Job Number

0010-07

Equipment type

Walkman cassette recorder

Maker + Model #

SONY TCM-359V

Made in

Japan

BAD

1

Record and play buttons jammed

GOOD

1

Powers up

2

FF and Rewind OK

Repair summary

JAMMED  PLAY & RECORD BUTTON MECHANISM

Full repair description and observations

1

The mechanism seemed completely jammed, and so it had to be disassembled and re assembled back again.

2

Four parts were removed, which in order of sequence where:

    1:  Eject button lever

    2:  Top horizontal bar

    3:  Semi-circular arch lever

    4:  Bottom horizontal bar

3

The semi-circular arch lever was originally mis-placed, and hence the recorder was previously opened, and badly mounted. It’s correct position was between the two horizontal levers.

4

On assembling, the buttons worked perfectly, but the tape was getting coiled on playback!!! This took place because the tape rotator was not rotating while the pinch roller did.

5

On extensive studying of the mechanism, it was noted that a wheel (lying on an aluminium bracket cover) was not in contact with the tape rotator. This wheel was free running (not gauged with the motor) but served as a bridge between the pinch roller wheel and the tape rotator so that the former will drive the latter in synchronisation.

6

This was due to a lacking spring which pushed the free running wheel onto the two wheels mentioned above. The spring was placed in position, and the problem of tape coiling was solved.

7

There was a badly mounted (placed in a non function position) type of spring which was left out from the cassette as its original and actual place could not be determined. Probably this served in some way to stop the cassette playing when the tape is fully wound.

Precautions, fouls and advises

1

When dismounting fairly complex mechanisms, like cassette decks, it is good practice to write the position of every single part on paper to facilitate the mounting process

2

It is not efficient to mark on metal parts with a marker, since this gets wiped easily with touching and manipulation.