Sony TC-WR901ES Help!

[MacSK]

Just saved this machine from the dumpster, the doors will not open..the motors run. Belts are somewhat lose but the doors should open anyways. When you open a well manually and insert the tape and press play nothing kicks over...the lites do come on etc. Is this a board issue? This is a nice machine can it be saved.

[Warped Bezel]

Some decks cycle solenoids or gears/cams and the eject mechanism relies on the belts. One example is Nakamichi 480 and the eject can jam, requiring manual cycling.

If belts are loose they should probably be replaced or your problem won't resolve easily. Don't bother with rubber conditioners and make sure the gears/pulleys are not loose or damaged as well.

Sonys can be very nice and yes, belts are relatively inexpensive and likely available somewhere near you if you have a good electronics supply house (not usually Radio Shack, a real parts house) and if not it's still relatively easy to find them only.

Notice yours has an ES in the model number? ES denotes Sony's higher end line of components. It hopefully would be a keeper, barring any other troubles. If you know how to diagnose other problems look, otherwise it's likely worth having it looked at and repaired.

Nice find, no matter how it works out.


Just saved this machine from the dumpster, the doors will not open..the motors run. Belts are somewhat lose but the doors should open anyways. When you open a well manually and insert the tape and press play nothing kicks over...the lites do come on etc. Is this a board issue? This is a nice machine can it be saved.

[Scorpion8]

Warped is on track. Doors not opening usually mean a mode-cam that is out of synch with the rest of the deck. And this happens on both wells, not just one?

[MacSK]

Just to test that the belt may be to lose I used a slightly smaller belt and still nothing. What exactly activates the main cam...theres no electromagnet..is it one of the other motors. With the door manually open and you turn the power on the door will close. What gets me is both wells will not work or the doors open.*headache*

[MacSK]

Warped is on track. Doors not opening usually mean a mode-cam that is out of synch with the rest of the deck. And this happens on both wells, not just one?

Yes the doors will not open on both wells. What kicks off the mode-cam? Is it one of the other motors? Is this puppy dead.

[El Monte Slim]

My neighbor had a Sony Dual Deck that the doors would not open. I took the covers off and discovered that there was a mechanism that engaged the capstan that was driven by belts.

The belts were old and stretched and as a result the mechanism would not retract fully, keeping the doors from opening!

[MacSK]

My neighbor had a Sony Dual Deck that the doors would not open. I took the covers off and discovered that there was a mechanism that engaged the capstan that was driven by belts.

The belts were old and stretched and as a result the mechanism would not retract fully, keeping the doors from opening!

Yes I tried that with a smaller belt than whats on it and still nothing,,unless both decks are sync in someway. As of now have no manual on this machine..need to know specifics on what to look at...looks like its going back to the dumpster.

[Warped Bezel]

Yes I tried that with a smaller belt than whats on it and still nothing,,unless both decks are sync in someway. As of now have no manual on this machine..need to know specifics on what to look at...looks like its going back to the dumpster.

Ah-ah-ah...patience is a virtue, said the old man who could recall what he'd wanted to start.

Belts are easy enought to find and order, even now. You have at least one person (Scorp) who loves Sony a lot and has a collection. Let some veterans help you tackle it, you'll be glad.

Steven

[Scorpion8]

With the cover off and no tape in the well, door closed....can you cycle the mode cam (white or yellowish nylon toothed gear behind the transport plate) until the head block raises up (bringing the pinch roller up too) and down?

[MacSK]

With the cover off and no tape in the well, door closed....can you cycle the mode cam (white or yellowish nylon toothed gear behind the transport plate) until the head block raises up (bringing the pinch roller up too) and down?

Heres the latest...figured out that the motor far left controls the mode cam...the really small belt is very lose..on B deck to touch it it comes of the gear.. Been working on A deck. Put in a small rubber band a green one and able to see the motor rotate and got in into fast forward mode one time. Will have to hunt up some of the really small belts. The only gears I can turn are the ones for the door and the mode gear where the small belt is. The large cam cant be turned by hand the idler motor plate is in the way. Some progress..maybe..*hypnot*

[Scorpion8]

Will have to hunt up some of the really small belts.

Get yourself the MCM Electronics full catalog, which has a belt-measuring scale to order a new belt, or go here http://www.turntableneedles.com and use the drive belt search. They list two belts for that deck (I assume each side, so x2). I've had good luck with their belts. Fred Marrs (member here) runs Marrs Communications on here and eBay and can also provide superb belts for that deck.

[MacSK]

Get yourself the MCM Electronics full catalog, which has a belt-measuring scale to order a new belt, or go here http://www.turntableneedles.com and use the drive belt search. They list two belts for that deck (I assume each side, so x2). I've had good luck with their belts. Fred Marrs (member here) runs Marrs Communications on here and eBay and can also provide superb belts for that deck.

Hey thanks for you help...Im a thrift store junky...you would not believe the amount of tape decks going into the dumpster..its unreal*flame*Didnt expect to see this may folks still into cassettes...super Cool...I still use them. I got a Teac X7 reel to reel I got at the thrift store for $12.00 and a cool JVC silver KD-10 with big meters for $6.00.

[Warped Bezel]

Hey thanks for you help...Im a thrift store junky...you would not believe the amount of tape decks going into the dumpster..its unreal*flame*Didnt expect to see this may folks still into cassettes...super Cool...I still use them. I got a Teac X7 reel to reel I got at the thrift store for $12.00 and a cool JVC silver KD-10 with big meters for $6.00.

It sounds like, wherever you are, you da man! Either they love you there or they're going bankrupt soon :)

[390FE]

It should be an easy fix. As others said, replace the belts.

That said. DON'T send ANYTHING to the dumster as there is always good usable parts that can be used to save another unit. Even cosmetic parts may be better then what someone has on their unit & want to get it looking better. Ask here first. Then you can always try selling it for parts on E-Bay.

just my $0.02 from a pack-rat...

[MacSK]

It should be an easy fix. As others said, replace the belts.

That said. DON'T send ANYTHING to the dumster as there is always good usable parts that can be used to save another unit. Even cosmetic parts may be better then what someone has on their unit & want to get it looking better. Ask here first. Then you can always try selling it for parts on E-Bay.

just my $0.02 from a pack-rat...

You guys would be shocked at the amount of old audio stuff going into the dumpster.*drool*..this Sony was just inches from going in..I told the guy I would take it. These are mostly nonprofit thrift stores and if it dose not work it goes in the dumper. This is way I stop by there once a week. Ill let you guys know if I get it going.*reelspin*

[VintageFreq]

My neighbor had a Sony Dual Deck that the doors would not open. I took the covers off and discovered that there was a mechanism that engaged the capstan that was driven by belts.

The belts were old and stretched and as a result the mechanism would not retract fully, keeping the doors from opening!

Hey MacSK!

El Monte Slim hit the nail on the head! I've got a WR701ES and that is exactly what happened to me. Nothing would open the doors properly until I got the correct set of belts for it.

Mike *grin*

[MacSK]

Hey MacSK!

El Monte Slim hit the nail on the head! I've got a WR701ES and that is exactly what happened to me. Nothing would open the doors properly until I got the correct set of belts for it.

Mike *grin*

Your avatar is right up my alley...I mess with old Macs too..that Apple ad was really cool back when.

[VintageFreq]

Your avatar is right up my alley...I mess with old Macs too..that Apple ad was really cool back when.

Glad you like it! I think it's still got a cool "factor"!

Mike *grin*

[MacSK]

Heres the latest...I live in a suburb of Atlanta...I went to the really scary part of town where this hippy guy has an old stereo shop..the only one I know of this side of the planet. I bought one mode drive belt the small one for $2.50...put it in Deck A..the cam must be jammed or something as when I put the belt in Deck B it worked. I need to take apart Deck A and see whats keeping it from turning the cam. *hope* When I go back for another belt Ill take a pic of this place..theres stereo stuff stacked to the ceiling and shelves of 8 track car radios.

[Skywavebe]

Hi MacSK,
The belts can be the the primary problem but as you have come across they may not be the only reason. In Teac and other decks using the cam type mechanism there are always feedback methods to let the control uProcessor know where the deck is position wise. If these feedback methods are also in disrepair or dirty then the new belt is just step one of the repair process. In the decks I have come across in 37 years there were Photo optical, Resistor Pot, gold contacts on gold PCB and just some open type contacts as on Nakamichi MR2 decks. All these feedback systems can get out of alignment and or stop doing their jobs. In that, the uProcessor get confused and their responser is to stay in stop mode. I have purchased a deck for $4.95 in like new condition except that the feedback system was dirty- two hours later the deck worked like new and had less then 15 hours on it from wear observations. This technology is not new it was used in VCR's all the time and they also suffered from hardened grease in the cams and cases where they popped out of alignment. My purpose for the long post is to help you realize the second step on the deck you are working on. From the picture you put up, it is hard to tell for sure but one of the green PCB's that is in the back may have a feedback system of some type incorporated into it.

[VintageFreq]

...put it in Deck A..the cam must be jammed or something as when I put the belt in Deck B it worked. I need to take apart Deck A and see whats keeping it from turning the cam...

That's good news..at least you're narrowing down the problems! A picture of that place would be a hoot!

Mike *grin*

[MacSK]

Hi MacSK,
The belts can be the the primary problem but as you have come across they may not be the only reason. In Teac and other decks using the cam type mechanism there are always feedback methods to let the control uProcessor know where the deck is position wise. If these feedback methods are also in disrepair or dirty then the new belt is just step one of the repair process. In the decks I have come across in 37 years there were Photo optical, Resistor Pot, gold contacts on gold PCB and just some open type contacts as on Nakamichi MR2 decks. All these feedback systems can get out of alignment and or stop doing their jobs. In that, the uProcessor get confused and their responser is to stay in stop mode. I have purchased a deck for $4.95 in like new condition except that the feedback system was dirty- two hours later the deck worked like new and had less then 15 hours on it from wear observations. This technology is not new it was used in VCR's all the time and they also suffered from hardened grease in the cams and cases where they popped out of alignment. My purpose for the long post is to help you realize the second step on the deck you are working on. From the picture you put up, it is hard to tell for sure but one of the green PCB's that is in the back may have a feedback system of some type incorporated into it.

There are 2 small switches on the IC board that backs the cam ..one of the gears contacts the switches..they are marked open and shut door. I think the gear is in the wrong place. I may need to ask here for someone with a PDF of the cam gear set up. Got one deck going its the other one thats messed up. Thats why I just bought one belt for now..thought there may be other issues.