Sony TC-144 CS Cassette Deck Amplifier Repair Restoration part 1 of 1

In this episode I repair and restore a battered and heavily used Sony TC-144 CS cassette deck amplifier from the 70's. It's definitely an excursion outside my comfort zone, since I'm not used to repairing mechanical Hifi appliances
Enjoy :)
Serial Nr: 500550
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[@tommybewick]

I don't know how I missed this video when it came out a couple weeks ago but I found it now! Thanks for another great restoration project. I always learn a lot from you!

[@TechneMoira]

Hello Thomas. Thank you, it's heart-warming to get a nice comment and it motivates me to go on. Usually I publish a new video every month or so, give or take a week. Thank you again for considering subscribing and giving me a thumb's up :) See you next video

[@JamesE707]

The average cassette deck (and reel to reel) is very complex. As the decades go by, the components and mechanics 'age' in slow motion resulting in one fix after another. I have 16 cassette decks, and one Revox A77. One thing I have found is that since the cassette is a small, delicate, and rather poorly thought through design, it is very prone to going wrong. I have spent literally *hundreds* of hours working and repairing them, and in some cases making small modifications. Patience and good grounding of how the machine works is required. Nice video, I always enjoy watching other people's work!

[@TechneMoira]

Thank you James for your encouraging comments. A lot of my "work" here on you tube consists of watching a lot of other people's channels too... One can always learn something new or interesting if one's truly interested in watching a video rather than "skimming" it :) This cassette deck was devilishly complicated to me (I'm not an expert in mechanical stuff I confess) but it was an interesting experience. I was a bit disappointed though about the sound quality of music recorded on a cassette. I don't know why I put up with such mediocre sound back in the day when I was a teenager

[@tectalabyss]

Hi TM. Great to see another video. I hope to get your parts made this week or next week. Has always I Liked,shared. All my very best. Watching your video now.

[@TechneMoira]

Hello Bobby. Hope you enjoy watching my video and thank you very much for your help... it's really appreciated :)

[@tectalabyss]

@@TechneMoira I am enjoying the video,very much. And you are very welcome. All my very best.

[@JamesE707]

The TC-144 uses the same cassette transport system as the 135SD and 136SD.

[@TechneMoira]

Thanks for the tip :)

[@keybutnolock]

Great video, I have a similar deck from the 70's.TC-133, no longer works. Do your's have the pair of matching speakers that formed to lid ? Cool design. Thanks for sharing.

[@TechneMoira]

Hello Keith. Thanks for the nice comment, it makes me happy to know you appreciated the video :) It's funny you should mention the TC-133 because I originally aimed at getting the TC-136 (which is rather similar I think) but I got the 144 instead. As for the speakers, no unfortunately I don't have those (they're on my list of nice to have) But usually I start a restoration project with a budget in mind which I try to stick to. This cassette deck needs a new motor and some work still on the mechanical part, so I might revisit it and who knows, maybe I might even bump into a pair of matching speakers.... :)

[@juanjobravo4476]

excelent job!!! I have the same model, works the preamps, vu meters input and outputs but unfortunately the player and recorder of the cassette don`t have signal to record or play. The the mechanisms and engine rewind and ff of the player works well but the signal is gonne. Maybe You have a idea of this problem? regards

[@TechneMoira]

Thank you for the compliment. There are in fact three switches inside the cassette player that work together to start either recording or playing. Two of them are on the left side (inside the player when looking at the front) and one large side-ways switch on the main PCB on the right side of the mechanism. If either of those switches do not work properly, you won't be able to play back a cassette or record on one. I would suggest two things: 1) check whether the switches on the left are wired properly and still give good contact 2) clean the sideways switch on the main PCB and check the solderpoints of the switch are not broken (in which case you should reflow the solder to each contact) Also, when you reassemble the player make sure the little lever of the mechanism pushes the sideways switch on the PCB correctly. Good luck :)

[@sumanthbhat1041]

I have this set want to repair kindly tell me it's IC number with specification. Let me see to replace new IC

[@philosyche]

did you repair the one you have?

[@СергейМ-я2е]

Еще раз здравствуйте. Вожусь с таким магнитофоном Sony TS-144cs. Кнопка записи сломана, отломалась педаль внутри, которая нажимает на сам механизм записи. Не могу понять как снять клавиши управления. Можете подсказать ?! Магнитофон мне достался в хорошем внешнем состоянии с родными колонками. Я поменял ремни, склеил крепления крышки для кассет. Хотел проверить запись и увидел, что кнопка не работает. Разобрал ее опять и увидел, что клавиша записи сломана и кусок внутри. Спасибо. Сам новичок в этом деле.

[@TechneMoira]

Это более сложная проблема для решения. Вы можете попробовать приклеить отломанную часть, если она у вас осталась, эпоксидной смолой. в противном случае можно было бы демонтировать сломанный рычаг, сняв сначала кнопки сверху, а затем воссоздать его из тонкого куска стали или алюминия с помощью напильника.

[@СергейМ-я2е]

@@TechneMoira Спасибо вам, а ответ. Отломанный кусок лежал внутри рядом с маховиком и мешал ему крутиться. Только не знаю как снять саму кнопку. Думаю они зарыты планкой, которая припаяна

[@СергейМ-я2е]

А что делает медная полоска на 8.57 - 8.58

[@TechneMoira]

Медная полоса соединяет металлическую крышку сверху кассетной деки изнутри с заземляющим проводом

[@СергейМ-я2е]

@@TechneMoira спасибо. !

[@СергейМ-я2е]

Не надо рукой закрывать механизм кода показываете.

[@TechneMoira]

Спасибо за ваш комментарий. Я не, к сожалению, понимаю, что вы имеете в виду не надо закрывать код вручную? В любом случае спасибо, что заглянули и подумали о подписке :)

[@СергейМ-я2е]

@@TechneMoira Тоже делал вчера такой магнитофон, менял ремни. Очень удобно. Спасибо вам за видео.