• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Sony TC-K61 has difficulty starting to play

WAFOE

WAFOE

Member
Hello, it has been a while since I have last been here - almost 4 years now.

Recently I picked up this Sony TC-K61 casettedeck in not working order for 10 euro's, claiming it won't play. Probably needs new belts I thought, worth the try for a decent 1980s deck. Getting it home and opening it up, the belts are actually in fine shape, if not a bit dirty. Why doesn't it play then?

I noticed the mechanism to lift the heads up to the casette doesn't work, since the cog for it turns very slow and the mechanism cancels the play before it is able to reach the idle wheels. If I give it a little push with a screwdriver or something, it starts to play the casette just fine. It had a little bit wow and flutter but cleaning the heads, rollers and idle belts with alcohol seems to have fixed that issue. I didn't take a look at the belt inside the casette mechanism though since it plays fine now once it started.

I have found pressing the pause button and then play it won't automatically cancel the play, which gives the cog time to move. The cogs make an awful grinding sound, but after that the heads go up.

A video probably says more than my words:

I thought maybe lubricating the cogs would fix the issue, but I'm not sure. Before I try anything stupid and destroy the thing, I thought I'd make this post asking for help!
 
Register to hide this ad
I recently picked up a TC-71 that exhibited the same symptoms as your TC-61. In my case, the old lubrication had hardened to the point that the head assembly could not move without manual assistance. Cleaning and re-lubricating the mechanism solved the issue on my deck.
 
webdog2010 said:
I recently picked up a TC-71 that exhibited the same symptoms as your TC-61. In my case, the old lubrication had hardened to the point that the head assembly could not move without manual assistance. Cleaning and re-lubricating the mechanism solved the issue on my deck.
Click to expand...
Interesting, thanks for sharing. What did you lubricate exactly, only the cog that was slowly moving as seen in my video?
 
It wasn't the cog itself, but the grease between what the service manual refers to as the head deck assembly and the area of the chassis that it rides against. The hardened grease caused increased resistance and was keeping that entire assembly from being able to move up into the play position. Judging by your video, I'd say it's a good bet that is what is happening here as well. The cog is most likely moving slowly until the head assembly finally moves into an area of less resistance and is able to move freely again.
 
If you look at p. 44 of the TC-K61 service manual (available free from hifiengine.com if you don't already have it), you'll see that the head-assembly (Deck Ass'y, head), which should move freely up and down, rides on three 2.5mm steel balls in greased tracks. If it's jammed, it may be that the grease has frozen, etc. To get a better idea of what this looks like and how to fix it, check out my TC-K700ES Service Routine, although the two machines are different in many ways.

Incidentally, if it turns out that you need one or more of those steel balls, I have a surplus of them and am glad to send them to you gratis.
 
Sorry for not responding, I'm quite busy lately. When I get the time I'll take it under the loop following your advices.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom