iFixit - Answers With Device "Tape Recorder"

Sony M-430 Microcassette-Corder: Take up spindle is not turning--tape comes out of cassette

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 06:33:39 -0700

I have a Sony M-450 microcassette recorder that I just bought on eBay. It appears almost identical to the M-430.

For approximately a minute the tape played properly but then the tape stopped playing. When I opened the tape door, a lot of tape had come out of the cassette. On studying what was causing it, I realized only the supply spindle is turning which just keeps pushing the tape out of the cassette and it is not being taken up by the other reel.

Would that be caused by a stretched drive belt under the motherboard? Thanks if you can help.

⟐ Commented August 24, 2021 at 6:33 MST

Sony M-430 Microcassette-Corder: The spinners aren't working

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 11:21:39 -0700

I just found an old Microcassette recorder and it worked at first, but after awhile they stopped working and now when I rewind it makes a buzzing noise. Also the little switch on the side has become loose and I can't seem to get it to stay in one spot.

⟐ Comment deleted October 16, 2021 at 11:21 MST

Sony M-430 Microcassette-Corder: The spinner not connected to the motor is really hard to spin

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 10:32:29 -0700

i have a similar model. it's not exactly the same, it's a Sony Microcassette-corder M-10, fully working if it wasn't for the roller that is not the puller that is super hard to move, it does spin on the opposide side to rewind, but when i try to play a cassette it just get stuck, pushed and activates the auto shut-off mechanic of the corder... what can i do to let it loose?

@oldturkey03 @jri_creator

long story short, the roller doesn't allow me to use the cassette recorder
you're techically correct for the motor since it does spin, but i think the belt is doing fine, if shared with the main one, the issue i think is the actual roller (the one you'll see in the clip) that is very hard to move and does quite a noise when moving

⟐ Edited by author September 07, 2023 at 10:32 MST

Tape Recorder: Who fixes TASCAM PORTA 05 decks

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:37:39 -0700

Does anyone repair multi track TASCAM devices from the 80’s. The heads will not disengage from a recording I would dearly like to have.

⟐ Answered February 23, 2024 at 19:37 MST

Grundig TK125: Manual for this device

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 14:11:18 -0700

Does anyone have operating instructions for this tape deck

⟐ Answered January 01, 2026 at 14:11 MST

Panasonic RQ-2102: Where can I get power transformer?

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 17:47:49 -0700

Where can I get AC power transformer for Panasonic RQ-2102 cassette player.

⟐ Answer edited September 03, 2024 at 17:47 MST

Tape Recorder: Sony M-550v Microcassette-Corder doesnt record or play sound

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 03:23:51 -0700

the mini cassette recorder hasnt been used many years, but kept well. The mini tape still runs smooth, indicating light on when play, but VOR doesnt record or play sound, how to fix?

⟐ Answer deleted October 25, 2020 at 3:23 MST

Tape Recorder: What size belts does this use? (Sears 560.21674350)

Fri, 29 Nov 2019 13:40:52 -0700

I picked this up on eBay to have a descent small tape deck (I am aware it isn’t audiophile grade, but a lot of these older dictation decks are far better then the modern Type I record only ones) and I already know the belts will probably be trashed based on how old the unit is.

The thing is I do not know how big of a belt I need to get the unit going with fresh belts so I do not need to worry about the 25+ year old belts going bad. Does anyone know if this uses a common belt I can get in a set or do I need to look for a specific belt listing? Being a Sears deck (the capstan length looks right to me so it’s not one of the nonstandard ones they rigged. Being computer compatible also helps.) I suspect it’s a pretty standard spec belt I can get cheaply.

⟐ Answer edited November 29, 2019 at 13:40 MST

Panasonic RQ-2102: Is there any way I can disable the microphone?

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 19:40:13 -0700

The recording quality is nice, I do it through jacks from my pc to the mic input, but the on board mic also works during the process so it picks up every little sound in the room.

Is there any way I can completely disable the on board micophone? Or any efficient way to cover it up? Let me know!

(okay this is really interesting, I read the manual, says the built in mic is automatically disabled when I record from the mic input, but nope, I wish it were like that.)

⟐ Commented February 18, 2019 at 19:40 MST

Panasonic RQ-2102: Why can't I get the protruding heads back into place

Mon, 27 Nov 2017 06:36:25 -0700

I was able to remove a cassette that had ben inserted upside down and jammed the machine, but in that process, the heads popped out to a position of protruding into the area where a cassette should sit. The door closes, and the Eject button works, but, when power is on, the rollers don't rotate, and I certainly can't get a cassette in as the heads are occupying part of the area where cassettes should sit. Can it be fixed, and, if so, how?

⟐ Commented November 27, 2017 at 6:36 MST

Panasonic RQ-2102: MB-3A circuit wire configuration

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:27:30 -0700

my wires disconnected and i’m not sure where to solder them on

my mistake, mines a national rq 2120 it was made in singapore so the asian market. i cant find anything on these man

⟐ Edited by author December 23, 2025 at 2:27 MST

Tape Recorder: Sony M-560v Microcassette-Corder noise

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 22:59:43 -0700

Got a broken M-560v Microcassette-Corder, replaced the moto belt and working ok. The issue is the noise, even without cassette in. The noise is louder when volume is higher and pretty much the moto noise when volume is low.

Looking forward to the suggestion where to trouble shooting

⟐ Answered March 29, 2025 at 22:59 MST

Sony M-430 Microcassette-Corder: Record/playback only works when tape speed is set to 2.4cm

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 19:29:07 -0700

Everything seems to work just fine, albeit the audio sounds a bit wobbly, when the tape speed is set to 2.4cm. However, when i set the tape speed to 1.2cm, nothing works and only the battery light comes on.

⟐ Answered January 27, 2024 at 19:29 MST

Tape Recorder: Can I repair broken 8 mm video tape

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:57:17 -0700

fix broken magnetic recording tape

⟐ Answered November 22, 2023 at 13:57 MST

Panasonic RQ-2102: Monitor port one sided?

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:47:36 -0700

I was wondering if the monitor port on the RQ-2102 only has audio for one side of earphones, or if I needed to see if I could fix whatever the problem might be on mine.

⟐ Commented November 29, 2022 at 0:47 MST

Tape Recorder: Can't find replacement parts for Sony TC-540

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 11:47:15 -0700

I can't find any replacement parts for these wheels in the tape player, and they don't seem to be working too well. Is there any kind of replacement that would work or could I fabricate these? Also, its a Sony TC-540, not the thing I listed.

I probably should have said this, but it is a giant reel to reel tape player.

I just realized I put in the wrong model number. It is actually a TC-540

⟐ Commented October 08, 2022 at 11:47 MST

Sony M-430 Microcassette-Corder: Wheels on the tape won't spin

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 08:56:29 -0700

Ive already opened up the mechanism deck and replaced the drive belt on it then soldered it back up but it still won't move. Any suggestions?

⟐ Answer deleted July 14, 2022 at 8:56 MST

Tape Recorder: Looking for an Electronic part for an Akai 4000ds taperecorder.

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:37:37 -0700

The recording switch on the Pcb of my Akai 4000ds is used up and I cant find a replacement anywhere.

It's a springloaded slideswitch wish you press from the short side to aktivate.It bounces back when you let go. It's quite common in tape-recorders.

All the best,

Gunnar

⟐ Answer edited February 15, 2022 at 7:37 MST

Tape Recorder: Playback of recorded material is "garbled"

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 04:19:58 -0700

Is that garbled sound, that you are discribing, like if you sing a not and lightly punch yourself in the chest? Because that’s the problem that I have with my deck. I ordered Awesome Mix tapes from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy (meaning they are new) and when I play them on my walkman they sound fine, but when I play them on my Sony TC-K370 the sound is as I described... Is the problem in the belts? Or the little wheel?

⟐ Answer accepted June 28, 2019 at 4:19 MST

Tape Recorder: Power board with leaking elco's. Reason of slow starting reel Sony dec

Fri, 23 Nov 2018 07:54:11 -0700

Its a Sony TC 377. Speed is ok but it startsvslow. The 4 Elco's are broken. I will replace them. If the elco's on the power suply are broken what should not work?

Thanks for reply!

⟐ Answer accepted November 23, 2018 at 7:54 MST