Sony TC-K611S Cassette Deck - Noisy Motor Replacement / Belts / Calibration

Nicholas got in touch to see if anything could be done with his noisy K611S motor. A common complaint due to the motors constantly running on these decks, the bushes wear out on the motors. A nice NOS motor, belt change and a calibration was carried out.

[@jamesdrake6200]

I love watching you restore these old Sonys. You definitely know what you're doing and love cassette decks as much as I do. Keep the videos coming.❤

[@pwrestoration]

Thanks, will do!

[@scotthornberg4807]

Always a pleasure seeing these machines come back to life. It would be rad to see you repair a car cassette deck or a ghetto blaster.

[@samankumara7461]

Great job Sir

[@paulb4uk]

Superb work liked and shared a better mech than my tc -k561s and that was quite a bit of wear in the motor bearings/bushes i will have to examine all my decks .I recently done the belts on my aiwa wx 828 twin deck i bought new in my 20.s it was a right pain belts are easy but you do have to desolder the board on the back that was easy enough but getting it to function was a right pain it was all down to not knowing the gear alignment for the mode and heads and it was the one thing not in the service manual tapeheads was useless for imformation as most people do not seem to know how to even change the belts ,after many hours of forums and pictures one of the Russian video,s he points and shows clearly the gear alignment then i still had problems of front panel buttons causing wrong functions ,with the help of another £10 deck it turns out to be faulty front panel buttons. at some point i will replace buttons on the faulty front panel and fix the parts deck .I was close to giving up not knowing gear alignment and the faulty front panel buttons meant i went round in circles for ages but it is done now .

[@pwrestoration]

Some mechs do require a bit of soldering to remove the old belts, they're not very service friendly!

[@rodantkapoor9721]

I'd love to see a restoration video of a Sony TC-K75 that was one Sony's best decks in 1979. I love mine, but sadly I cannot get it to calibrate bias and record levels anymore. I adjust the knobs and the meters barely show any adjustment. I'm a new subscriber, and I really enjoy your videos, thank you!

[@pwrestoration]

Ah thanks, I really appreciate it. I'm so surprised so many people want to see what I'm doing, it's lovely. What's your issue? If you're in the UK I could take a look. Generally it can be adjusted via the service manual either using the potentiometers on the main board, or in most cases the sliders for adjusting the levels need a bloomin good clean and deoxidising.

[@deebis]

Howdy, I really enjoy your videos as you explain everything well. I have a question I'd like to ask you, my tape deck erase head has lost the small guides attached to it, will this be a problem or work with no real effect? Cheers.

[@pwrestoration]

It should be fine to be honest. They're usually only glued into place - I've had a few come off and I've reattached them. If it's a concern have a look on any old deck and you can usually just pull them off the side of the head. Maybe even a replacement head for your deck. Good luck!

[@VintageAudioTech]

I found the capstan motors in those decks needed to be changed frequently when under constant use

[@pwrestoration]

Yes, I've changed a few. It made sense on the 661 to only run when playing

[@nazcaplain]

I've got the 615 version of this deck and two belts on order. I'll be referring to your dis and re-assembly for sure. I've an oscilloscope, this'll be the 1st time I've used it for azimuth adjustment, hopefully it's apparent which screw is the azimuth on the head?

[@pwrestoration]

Bottom right screw as you look at the head if it's a three head deck, double check the service manual for your specific deck though.

[@ingenfestbrems]

i had a tc-k970es. sold it for about 1500$. Mint but the thing i dint like was noisy hatc door motor.. soundet cheap. Now my msin cassette deck is Tandberg TCD330. really amazing ingeneering. 3motors just like the Tandberg TD20 rtr.

[@WattTheTech]

Can you say where you find your new old stock motors, I have a TC-K677ES that the capstan motor was not working, replaced it with a aftermarket one and fixed the issue but introduced a ground hum on recording. So I would like to get a new (old stock) motor is I can, or could my old motor be serviced I have no sideways play on it like the one you show it just feels a but stiff to turn but it does turn. I do have a no left channel playback but that the next issue to look at once I fix the hum

[@pwrestoration]

To be honest, as long as the voltage is the same it doesn't matter much for which motor you use to replace. Ground hum isn't usually caused by the motor, sounds like you maybe have a few issues I'm afraid

[@thebreretons]

Its a long time (30 years I guess) since I've worked on a cassette deck, I had to change the belt on a TCK-611S recently only to find the speed was around 3 percent to slow and had bad wow and flutter after replacing the belt even though it had never been serviced since new, it turned out to be a faulty flywheel it was full of small cracks and had swollen around the outer surface, caused possibly by something like "Tin Pest". Sadly the flywheel is no longer available. I've seen Tin Pest on castings before but usually on old Reel to Reel decks.

[@pwrestoration]

That's really interesting, I've not heard of that before. The capstan does feature on a fair few Sony decks if you could find one for spares or parts, sometimes there are guys on the audio servicing Facebook groups who have a stock of old machines they strip. If not anything around the same dimensions will work, then just adjust the trimmers to get the speed you'd like. Belts also come in generic sizing for custom projects - or if you can't get one specifically for your deck. Which happens! 🤞 Good luck with it!

[@thebreretons]

Thanks for the reply, the deck has gone now (returned un-repaired) but the disintegrating flywheel surprised me. The flywheels on my own deck, an older Sony TC-K75 (used for customers tape transfers) seem fine, all it ever needed was a clean and belt change.

[@xvdifug]

From where do you order replacement parts? I ask because I have a 611S and a 615S that both are in need of new belts. I searched for Deck Tech but all results come back as companies that deal with DECKS or PORCHES not belts.....ugg. Good call on the erase head wiring. BTW I have a TC-FX707R that had a nagging record issue, Turns out it was the signal relay not passing signal on record properly.

[@pwrestoration]

I use the same seller off eBay - www.ebay.co.uk/str/manatreereplacementparts?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=17wMLu9-RVW&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=qI2jvYkCTXO&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Fast postage and always a good service. I am in no way affiliated with them. The motor came from a wholesale parts house.

[@xvdifug]

Boy...I'm a dope, I already had them as a saved seller on my Ebay acct. Thanks again, Keep up with the awesome vids!

[@pwrestoration]

Not at all, good luck!

[@paulb4uk]

@@pwrestoration these belts have been good quality i have used them many times and malvern hills audio .

[@davesevere629]

the resistor on the capstan motor - what size is it, and why is it there (I think I will be doing a similar job here soon on my sony deck - and I am horrible with resistors) :)

[@pwrestoration]

Capstan motors are stranger than you'd think. So they are actually a tiny motor housed in a larger shell, with a small circuit board in there too. That circuit board is what has the speed pot on it, and also some caps to regulate the speed to what the deck requires. This is why if you reverse the wires on the motor unit itself it will run in reverse but insanely fast, because the power is also reversed on the circuit board and messes everything up. So to answer your question it is simply to aid in smoother and correct speed delivery. If your motor will run at the correct speed, that caps good!

[@taylorparnell3011]

My deck had a clicking noise on deck A with also a slight buzz/hum that goes away when i touch the unit. Any idea what it could be?

[@pwrestoration]

Deck a? Presume it isn't the same as this one? Noise when touching us an earth problem. Check all the earth straps on the transport

[@SunnyAustria]

Good Video, but you installed the Motor pully in the wrong Direction. Now your capstan belt does not run in the middle of the fly Wheel… just to mention so people use your Video doin it right. Nice greets (sorry for my english)

[@AudioFileZ]

I've got two of these...both dead. Trouble is I can't see me doing this even though you explain it quite well.

[@pwrestoration]

Always interested if you would like someone to take them off your hands, or even repair them!

[@krikri817]

I have a Sony Model TC-WE475 that's started to eat cassette tapes. Is this something you can fix?

[@pwrestoration]

Is it a twin deck? Usually they're not economically viable to repair. They're twice the work. If it's eating tapes, change the pinch rollers 👍

[@krikri817]

@@pwrestoration yeah it's a twin deck, I'll try changing the rollers first. I understand it's not economical but just a fun thing to have at the house :)

[@UberSynth]

What app you using on that phone?

[@pwrestoration]

Spectroid

[@plazmapetr8261]

Dobrý den mám dotaz on se dá ještě sehnat originální motor já jsem sehnal jenom náhradu za originální díl ale má to problém nejdou seřídit otáčky chybí rozsah potenciometru nahrávky jsou trochu zpomalené

[@pwrestoration]

Any 12v cassette motor will fit. They are generally universal. The only thing to check is that it spins the correct way - you need CW (clockwise) I think. Just make sure when you buy it has a potentiometer. eBay is probably best.

[@plazmapetr8261]

Je tam levotočivý ale rozsah potenciometru není dostatečný ale nějak to vyřeším díky za odpověď s pozdravem m.p.

[@pwrestoration]

@@plazmapetr8261 @plazmapetr8261 if your pot isn't getting up to speed, sometimes this is caused by low voltage into the motor. It can also (more commonly) be caused by the wrong belt being used and it being too tight

[@paulcole1150]

5:51 You didn't make sure the belt wasn't twisted... (and it is)

[@pwrestoration]

A twisted belt soon sorts itself when you press play!

[@blade3120]

NOISY MOTOR IS ULTIMATE TRASHHHHHH!!! DESTROID OR PUT OVER VOLTAGE TO BURN IT!!!! STAY AWAY MOTORS MASSUSHITA ONLY SANKYO MOTORS!!!

[@pwrestoration]

😅 wtaf

[@blade3120]

@@pwrestoration look better popularity matsushita motors and sankyo motors!! SANKYO MOTORS USE ONLY 3 SANKYO MOTORS Nagamichi casette decks exept nagamichi dragon is direct drive!

[@pwrestoration]

@@blade3120 ok! Whatever you say 🫠