Trying to FIX a Faulty 1999 Sony Walkman WM-EX190 (3rd video in Walkman series)

[@SixxRose22]

I just bought 2 walkmans at a thrift store today and fixed one of them using your video. The one that this one looks like needs a new belt, which I'm ordering. Thank you for the video

[@rufussteels6654]

Hey vince, you inspired me to try and fix something myself, so a few months ago I ordered a faulty mechanical watch, that I did manage to fix, kind of, which was a huge motivator for me to get me to try and fix more stuff. I didn't think I would be able to do something like this, so I'm just here to say thanks. Keep doing what you're doing, you make great video's!

[@Steve-ix7ez]

watching you fix these takes me back to when I was younger, 3 fixed nice work, looking forward to next one.

[@GadgetUK164]

Another great job =D I would have got some molycote into the mechanism there even if there was originally none - just to help with noise, movement and wear. One point on cleaning the pinch roller (and I've made this mistake before) - if the roller is super worn, after cleaning up with IPA it can be super smooth and not grip properly. The tip there is to use fine sand paper, or a nail file etc to rough up the surface of the roller. The easy way to clean or rough it up is to press play without a tape, then the roller is rotating and you can press the cotton bud, sand paper, or nail fail gently onto the surface and as it rotates it cleans easier. Go easy on PCB bending lol, I thought it was about to break at one point - again, I've done that sort of thing myself before so you aren't on your own =D EDIT: Still watching, I see you are putting some molycote in there =D Avoid getting it on the belt lol!

[@Mymatevince]

Cheers for the tips Chris, I will use the pinch roller tips on the next few if needed. That Molycote is really coming in handy since I got it :-)

[@C.I...]

You seem to know a fair amount about walkman repair. The output of my walkman is all distorted, even after I have replaced all of the capacitors. What should I try now?

[@juddery]

You know that you're not just a nerd, but an old nerd when you watch a video like this, get all excited and before you know it, you're having a total nerdgasm, spending a couple of hundred quid buying multiple faulty personal cassette players, drive belts and old favourite cassette albums on ebay! Thanks Vince, you've got a lot to answer for and so have I when the mrs. finds out, lol. 😂

[@destiny8967]

Man im 18 and still freak out about this stuff also spending way too much money on vintage tech...

[@juddery]

@@destiny8967 My condolences to your bank balance, but it's still very cool that you're into this stuff. Since my original comment, I've bought 5 cassette decks, 17 assorted Walkman, 2 amplifiers, cd player, multi-cd player, speakers, 3 pairs of reasinably high end headphones, various bits of servicing equipment and boxes of cassettes. Mostly Maxell XLII, but some assorted others. It's pretty scary how quickly that happened and how much I've spent on it all, lol.

[@destiny8967]

@@juddery the good thing about it is if for some reason you arent enjoying some anymore or just in the future you can sell them for a lot

[@juddery]

@@destiny8967 that's true enough, although I can't imagine it coming to that. At first it was just the massive nostalgia thrill I got from it all, but then I discovered how much better tapes can sound if recorded properly on a high end deck and now I can't imagine ever giving them up again. Compared to mp3, tapes are bulky, inconvenient and involve a lot more faffing around, yet in many respects, I feel that enhances the listening experience in some way and makes me appreciate the music I'm listening to, that much more. It doesn't hurt that the sound quality of a good recording is far better than mp3 either. 🙂

[@destiny8967]

@@juddery very true! What cassette tape deck do you use? Id love to record my own

[@xzibit1978]

Just FYI rewind actually spins faster than fast forward that's why it appears louder. Most walkmans did it.

[@emptytomb4967]

that autostop fix was awesome. if the belt carried the grease around the pulleys, then you might clean them too. thanks for all you show.

[@adampanker]

Thanks a lot for the video. It helped me to disassemble the walkman and find a snapped belt, which I could have replaced with a new one and listening right now to 20 year old mixtapes.

[@vfgjasminebaker]

Just ordered one of these with a faulty volume knob so this is very helpful! Thanks!

[@richardmatthews711]

Very interesting series. My Sony Walkman WM-FX45 now works (just had to replace the belt).

[@scottchampion3511]

I’m enjoying these very much. You’ve made me fascinated with the old Walkman to the point where I’ve bought some 👍

[@etiennevanharen3893]

Realy like the walkman series, nice fix this one. love the mechanics in those things.

[@brutlern]

Lovely little walkman fix. Next episode please, thanks.

[@ArreglandoCosas]

Yayy another one! Great video Vince. Really entertained with this series! And we still have 5 more!

[@roo_parfrey]

I still use my sony wm-bf65 from around 1989. The belts recently went but I replaced them. All it took was a bit of speed adjustment and it's still going strong!

[@joeloreilly3399]

These videos and repairs are awesome and right up my alley! Thank you for the excellent content and I can’t wait to see the next ones!

[@schkert]

Thank you very much for the video, thanks to him I bought this player

[@Chaostheory1971]

When the music was playing, I was thinking "Yay no more Archers" then you flipped the tape, grrrr lol

[@ff-mu6cc]

I have 15 Walkman to fix. ranging from digital to analog. Thanks for the videos.

[@gaboaaa23]

hello, just got a son wm ex 660 and it makes ratling noise when i push play or rewind without a cassette. I dont have a cassette to test. Is this normal? or broken?

[@cody3026]

Could you do more fixing ps4’s/Xbox repairs?

[@davidford1991]

sand paper , steel wool and a finger nail file will also work on corroded battery terminals

[@silverian]

Thank you for this video! I was able to see correct location for replacement belt!

[@Croaker369]

Hi. I can’t understand that for these older devices you don’t replace all belts. They are continuously deteriorating even if they visually look OK. This will then prolong the life of the device.

[@ianforfun1]

@@FoxSock That belt was straining and struggling at the auto stop activating you can see it loop out slightly and was probably stretched and considering its age would have replaced it as borderline, faulty.

[@nathanmead140]

I have one of these by Panasonic it has auto reverse and i never noticed that it sounded weird when i was walking with it and had the belt clip on it it also has xbs sound which is a bass booster but i dropped it and the stop button broke and I've been trying to get it to work and broke more stuff so just gave up until i get the right tools and parts (was repairing it with the original parts not new ones)

[@carljames1980]

Good video as always. Miss your network and telecoms videos

[@BenCos2018]

Same

[@TheHeed1969]

Nice fix. Got the same model, just noticed when I switch on the maga bass the volume drops and turn it up the right channel is lower than the left channel. Any thoughts?

[@MellowVR24762]

Love your vids vince keep up the good work i do the same as you fixing and you remind me of myself when im diagnosing problems. Great stuff 😁👍

[@MrKanejoe1]

Great video! Always satisfying when you are able to fix something.

[@charliewallace5550]

I've got a similar model that was my late grandma's (Sony WM-FX193 Walkman) that the light always stays on. Auto stop can be quirky sometimes. All in all they're great little units! Mine is in need of a belt soon since it slips occasionally so thank you for the video!

[@TimelessGamingUK]

I just picked one of these up from a car boot for £3 as a little project. It has horrendous battery corrosion from zinc batteries that had leaked badly. The spring contact completely disintegrated when I tried to clean it so I need to replace it. Hopefully it will work after that.

[@RYN-tr5ci]

I had the exact same one as that !! Loved it back in the day. Can’t seem to find is unfortunately 😔

[@destiny8967]

Really? I found one on etsy for 40 dollars including shipping and they are all over ebay

[@m.s.6545]

Again, was a pleasure to watch.

[@wilsvgaddiction4456]

I would personally never bother working on a Walkman (unless a friend specifically asked me to repair one for them) but I'm a big fan of keeping usable electronics (regardless of age) in working condition so they can be enjoyed by people instead of rotting in a landfill. Awesome job!

[@andymee4947]

Really good video vince and nice fix

[@RealBelahzur]

Love your videos Vince, but please stop bending the PCBs, it hurts to watch them flex like that.

[@MrArpSolina]

He's so brutal, not cautious at all! Look how he destroyed the cover!

[@jaakaru2605]

I have the WM-EX180 but unfortunately the one screw just spins and wont come out. Any idea how to get it out without breaking anything? Whole thing is just super flimsy...

[@fiftymk_fox4914]

I just like watching you fixing things its fun

[@robwebster7406]

Great vid 👍 watching it made me dig out my aiwa PX327, and it’s not working 😞 time to get the screw driver out 😏

[@jamescabrie7952]

Can we get an update on your fix please?

[@robwebster7406]

Not much to report at the mo, it fast forwards and rewinds, and it’s stuck on play, thing the stop button isn’t working, also the remote play and stop are not working. Will keep you updated 👍

[@robwebster7406]

Couldn’t find my headphones, but found my lead for BT speakers, there is a loud buzzing sound coming out the unit, put contact cleaner on the switches, but still not working, got the back off and the belt is loose but still intact, will put it in boiling water abit later on. I have read online that the caps will need changing as well. Will keep you posted 👍

[@robwebster7406]

Update time, the belt is in very hot water and now looking good, going round again 😊 however on the pcb there are 7 smd caps that have leaked, not looking good now 😞

[@stuartbeer9299]

That's so funny, when you put the grease on, I said Not the belt, No, Not the belt! And then you put up the message about the belt.

[@mlight6275]

avls also referred to automatic voice levelling system which varies from automatic voice limiting system... one caps the volume, and one levels out amplitude of volume, great series, better than tv. cheers, mike.

[@Vierkanttechniek]

as always a top video. top tip: superglue needs a bit of moisture to work.

[@MickNavarro]

and is more efficient when the joint is as tight as possible. other tip : cyanoacrylate lasts longer if kept in the fridge

[@CLC-1000]

Loving the series Vince.

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks :-)

[@CLC-1000]

@@Mymatevince Anytime Vince.

[@makinjica]

For me , best walkmans were just before they went EOL , those ultra thin size , direct drive(no belts) full digital touch controls , like aiwa or few sony ones. I had aiwa , was slightly bigger than actual cassete tape and it was awsome - great sound with proper tape. I lost it .. :( Also - after cleaning heads , and you can also demagnetize head . Great stuff !

[@themorawaboy]

I think that those battery springs are chrome coated rather than nickel coated. Nickel coating can develop a so-called patina layer, and that layer isn't brown than. It's more whitish/gray, or even green if it starts reacting with an acid.

[@astral276]

I must have been shouting "It's the belt...!!!" so loud that you heard me 5 years in the past.

[@38911bytefree]

This motor is the brushless one I told you in vid number one. Its like a CDROM spindle. Very stable speed and zero noise.

[@bobtee6466]

you might find a dremel abrasive polishing wheel will quicken the rust removal...

[@ahyonvlogs]

Analog tape tech by sony is really amazing!!

[@BenCos2018]

Its a PH of 7 that is neutral Vince great video by the way☺👍

[@Mymatevince]

Thank you :-)

[@tamerakel]

Keep up the good work, thanks!!

[@Mymatevince]

Thanks :-)

[@EddieLSweet]

Love your videos!! Keep it going

[@Mymatevince]

Thank you :-)

[@ahyonvlogs]

I hope u also feature repair o digital cassette walkman .. (Ones with digital controls instead of manual keys)

[@JacksWailerTV]

Good video and so many details! By the way - the blue rubber thing - my English is not the best - can you give me a link? Looks pretty perfect for repairing small things 😅

[@evanparton734]

Auto stop requires torque applied after the tape stops ..the torque is supplied by the neoprene belt driving from the motor...thus..if the belt is slightly slack..autostop is unreliable....the belt _may_need replacement...rgds Evan

[@evanparton734]

looks like you figured it out for yourself vince..but if you notice any bulging of the belt ie not prefectly circular (as yours is showing) this usualy indicates belt replacement is needed.

[@RuneTheFirst]

There is also probably some of the grease that got on the belt on the motor pulley. The belt grooves should have been cleaned as well.

[@evanparton734]

Indeed ..grease on the belt transport or slack belt will reduce the torque needed for auto stop ..as well as affecting tape speed.

[@stevesstuff1450]

But yeah... as Evan says, a belt replacement is in order to finish the job properly! You can see in the video that the original belt was ‘sagging’ -looking a bit loose, so it needs replacing, if for nothing more than to fix the noticeable wow & flutter on playback! Proper tension on the new belt will also ensure reliable auto-stop for the foreseeable future!

[@edwardsfamily6184]

Hi vince I have a sony walkman I've had it since new it was a birthday present off my mother but sadly she has passed away I still own the walkman but sadly through the years it has a problem with fast forwarding and re winding I don't know how to fix it if I send it to you would you be able to fix it for me please I live in the UK Walsall west Midlands

[@ahyonvlogs]

Nice video ...i wish i can also do successful repairs like you .

[@Ghozer]

Servisol is a lubricant, and conductive - it does not evaporate....

[@timoofi]

Vince have you thought about listing your fixes on Ebay and then in a future episode telling us how much you sold them for?

[@josephnealeUKscratchcards]

Another awesome video as always

[@Mymatevince]

Thank you so much :-)

[@radio-180cc]

I have exactly the same one it works but the lines that go to the moter is a lot of corosion beause off that it doesnt work does somebody have a idea to fix that

[@christopherkise]

Now you have grease all over all the pullies =(... And that will keep the belt lubricated... You need to clean the pullies also after you ran the player with grease on the belt.. But nice repair. I enjoyed it very much =), tape players are in the wind these days =)

[@subcut23]

HOW DO YOU GET THOSE THREE CLIPS OPEN NEAR THE CAPSTANS? AFRAID i WILL BREAK THEM.

[@Tokaisho1]

RIP Maplin, my favourite store

[@technixbul]

-AVLS control also save your batteries when they are low -> by limiting the power of headphone amp. I do have 2 similar sony walkmans like this and that improoves dramatically batteries live. On those sony walkmans when volume is too loud the amp lowers the base automatically and in AVLS mode the base is slightly decreased.Grease is an insulator, you don't put in on power terminals, at least not every grease ... you can use graphite one because graphite is conductor. Be careful not to grease the belt because it will become slippery and cause anoying jumping sound ... and you made a mess there now the whole belt path is slippery.

[@abdelkaderelbachir3817]

I had one of these it's from 2000 I think it's actually quite a good sounding machine

[@chrissmith5393]

nice video very interesting has all your videos are nice job

[@MellowVR24762]

Just bought battery leak psp to fix. Loving the Walkman series

[@GabrielAndroczky]

I have the same fiber glass pen, mine came in a pack of 3 but the other 2 were steel and cooper... steel would be better to clean off rust I guess...

[@pds8475]

PH7 is neutral PH1-6 are acids and PH8-14 are alkaline. Also tapes are made by coating the tape with very small rods of magnetic material(it's like iron filings but much smaller) this magnetic material can come of and coat both the pinch roller(the rubber roller) and capstan shaft(the metal rod next to the pinch roller). It is actually the capstan shaft that rotates and the pinch roller is a free wheeling rubber roller that presses up against it. Now like I said the magnetic material is made from rods. A erase head is a magnet and lines all the rods up one way. A record head is a electromagnet and the speech or music is converted to a electrical signal which powers the electromagnet. The tape passes over this and the varying magnetic output from the electromagnet causes the magnetic rods to alter their direction. A playback head is just a coil and passing the tape over it causes a varying voltage on it(basically its like one winding of a transformer. But a transformer has two windings a primary winding and a secondary winding. The primary winding is the input and in the case mains transformers has the mains voltage applied to it. This causes it to emit a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes the electrons in the secondary winding to move and it is the movement of these electrons that we use to power equipment. Voltage = speed of electron movement and Ampere or Amp for short = the amount of electrons moving. In the case of a tape deck the primary winding is substituted with the tape and the varying magnetic field of the tape causes the voltage on the playback head)

[@DaveRepairs]

Well done BANDS ! .... Another one done.... just now got to get rid of the irritating music !

[@lukerobinson4152]

i have the same walkman, it is normal for the red battery light to be on all the time, it is so it is not accidently left turned on

[@abdulrahman1194]

Hi there , i hope u r doing fine ;; could u help me with fixing a Sony Walkman wm-GX221

[@MrZenderOne]

it was cheap model,but great sounding with chrome 2 or metal tapes with samsung headphones from 1994 and later headphones porta koss pro.Still have it,but needs new belt.Not all models sounded the same I tried ,some duller with too much exaggerated bass.Also good sounding were wm-ex36,still working and ex162.

[@M1goblin]

Just bought a broken Walkman so I can join in

[@evan_emily_gaming5055]

Matthew Poots the game

[@ARIGHETTI]

You should do some repairs on the original Xbox!! That would be interesting!! 🔥🙌 Love the walkman series!!

[@MigzGagan]

Anyone knows what year is sony tcm-47?

[@markholian3506]

That’s me not going to bed for 44 mins 😀 good job it’s not a school night

[@sabagamer3052]

Same lol

[@BenCos2018]

@@sabagamer3052 same

[@markterence3689]

Haha.i was just about to sleep then i spotted the video.

[@chrissmith5393]

get to bed lol

[@BenCos2018]

@@chrissmith5393 ☺

[@danpenner79]

how about walkman minidisc player fix?

[@vfgjasminebaker]

For anyone looking to save a couple bucks on fixing the faulty volume wheel, I was able to just put a drop or two of isopropyl alcohol (mine was 91% but higher is better) in there instead of buying terminal cleaner and it works perfectly well now!

[@nadapatti3776]

managed to fix up the one i just got, cheers

[@huntertomlin3523]

Love you accent what part of England are you from also the walkman looks cool

[@Davis38]

I have one of these and the motor and belt are missing

[@halitmarmaris]

Thank you 🎵 I have blue one. 👍

[@esculturasellefigien1875]

its weird in mexico that motherboard has no cuts is completly sqare.

[@davidbolha]

I have a Panasonic RQ-SX20 model with probably a broken clutch. 🙁🤕

[@gazzaka]

The cardinal sin is getting oil/grease on the belt and belt wheels.....

[@seeeLAH1]

if you push the forward and reverse at the same time while playing, it flips the tape without opening :D

[@jameshughes1574]

I have the radio cassette version of this model fx195, replaced the belt works like new again, I cringed when you tapped the buttons like a madman, and when you tug on the board then noticed a screw holding it down haha

[@nameless5413]

35:29 the belt is NOT sorry the belt is strong and proud .) (i know you are ferering to the term ppl prefer it under)

[@eamonbarr4733]

excellent nice job great music

[@grubbin6432]

IPA is okay for cleaning tape heads, but I wouldn't use it on the pinch rollers. They are made out of rubber, and the IPA will dry them out and cause them to fail faster than normal. You need to use a cleaner intended for use on rubber. :-)

[@kuusik100]

Same model and the red light is appearing even though the batts are full

[@vilhelmboor8542]

Do not use super glue on that type of plastic. What happens it will go white and crumbly in a few weeks. You can though use super glue and baking solder but I advise you to practice with that before you go for real. Please note, it gets hot so take care.

[@sergiu1624]

I don't know why this Walkman states it has anti rolling mechanism, as it's missing the second flywheel. Either Sony lied (advertising a feature which is not implemented) or someone else took the second flywheel off. I was surprised from the beginning why Sony put the motor so far from the flywheel and used such a long belt.

[@andrewbryan1036]

Sometimes you might have too demagnetize the heads too using the demagnetize tool

[@sabagamer3052]

Nice now let me watch it first let's like it

[@MickNavarro]

Fridges, game consoles, Walkman, toys, watches, what is next Vince ? Nuclear plant ?

[@ra3or]

what, no "Your bottom still looks good in a pair of cords." ?

[@Anthony_The_Chicken_Licker]

Please do more videos on Walkman 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@Mashamazzi]

He has five left (I think)