It's (usually) easy to fix a cassette player!

Go ahead and pick up that old broken cassette player, 90% of the time it's just the belt. You can do it! Podcasts, Patreaon, merch, and more :) www.geektherapyradio.com/
Music • Alter Bridge: Godspeed...
#walkman
#cassette
#repair

[@chacker21]

You. Are. My. Hero. I love my cassettes and I run through players like they're candy. Now I can at least attempt to fix them. Much appreciated tutorial and humor!

[@A._.A._.]

But did it work?

[@chacker21]

@@A._.A._. I wasn't able to find the band I needed.

[@jeffparks25]

Are you Bette Mildler or something?😂

[@karennelson8954]

So glad to find this! Thanks a million for going ahead and posting...apparently, I hope, without hassle by those who don't understand the value in finding something that's so detailed to actually repair old technology instead of tossing it into the 'useless' heap. Kudos to you.

[@EB1878]

And 8 track players. I've been restoring those since 1989. It was my hobby in my younger years. I also play cassette Walkmans regularly. I prefer those over the compressed audio of CDs. I'm currently going to restore the belt on my 1980s Emmerson cassette recorder/ AM-FM radio. The original belt has deteriorated that the tape is massively slow-sounding. I mean so bad off you can't tell what song is being played. So, I'm off to search for belts for my almost *new* pre-owned Emmerson, which I love. I had one brand new in '89 and wore it out entirely by 1991. It lasted three years even with routine capstan/ pinch roller cleaning using cassette tape deck cleaning solutions and clean q tips. I was extremely fortunate that my parents had a bit of recording equipment and taught me how to clean my Walkman and cassette tape recorders. The restoration of the 8 track players (machines and cartridge tapes) was my self taught hobby when I was in the 5th grade. I absolutely enjoyed the sound quality on 8 track. It has more depth, more 'punch' and clarity in my opinion. Cassette tapes in my eyes (and ears) were equal in sound quality. Cds less sound and too much compression. 😊🙂🎶🎧

[@AlcasistNetwork]

Awesome! For avoiding demonetisation due to copyrighted music, maybe see if you can record a cassette player with some game music on it. A fantastic sound test - especially for stereo/mono testing - would be "Go Straight" from Streets of Rage 2. It's high energy with sounds at the very start that alternate between the left and right ears.

[@capybararctic9627]

And Streets of Rage 2 also happens to be one of the greatest games of all time so it's really a win win

[@jul1440]

I have/use one of those models. Used to listen to TV on it; the weather still works. Good to know there are instructions on belt replacement, in case I ever need it.

[@irmamag8459]

Thank you so much for this! I bought a really cheaply made cassette player, it just recently stopped working. Although I could buy a better quality one I wanted to challenge myself to see if I could trouble shoot and fix it myself. I was able to do just that with this video thank you so much😭

[@JeanRodo]

I found the exact Walkman a few months ago for 8 bucks. It worked fine for me but the battery cover tab is broken and I haven’t figured out how to remove it. Glad I found this vid tho since I will need to replace the belt in the future!

[@Teknivil]

Furry vs flamethrower

[@Teknivil]

Furries are responsible for many problems on earth

[@teddyiichan]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Great tutorial!

[@rile_up]

Replaced the belt recently on my 30ish year old Aiwa tape player. The damn thing was just fine still.

[@shoomboom]

thank you so much this is such an easy fix but unfortunately I don't have anywhere to get a belt in my country for my mom's old sony wm-f3050 😭

[@Lizinthewild]

Huge help thanks so much man

[@DJedwardyang]

thank you mr geek therapy radio podcast

[@TheBrandonn]

this is the exact walkman i had as a kid. still have it but doesnt work. thanks im gonna try to fix it using this

[@Ernie-u5l]

Hi, great video to show me how to access the belt. However, may I say that it is my understanding that rubbing alcohol, which is designed for medicinal use, has a small amout of oil added to it, so only pure isoprol alcohol should be used for cleaning the pulleys.

[@duplinee]

Enjoyed the video, thank you. Still not sure about my problem though. The thing is the stem spins the cassette is not moving after one turn on play mode. Like it kinda stuck. But it works perfectly fine on FF or RW mode. So the belt works but it doesn’t work😂 otherwise pinch roller is working and I can listen my cassettes till some of the tape is out because of that 😄

[@bill55160]

im a 80s vintage freak.If i manage to fix some walkmans and cassete olayer that i have with your help....i will get back to you....crowling!😁

[@tophi59]

You just got a new sub

[@rambomettal]

I fixed my walkman fx290w yesterday the hardest was to calibrate the speed... It sounds great now..

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Rad!!!

[@elizabethduval7562]

This was the most enjoyable tutorial i ever remember watching. But...i think i will return my non functioning overpriced cassette walkman to the Ebay vendor i bought it from rather than risk opening it, damaging it further while i try to find a belt, replacement, etc. Sigh. But great tutorial. Thank you!

[@RaveUn2theJoyFantastic]

Quick question, I just purchased a Sony Walkman Sports and I noticed when I walked it had a slight static in the headphones. Should I change the belt or is it something else?

[@damon3903]

Yup! Belt was snapped thank you

[@cle1667]

i hv a question! im trying to fix my dad’s old walkman. the belt is still in great condition after all these years. i just had to move it a little and spin it by hand because it kind of got stuck. but i was able to make the pinch roller spin but the take-up reel isnt moving :( what am i supposed to do !!

[@TinyVeganLives]

So I have this same model got it at goodwill for $2. It was working fine but then suddenly stopped working. It powers on but now when I test fast fwd and rewind I get nothing. The battery door is also broken so I would always have to tape down the battery. Do you do repairs could I send it in to get It fixed?

[@andrewcourtney3480]

Hahah @1:42 "...and grandmas..." - yeah I caught that! I miss the humble cassette though the hiss sound I tended to get on my cheap players really got annoying quick when compared to CD. Not like the warmth of record players and vinyl in my opinion :)

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Yeah, I have some WONDERFUL cassette machines. I wouldn't say this particular model is anything that great, especially with the Type I tape example I used here. However, a good deck with good tape can sound astonishing!

[@deanguando1335]

Agree - there is no hiss once the tape starts playing. Digital is sterile - no depth.

[@UnderEu]

You know what’s funny? I just fixed my old Aiwa TX366 after I dropped it and let it disabled for, not kidding, 15 YEARS! - Not the belts, the control mechanism itself. Fortunately, it was just a matter of disassembling, remounting everything in its original position et... voilá! Now I need something to record cassettes, once my device does playback only and I have no other capable systems around the house. Open to suggestions 😉

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Oh man. Whatever you can afford brother. Nakamichi decks can cost well over 1,000 U.S. dollars. Only suggestion I'd give is to look for a 3-head deck, preferably with bias adjustment, from a well known company like Sony, Tascam (TEAC), Aiwa, etc.

[@johnlomasney]

Love the retro

[@buttscarlton1830]

i have a question for you i found a really nice condition cassette player on eBay but in the description it says the cassette drags a little, will i have to replace the belt to fix it or just adjust the moto speed? and how will I go about doing that?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

99% chance it's just the belt and possibly dried out pinch roller. "Easy" fixes. Unless it's direct-drive...then it's likely stripped/cracked gears. Direct-drive units are a bit more expensive and rarer though.

[@Lance_MadCat]

Love it!

[@twistedpuppetOG]

What about cassette player belts from Amazon? I found some on there. I'm about to try fixing an Aiwa tx388. Update: The belts from Amazon worked. Found one just the right size. Cassette player works like a dream now.

[@RC-go2kl]

I have a vintage walkman that plays, but does not rewind or fast forward. Does it have a separate belt for the latter functions?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Are you positive it's not direct drive (no belt)?

[@rubytherottweilerandlouist2041]

Wish I knew how to get to the antenna on these things. I know the headphones usually act as the antenna..but I got one that just doesn't get am/fm anymore.

[@GabeMiller2SpoonsOfDoom]

What would your fix be for a walkman style player that only plays tapes for a few seconds before shutting off? Something wrong with autostop?

[@Autumn66614]

I was hoping you might be able to help. Got a brand new Byron Statics walkman. The belt is fine, everything new, but it won't play tapes. It spins, rewinds, ect. But it won't play mix tapes, prerecorded ones from the store, or even record on blank tapes. Do you know what might be wrong? It also has a radio function which works perfectly. So it's not an issue with the headphone jack, volume, or speakers.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I know you said it spins, rewinds, etc...but to be clear does the tape move smoothly as normal when you press "play"? If not, I'd guess pinch roller replacement. If so, my guess would be another issue with circuitry.

[@Roninkinx]

I know how to repair these I remember in the early 00s fixing my old m&Ms cassette player because the belt crapped out real quick from running....kids bop cassettes and recording the radio with it. I need to figure out how to remove the cassette deck from my car and clean the heads.

[@windestruct]

But if you got a shady/bootleg casette player and you dont have replacement parts can you use the rubber band if it's not scretched badly in the mechanism?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Temporarily...it will likely just sound wobbly and weird.

[@windestruct]

@@GeekTherapyRadio yes

[@xisotopex]

where do I get a phillips screwdriver small enough to access the screws holding the thing together?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Any electronics tool kit. For example www.amazon.com/STREBITO-Screwdriver-142-Piece-Electronics-Precision/dp/B08SGM6F79/ref=sr_1_4?crid=25O3WEMDIDMEI&keywords=electronics+repair+kit&qid=1686751084&sprefix=electronics+repa%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-4

[@byrondrake703]

Ok the silver front just unclips, take the battery out first. Unclip the sides opposite the battery, then gently pry the battery side apart. The speed podometer (control) is on the bottom left. RV601 use a small Phillips head screwdriver and listen to music you are VERY familiar with and or compair to another source.

[@abelq8008]

If you have a good deck, record a tape with a metronome sound off youtube. Use 100 bpm or higher in my experience. Then get a bpm detector app for your phone, play it back in the walkman and adjust accordingly.

[@thanhdq73]

Hi, how to open the player without damaging the plastic covers? thank you.

[@garyhartman5029]

I have a weird issue with my portable cassette player,and that is some of my cassettes will play just fine and at normal speed with good sound as well,but the majority of my cassettes kind of sound slowed down a bit,and have a sort of demonic and weird warping sound as well to them.But I always cleaned my the rubber capstan roller on it regularly,and it is about as clean as it can be.Does anyone know what the problem could be with it?Thanks :)

[@josephpatrickraney8085]

My belt is still in good condition, but would replacing the original one with a new belt notably improve the sound quality?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

If you are positive the belt is good but the sound is off, then I'd try a good alcohol cleaning of the tape path. If it still sounds bad with a good belt and good cleaning, then I'd replace the rubber pinch roller. If it's still bad after all that, then the actual motor could be bad. Usually a good cleaning and good belt is all it takes though.

[@josephpatrickraney8085]

@@GeekTherapyRadio Love your video and am grateful for your reply. What you mean by tape path, I presume, is the metal box-like thing that interacts with the physical tape material? Accessible just by opening the tape deck?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@josephpatrickraney8085 Tape path would be anything the actual ribbon of tape touches outside of its own shell as it plays. So, the tape head(s), rubber pinch roller, the skinny metal rotating post (capstan). Watch the tape play if you can, then clean anything you see the actual ribbon touch during playback. Take the tape out, get a cotton swab/q-tip, dip it in rubbing alcohol, and gently rub those parts of the tape path.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

No grandmothers were hurt during production of this video. I cannot say about afterwards however.

[@crystalmatu]

I thought I heard that!!! Lol!

[@Buonarotti10]

How did you get the case open in the first place?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

This particular case was just held together with plastic tabs, but each case will be very different.

[@brianjoshua8165]

hey excuse i have a question i have a casette player it worked for only a day and then it stop i put in new batteries and stuff but it won't play the tape and the tape is not damaged

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Belt most likely broke.

[@anthonyzalesak7973]

I have a Sony pressman and the audio is warped the button for the slow speed is stuck on slow how do I fix that

[@to.kanali]

i have lenoxx cd cassete player 105 but i cant find a video how to fix the cassete player!!!

[@chaseedwardsedwards540]

Yes it is very hard now to source a belt because most of the time the belt is too" thick" and either it will slow down the speed of the motor or it wouldn't play at all I get plenty problems with that Unlike a big boombox, the motor has enough torque to drive the belt So it is not as difficult as the walkman because the motor is smaller and works on 3 sometimes 1.5v in some models

[@Rebelz173]

My doesn’t seem to be working either. One of the tape reels is not spinning at all. Is that a belt issue too?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Most likely, yes.

[@Rebelz173]

@@GeekTherapyRadio I wish I could fix this! Ughh

[@byrondrake703]

You can run it with the face off, just reinsert the battery.

[@UnderEu]

Now I just realized this is the LAST Walkman model ever produced 🤯

[@abelq8008]

35 hours on a single AA!

[@SixxRose22]

I love watching tinkerers tinker cause thats me also. Being a tinkerer is an art.

[@selenabonilla2281]

Do you service walkmans?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Not as a professional service, no. Sorry. I only tinker with my own electronics.

[@dickcheney6]

I like taking these things apart.

[@Mathildouille13]

If your here in 2024 you cool you cool!

[@chrishills5062]

What tool to open the cassette player??

[@hadeskin3876]

A basic screwdriver should do the trick if yours isn't too complicate (I think so)

[@vikram2708]

I have a Phillips walkman. It is almost 20 years old. I tried playing a cassette but the music sounds like alvin and the Chipmunks..you know...like its sped up...any suggestions????

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Could be the belt, it would need changing anyway. Could be the motor or failed circuit component. Either way, best start is the belt. Long shot....but make sure it has the correct batteries installed.

[@nateholden7598]

Cassettes are my no. 1 fav type of media and a lot better than digital.

[@Noah.pletcher]

I have a playmates Corkey doll, and the cassette player keep s eating my tapes, the left pulley doesn't turn, how can I fix it ?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I am not intimately familiar with that toy, but I would guess it's either the cassette belt or pinch roller, or both. The rubber pinch roller is likely dry and stiff so it's not pulling the tape through. The belt has likely fallen apart with age as well. Both are relatively easy, cheap fixes if you can access the actual cassette mechanism.

[@Windows-sx1br]

When I power on my cassette player these black things that spin the cassette get stuck and won't move,but when I power of the cassette player they are free and can spin. I opened it and the belt was still there... Please someone help me! I would really appreciate it!

[@thenewbgamer6416]

My cassette recorder has the Auto stop mechanism messed up.

[@ashantiyeboah7360]

Would this work to fix a corky dolls cassette player? Cuz mine eats tapes 💀

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

That's probably the pinch roller. I'd try running a rubbing alcohol cleaning tape through it first and cleaning the tape path with rubbing alcohol and a q tip. As far as replacing the belt, it would be very similar.

[@ctg8563]

What if the belt is fine? What would cause a cassette player not play?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Power corrosion, bad motor, bad capacitors, etc.

[@emusaurus]

Geek Therapy Radio Podcast I think that’s what’s wrong with mine. Mine is probably 30 years old and worked fine until I moved to a very humid cold area that corroded all my pre 2000 electronics. Thanks for the troubleshooting mate

[@eddie1805]

mine doesn't switch on, could that possibly be the same issue?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Very well could be. The play button is very often also the power button. So if there's a problem with the playback mechanism, it may not power up.

[@eddie1805]

@@GeekTherapyRadio i found out i put the batteries the wrong way lol

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@Eddie That too! 😂

[@Izou96]

I just know alter bridge from this video and its fokin good, omw looking for the cassette

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I recorded the song to a blank cassette. I don't think Alter Bridge has released any official albums on cassette.

[@byrondrake703]

I see the three tabs under the cover. I can't seem to get into the unit? How does it come apart...you don't show in the video. I need to adjust the speed podometer.

[@abelq8008]

Same problem. I tried pushing the tabs with a small flathead screwdriver but they wouldn't budge and I don't want to break something.

[@byrondrake703]

@@abelq8008undo the back/sides first with a guitar pick. there are three spots to push in when you open the cassette cover. One sideways and two straight in. Small flathead screwdriver. They are just little tabs with a small ledge so you push in to clear the lip or ledge. You push kind off to the side not down. You are pushing the clip far enough to clear the edge.

[@byrondrake703]

@@abelq8008 the rest around the sides you can open with a guitar pick. Be careful around the top. Don't push in too far because you have the hold button up there. This is the back I'm referring to

[@abelq8008]

Thx Byron

[@byrondrake703]

@@abelq8008 Did you get it opened? The tabs by where the battery sits are the hardest to get open. I believe I used a larger flat head inside the battery compartment and twisted it to pry it open enough to start working the other tabs loose.

[@joelblunamenjivar9057]

My cassette player had buttons that are stuck.. How do I fix that??

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Maybe some rubbing alcohol.

[@bacchus2342]

my player plays but the audio is horrible. it have alot of static noise and sound kinda robotic and idk how to fix it. i am kind of afraid to open it since i might break something.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Start by cleaning the head with rubbing alcohol and a Qtip.

[@bacchus2342]

@@GeekTherapyRadio already did still the same

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@bacchus2342 Pinch roller could need replacing. The rubber is old and dry by now and probably slipping its grip on the tape, causing the wobbly sound.

[@eddieatoms5041]

Mine just isn't turning on at all. I just put a new battery in

[@johnphilpot5205]

How do you turn the player off?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Stop button. It's only "on" when playing, fast forwarding, or rewinding (or listening to the radio)

[@johnphilpot5205]

@@GeekTherapyRadio it still had a dash under tune mode. And says preset?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@johnphilpot5205 OH right, this model does keep some of the LCD on. It would take weeks for this "standby" mode to drain a battery. Maybe months. So yes, taking the battery out would be the only way to make sure it's off completely.

[@johnphilpot5205]

@@GeekTherapyRadio thanks. It’s a nice player anyways.

[@frown]

But where can we get the belts/parts for Obscure brands from 1981 or even WEIRDER???

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Belts at least should be common among brands as long as you have some basic dimensions.

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

I was only expecting a few hundred views, tops...so thank y'all! Makes the intro joke kinda moot. It's ineligible now anyways.

[@kaviennn]

I have a mini cassette recorder but it only rewinds but doesn’t play, an anyone help me with that?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

99.999% chance it's the belt.

[@rachelleannsantos2860]

I have a cassette player, it has a slow tempo, I tried to fix it on my own and now it’s playing like a chipmunk. 🥺 please help me 🥺

[@nikos-pc9yt]

I have a Sony Walkman, It belonged to my Father. The model is WM-FX493 It wont play tapes, even though we just replaced the belt recently. Help! (Yes the radio works)

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

May be the pinch roller. They go dry and don't pull the tape past the head.

[@tomaszhowaniec5409]

Its difficult to open. You need to use round knife for opening wrist watch decks. You need start to open from front not from middle like it is in some other videos on YT. Inside deck clamps do nothing and are easy to break. First open front, then clamps inside and around to back. Belt type: cube 51mm X 0,55mm. Really very troll opening. .... and don't use old or Metal cassettes.

[@stoneapollyon8313]

lemme guess, another belt replacement? yeah nope, didn't work on my two cassette players, one of the motors is dead and the other makes a funny clunking noise while playing with or without a cassette.

[@m4jikman]

Wasn’t this Walkman the last one ever made

[@NurseAutiek]

Have you ever repaired a talk boy? (Home alone)

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

Nope, but I'm sure the cassette mechanism is extremely similar if not nearly identical. Getting into it will be different of course.

[@speakersteve9586]

So belt replacements is baby talk. I need to know how to recap them...

[@idaleung8003]

My player is eating tapes. Likely the belt?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

And pinch roller. Also usually easy to replace.

[@swo8on]

Seriously all these people in the KZbin comments saying you guys fix everything shouod make a archive

[@SoutheastWarrenEAS]

Weather band............

[@kyo-nil9310]

e.e i cant even open my mini casette recorder

[@jenniferwills396]

Bought a jensen cassette player from target. Didn't work. Returned it and bought another. Didn't work. And it was a different issue this time. Wouldn't recommend the brand

[@jenniferwills396]

It doesn't turn when I put cassette tapes in. It doesn't say I can't play these tapes but I don't have any other types. It won't spin when I put the tape in and it won't turn if u push the button, only if u hold it down. Sometimes. Any idea how to fix? Do I have to change the belt like u did?

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@jenniferwills396 Sounds like it. Those Jensens may be unopened, but they still could be 10-20 years old and the belts deteriorate over time, used or unused.

[@bubba842]

Use 99% Isopropyl alcohol, not rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is diluted eith water. It should be obvious why you don't want to use anything that is diluted with water when cleaning electronics.

[@isaacmalkin6734]

Why don’t you record a royalty free song onto a blank cassette? Would save the stress

[@GeekTherapyRadio]

@@isaacmalkin6734 Because I truly don't care about the money earned on this video. If I had a huge channel, I'd pick something else 🤓♥️

[@keehoswhitewall9034]

i'm crying i can't do this stuff

[@M.Shepardbee]

... but a rubber band was a good initial direction.. *mumbles as he searches the internet*

[@fedepede04]

funny that cassette have such a bad rep. its sound so much better that streaming from YT, plus all that streaming is polluting our earth, so take that you bloody YT. hipster :D

[@thuha6841]

Tôi sẽ mua nó ở đâu 🙄😤🖕💣💥🙉