning]

Yes, but it some occasions, you have to scrub hard to remove the hardened grease from the axles.

Another tip : you can make it easier to remove the gears by heating them with an hair dryer (don't burn your fingers).

Thank you!

Do you think the fact that the tape loads and unloads fine without being chewed up indicates the rest of the mechanism is fine?

It worked perfectly about a month ago the last time I used it. I guess the particularly cold weather here in the UK is making the grease harder?

 

[hcanning]

Well I spent 30 seconds giving it a bit of a thawing-out with a hairdryer as per a trick I read in this thread and put a tape in and.... it threaded up and played perfectly!

That's a relief that it's nothing more sinister... That can be my job for one evening after work this week!

I can see the guides thread up a bit more slowly than some videos I've seen, so I guess their gears and tracks just need a good clean.

 

[hcanning]

Me again. After the rigmarole in this thread Sony DTC-60ES woes after cleaning - won't play back at right speed where I thoroughly cleaned the mechanism of my DTC-60ES and had a couple of issues along the way, I have now noticed that 2 tapes I recorded since doing this process are full of dropouts. They do not play properly and the muting relay keeps clicking as it can't lock on to a decent signal.

If I try some tapes that I recorded previously, they play absolutely perfectly with no issue at all.

Any ideas what might cause this? I've never cleaned the head - should I do this carefully? Are there separate record and play heads on the drum?

 

[chercheur]

Hi.
Sorry for this late reply.

Yes, cleaning the heads with alcohol could help.
Another path, after that, will be to replace the capacitors of the RF amp.

 

[eiraved]

Me again. After the rigmarole in this thread Sony DTC-60ES woes after cleaning - won't play back at right speed where I thoroughly cleaned the mechanism of my DTC-60ES and had a couple of issues along the way, I have now noticed that 2 tapes I recorded since doing this process are full of dropouts. They do not play properly and the muting relay keeps clicking as it can't lock on to a decent signal.

If I try some tapes that I recorded previously, they play absolutely perfectly with no issue at all.

Any ideas what might cause this? I've never cleaned the head - should I do this carefully? Are there separate record and play heads on the drum?

I had a Sony PCM800 deck which wouldn't play cassettes. Bought a video head cleaning cassette, ran it through the machine a single time and she started playing again.
Be careful using those as they're rough on the heads and you risk permanent damage if used too often.