Let's Fix: Sony Walkman WM-3 New Belts and Fixing the Mic

[@TheRetroFuture]

The intro was definitely not done by me over Skype.... Great video man!

[@sjm4306]

oh yeah ... of course not ...

[@yobelkcip]

I love how you and The Retro Future uploaded Walkman-related videos on the same day.

[@sjm4306]

Great minds think alike

[@MadameTengu]

I'm glad people like you are around to do teardowns on analog tech like this. Also, Americana is the second best Offspring album(in my opinion) only being outdone by Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace

[@soulsirius]

Hi. Thanks a lot for all these videos. I want to ask why am i having a loud noise when rewind/forward and play even without a cassette? And besides rewinds slowly. When playing it's just fine since I changed all the rubbers on it. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance

[@sjm4306]

So in general ffw/rw problems often stem from a slipping gear/rubber wheel that's pressed against the capstan flywheel inside the unit. The exact mechanism of how the motion is transferred really depends on what exact model you have. The loud noise is likely due to the bracket that holds and tensions the ffw/rw mechanism wheel being not aligned in the correct position (easily pops out of alignment if you are to remove the flywheel say during belt replacement, this happened to me during my sony f1 repair video) or it's possibly some bearing needs cleaning or relubrication in the mechanism.

[@soulsirius]

@@sjm4306 Thanks for the response. I have a Sony TPS-L2 which I am working on at the moment. I changed all the rubber parts including two belts, pinch roller and two idler tyres all obtained from Fixyouraudio. I am having pretty good sound without any speed calibration but calibrated the azimuth. The sound is satisfying and no audible noise during playback. The hum noise which is a midrange to low pitch noise comes when rewind, forward and when pressed play while no cassette inserted. I oiled the shafts with watch oil and put tiny amount of silicon grease to some gears. The mechanism is working dead silent, there is no visible difficulty for the moving parts while spinning. There is quite good torque on sprockets. I got the device from the first owners and it's opened first time ever, i can tell that from the screws since some of them showed a quite strong resistance when unscrewed. I can take out all parts and relubricate everything from scratch, no big deal but are we on right path? Can the root of this issue be an electronic part? Or, the motor? Or something else? I am planning to sell this device, if i would keep it for myself I wouldn't mind that humming or say a static hum but i want the buyer fully satisfied since these devices aren't going for cheap as you know. My concern is, if this is a sign of an electronic issue which will cause a serious problem in near future, It would be bad reputation for myself. I've been searching and searching for 5-6 days already to figure out the problem but no luck so far. What do you think about the points I mentioned above?

[@sjm4306]

It's possible the caps are starting to go, but it's perfectly normal to have a bit of an increase in the noise floor when ffw/rw as it's driving the motor harder and the power supply in these old players aren't particularly well regulated and filtered.

[@mikehazz4841]

I finally fixed my TPS-L2. I spent a lot of time trying to understand why the cassette stopped. I found the rubber wheel that touches the capstain wasn't rotating because its metal bracket was too tight and prevented it from freely turning. I don't know how it happened, but it was just a matter of opening a little the metal bracket, and tah-dah! Also, the nylon pulley (the one connected by the upper belt) who drive a rubber wheel was a little worn. I put a little piece of heat shrink tubing over it, just to prevent it from slipping, and now it works perfectly again. About the MIC, you can find how to connect it in the service manual, freely available on the web.

[@proto-guest4511]

Where did you get the belts from? I recently bought the classic design of the TPS-l2 walkman, but I'm having a tough time trying to find the right belts for it. What belts do you use?

[@sjm4306]

I bought a multipack of belts off ebay and fished through it for the right size.

[@TheKiddhazel]

So you’re the one who outbid me...

[@sjm4306]

Really or are you joking? If it was then sorry, if not then I'm not sorry :-)

[@TheKiddhazel]

No it really was haha. I wanted to give it a go at repairing one, but honestly it's probably in better hands :)

[@sjm4306]

Wow what a small world. Well thanks for letting me have this one then by not increasing your max bid!

[@abominablemusic]

my WM3 had the same issue with the battery clasp... Did you fix it?

[@sjm4306]

Yep, I designed and 3d printed a replacement latch. If you search thingiverse I've uploaded the model.

[@frank500C]

I have one since new, guy replaced a belt but one wheel isn’t turning. Do you do repairs?

[@sjm4306]

I do repairs, shoot me an email at [e-mail] with more details about any other symptoms (mechanical sounds it makes, feel of the keys when you press them, anything else irregular, etc.)? We can then see about fixing it up for you.

[@blackham7]

How would you replace the capacitors if you had to I don't know how to access them?

[@sjm4306]

You would need to desolder enough wires so you could swing the circuit board out to replace the caps. So long as you keep track of which wires went where you could then resolder them after you are done.

[@AAI30]

What are the symptoms of bad capacitors?

[@kuyakuma]

Subscribed at "it weighs an amount"

[@thomaslunz1437]

Danke für die Anleitung😀

[@mysilentwarrior]

Dude, show us the battery cover catch in action... PLEASE !!! (I have a TPS-L2 and will buy a 3d printer just to print the battery cover catch piece...)

[@sjm4306]

I made an update video where I do just that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKHCdoRjZ7WIf68 The thingiverse link is in the description so you can make your own.

[@schi2989]

Hey sjm, I have a wm-3 that doesn't power on at all. Where would you start in fixing it? Thanks :)

[@sjm4306]

First I'd check/clean battery contacts, then open it up and inspect/clean leaf switches, then inspect/replace capacitors

[@osmondsplace2428]

Is the moter what's powering up the Sony walkman wm3

[@bamboozledwaterlemon1158]

Yoo nice video, can you please tell me the diameter of both rubber bands, thankyou!

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

I'd be excited too, they cost an f-ing fortune!!!!

[@sjm4306]

I definitely did get a very good deal seeing how much more their price has increased now.

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

@@sjm4306 Yeah, and cos of that i'll never have one. My dad had a blue one when he was a teen which we can't find, and just my luck they're the most expensive ones at around $700 to nearly $2,000!!!!! It's an f-ing joke!!!! $#!%

[@sjm4306]

It's insane alright, prices weren't too bad till the tps-l2 was featured in popular media and then all of a sudden a bunch of people just wanted them as expensive display pieces.

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

@@sjm4306 Exaclty. It's so unfair that they keep using things like this in shows and movies. It ruins it for people that just want one or for those who had one as a kid and lost it and want one again. You can't get them cheaper otherwise the people that sell them cheap feel empty handed becuase the scalpers have set such a standard and anyone wanting to sell one now have this expectation that they deserve hundreds for it even though they probably found it in their cupboard one day with no interest to keep it.

[@proto-guest4511]

But the SONY MDR-5A Stereo headphones are 100 times expensive and rare.

[@dansutton678]

Please help! How did you put the bracket back in

[@dansutton678]

Could you speak to me on messenger

[@sjm4306]

I never completely removed it. I only unscrewed it and lifted it enough to get to the belts with a thin pair of tweezers. If you'd like I can link you the service manual which has assembly diagrams that will hopefully help you put yours back together correctly.

[@dansutton678]

Yes that’s sounds so great. I am screwed if I don’t get it fixed

[@sjm4306]

mega.nz/#!SYJQSILK!sDNohrUCP9r43b7tCCFn9AHIfR0ozRpfdn9uhobrkGQ

[@thejohns-lv6ub]

Excellent man

[@windowsfan95]

If you want to watch any more walkman or casset player video's you should check out techmoan's channel.

[@sjm4306]

Yep I've been subbed to him for a long time and his videos are a golden standard for technical info and presentation

[@cesar122111]

Liked the Video just because the offspring cassette on it, i dont have to see anything else, see you later

[@sjm4306]

90s Rock and Alternative were my jam back in the day.

[@cesar122111]

Same over here, my phone is full of old music and i get more excited when i find bands than i didn't know and have several albums to listen to

[@hoodhippo674]

Holy fuck I was like.... This dude has a English accent???? Never fucking noticed??? Oh.. lol nice vid btw

[@sjm4306]

Rofl was hoping to prank some of my viewers!

[@kaio0777]

Wow nice video dude

[@sjm4306]

Thanks

[@sneff212]

How much did you win this one for?

[@sjm4306]

$76

[@CS-rk6fu]

I AM DEAF, GOODBYE

[@sjm4306]

I am Shawn, nice to meet you Deaf.

[@SMFJose]

You are crazy!!! SORRY

[@sjm4306]

Not the first time nor the last time I'll hear that lol