I have a Walkman of the exact same model! Found it at a thrift store for a really good deal, so I had to pick it up! Only catch is that she plays slightly slow, and the speed of any tape varies, even after a relatively deep clean, a replacement of the first belt (the easily accessible one) and brand new batteries! I'm sorta at my wits end trying to determine why it still won't play 100%! Might you have any suggestions? You certainly seem to know your way around technology such as these! Thank you and great video! :)
Thank you for your lovely compliments. The only reasons why I could see it running slowly would be (a) there’s friction in the mechanism because it needs to be lubricated, (b) the servo (motor speed) circuit needs adjustment or (c) which I think is most likely, that the belt slipping because it is sticky, loose or disintegrating. You will have to open up the machine to see what’s going on. Use a screwdriver or even your finger if you can get it all the way in to see if the belt is taut between the pulleys. It should be, and I’m betting it’s not. Please let me know what you find because you have piqued my curiosity!
Thanks, very helpful video. Don't suppose you have any info on the torsion spring for the door? Mine is missing and I would like to be rid of the elastic band
Thank you. No, I’m sorry I have no info on the spring. Here’s my suggestion: Check the service manual to see if the spring was a separately orderable part. if it was, you can get the part number. With the part number, you may be able to see which other Walkmans (or Sony products) had the same spring. If it was shared with other units, you may be able to pick up an inexpensive parts donor.
Brilliant Tear down, Helped me diagnose and fix my silver one. Where is the best place to source replacement belts? Also, how would you go about replacing the Volume wheel? Mine is dodgy and clicking to and from max volume and needs a delicate hand to get it right. Cheers, !
Thank you for the kind words. To answer your questions: I have bought loads of belts from eBay seller “mana_tree”. I’m not affiliated with them, but please check them out. Before you remove the volume control get some DeOxit control cleaner (not contact cleaner!) and see if that helps. If it doesn’t, then you may be able to find a surplus potentiometer of roughly the same size. But more likely you will be forced to get a parts donor. Do check to see (using part numbers) if other Walkmans used the same volume control as the one you need; it may make it easier to find an inexpensive parts donor. Good luck. Keep me posted!
G'day again, I've now replaced the belts from a basic chinese realtor on ebay, and am now getting a better sound after a lot of trial and error. I've now got the issue of a flutter at the top end of my sound which is a little off putting for some tunes. Mostly higher side violins seem to really mess with it. I am hoping it is linked to the same problem with the volume wheel. I haven't managed to find Control Cleaner, only the DeOxit Contact cleaner, Would you have a link to this? It could well save me the burden of finding the manual, part number, replacement, and soldering kit haha. Thanks again. @@Mr.BrownsBasement
Glad to hear you’re making headway. Flutter at high frequencies? It’s possible that the capstan needs cleaning & lubricating. Here’s the link for DeOxit control cleaner. I hope it helps. Again, I have no connection and make no profit: www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00006LVF1?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
I have the same walkman but the play button doesn’t want to hold, nor dors the playback or forward button, the stop/eject button is jammed in and doesn’t want to get out, any help please ? :)
If the Stop/Eject button is jammed down, have you checked the spring that causes it to return? Also, when you press the Stop/Eject button, there is a catch that holds the button depressed until another button is depressed to release it Why isn't that catch moving to release the Stop/Eject button? Is there something broken (do you hear / see little bits of plastic inside the case?) This is a hard thing to diagnose without actually having the unit open on the workbench. But I would be looking for something being broken (split, cracked), misalignment of the mechanism (the result of incorrect assembly, something shifted into the wrong place, something left out during reassembly, a spring that has become sad and not springy enough), or jammed (too much force, lack of lubrication). The bad news is that if something is broken you won't be able to get a replacement part from Sony; you will will have to acquire a donor machine and take parts from it. This will be an "interesting" repair. Let me know how it goes!
It was my gift to people who watched the video to the end. By the way, I am making myself useful by taking my turn keeping eggs warm and hunting for fish.
Check for friction between the motor and the capstan. It may be caked up with expired lubricant. It’s the capstan that does the work of pulling the tape, not the take-up reel.
I found the original WM-4 operating manual at HiFi Engine. According to the manual, the original AC power adapters were AC-9W (USA), AC-9 (Canada), AC-15A (UK), and AC-4A (Europe & other countries). The automobile adapter was DCC-127A. I hope this is helpful.
I have a Walkman of the exact same model! Found it at a thrift store for a really good deal, so I had to pick it up! Only catch is that she plays slightly slow, and the speed of any tape varies, even after a relatively deep clean, a replacement of the first belt (the easily accessible one) and brand new batteries! I'm sorta at my wits end trying to determine why it still won't play 100%! Might you have any suggestions? You certainly seem to know your way around technology such as these! Thank you and great video! :)
Thank you for your lovely compliments. The only reasons why I could see it running slowly would be (a) there’s friction in the mechanism because it needs to be lubricated, (b) the servo (motor speed) circuit needs adjustment or (c) which I think is most likely, that the belt slipping because it is sticky, loose or disintegrating. You will have to open up the machine to see what’s going on. Use a screwdriver or even your finger if you can get it all the way in to see if the belt is taut between the pulleys. It should be, and I’m betting it’s not. Please let me know what you find because you have piqued my curiosity!
Thanks, very helpful video. Don't suppose you have any info on the torsion spring for the door? Mine is missing and I would like to be rid of the elastic band
Thank you. No, I’m sorry I have no info on the spring. Here’s my suggestion: Check the service manual to see if the spring was a separately orderable part. if it was, you can get the part number. With the part number, you may be able to see which other Walkmans (or Sony products) had the same spring. If it was shared with other units, you may be able to pick up an inexpensive parts donor.
Brilliant Tear down, Helped me diagnose and fix my silver one. Where is the best place to source replacement belts? Also, how would you go about replacing the Volume wheel? Mine is dodgy and clicking to and from max volume and needs a delicate hand to get it right. Cheers, !
Thank you for the kind words. To answer your questions: I have bought loads of belts from eBay seller “mana_tree”. I’m not affiliated with them, but please check them out. Before you remove the volume control get some DeOxit control cleaner (not contact cleaner!) and see if that helps. If it doesn’t, then you may be able to find a surplus potentiometer of roughly the same size. But more likely you will be forced to get a parts donor. Do check to see (using part numbers) if other Walkmans used the same volume control as the one you need; it may make it easier to find an inexpensive parts donor. Good luck. Keep me posted!
G'day again, I've now replaced the belts from a basic chinese realtor on ebay, and am now getting a better sound after a lot of trial and error. I've now got the issue of a flutter at the top end of my sound which is a little off putting for some tunes. Mostly higher side violins seem to really mess with it. I am hoping it is linked to the same problem with the volume wheel. I haven't managed to find Control Cleaner, only the DeOxit Contact cleaner, Would you have a link to this? It could well save me the burden of finding the manual, part number, replacement, and soldering kit haha. Thanks again.
@@Mr.BrownsBasement
Glad to hear you’re making headway. Flutter at high frequencies? It’s possible that the capstan needs cleaning & lubricating. Here’s the link for DeOxit control cleaner. I hope it helps. Again, I have no connection and make no profit: www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00006LVF1?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title
Be sure the headphone jacks push down and out of back plastic case cover. Not like shown at 3:03
Good point. But that’s how I received it! The lady who sold it to me had worked at Sony Canada before retiring. Likely not in the service division.
I have the same walkman but the play button doesn’t want to hold, nor dors the playback or forward button, the stop/eject button is jammed in and doesn’t want to get out, any help please ? :)
If the Stop/Eject button is jammed down, have you checked the spring that causes it to return? Also, when you press the Stop/Eject button, there is a catch that holds the button depressed until another button is depressed to release it Why isn't that catch moving to release the Stop/Eject button? Is there something broken (do you hear / see little bits of plastic inside the case?) This is a hard thing to diagnose without actually having the unit open on the workbench. But I would be looking for something being broken (split, cracked), misalignment of the mechanism (the result of incorrect assembly, something shifted into the wrong place, something left out during reassembly, a spring that has become sad and not springy enough), or jammed (too much force, lack of lubrication). The bad news is that if something is broken you won't be able to get a replacement part from Sony; you will will have to acquire a donor machine and take parts from it. This will be an "interesting" repair. Let me know how it goes!
As a Linux user, I also moved with the penguins to avoid exasperating neighbours.
It was my gift to people who watched the video to the end. By the way, I am making myself useful by taking my turn keeping eggs warm and hunting for fish.
Nice!
Thank you.
I have this wm4 in silver
I always preferred the look of the silver and the black Walkmans. Have your belts disintegrated too?
@@Mr.BrownsBasement No it was refurbished.
@@THE-xp3hp You should get good sound, great sound with the right tape and headphones!
Mine is really “warbly” I’ve changed the belts but its still the same
Check for friction between the motor and the capstan. It may be caked up with expired lubricant. It’s the capstan that does the work of pulling the tape, not the take-up reel.
@@Mr.BrownsBasement I will do, cheers mr brown.
Keep me posted!
Do you know what original ac power adapter this unit uses?
I found the original WM-4 operating manual at HiFi Engine. According to the manual, the original AC power adapters were AC-9W (USA), AC-9 (Canada), AC-15A (UK), and AC-4A (Europe & other countries). The automobile adapter was DCC-127A. I hope this is helpful.
Sure was, Thank you.@@Mr.BrownsBasement
@JohnSmith-yb1im 😊