The Sony TC-105A reel-to-reel tape recorder.

[sivle1973]

Would you be so kind as to check in your owners manual what specific tape(s) this recorder is set up for originally? Great video and a really nice deck. Have one myself.

[CassetteMaster]

@sivle1973 Sorry, but the manual does not say what tape type was used.

[RICKROLLBLENDER]

question: picked up one of these for $10. It fast forwards and rewinds; but it doesn't play. I've taken it apart, and the large metal flywheel thing (no idea what it's really called) doesn't move. Should it be connected with a belt? how do I fix this?

[CassetteMaster]

@RICKROLLBLENDER It is ran off a rubber tire, perhaps the tire is not turning freely (needs oil) or the rubber is not getting good traction (clean with Windex and paper towel). A flywheel is actually the correct term.

[RICKROLLBLENDER]

@CassetteMaster

The flywheel and the tire aren't touching. :\

any idea how to fix? I'll send photos if you want them

[CassetteMaster]

@RICKROLLBLENDER Likely the spring loaded mechanism that pulls the idler (the tire) against the flywheel has dried up grease and needs new grease to it to move freely. Changing the speed will raise the idler up to different diameters on the motor shaft, and the "stair-step" mechanism for the speed change probably needs new grease.

[34D2234]

i make those 2 1/4" diameter x 1/2"thick x 3/4" center hole foam for the covers of all these reel players, their the exact same size as originals, but the foam wont fall apart over time, its like that memory foam, if you or anyone else needs a set, email me your address and i'll send you a free set, or go on ebay, look under vintage reel to reel i listed a set there under, "replacement reel foam new" under king_rat1, i have plenty , i'm making up a batch and they work excellent.

[34D2234]

i have picked up this same recorder from a friend for free, it played/recorded like a new machine, no dragging speeds excellent and accurite, redcorded beautifully, rewind and fast forward perfect, i started recording a song as a test off a phonograph and all of a sudden i looked at it and the light went out and it stopped, and started to stink bad. any ideas? its not the motor cause its new

[CassetteMaster]

@34D2234 Probably the motor-run capacitor that has failed. I have 2 of these (this is one) and both had bad motor-run capacitors that caused the motor's speed to slow down and overheat. Replacing the cap (1.5uF, 250VAC) fixed the problem. Also check for any blown fuse.

[OTAlucard]

time to fix mine



[LOUBCOOL]

Anybody know where I can get a "Free" or cheap copy of the Sony tc105 Owners instruction manual or Service manua? I'm unemployed so times are tough.

Thanks, LouBcool

[DariusFranke]

Hi CassetteMaster - My TC-105 has a puzzling problem - it records at a very low level. It plays pre-recorded tapes very loudly, and when I use the mic, I can easily get the level meter well into the red, yet the playback is very low. Bias voltage across the record head is 18 volt p-p at 56kHz. According to the schematic there is nothing between the circuit that drives the record meter and the bias transformer that drives the record head with the audio & bias signal. Any ideas? Thanks! DAF

[CassetteMaster]

@DariusFranke Maybe a leaky capacitor or bad soldering joint.

[ForgetfulCollector]

I picked up one of these today for a twenty, and it works perfectly, although it's in much worse shape than yours.

I tried playing a stereo tape on it to find that it cannot play both left and right at the same time, so I added an extra switch to make it play or record on both left and right if I want to.

Very nice machine you have here!

[dukeofgerald]

I have a Sony TC-377 and a TC-105. I wonder what the difference is between a 105 and a 105A. My 105 serial number is 62090. Would that tell me the year it was made. I'm going to replace the motor run capacitor when the replacement comes in. Old one was slowing down the motor. Would like to see more 105s on Youtube.

[BoudjeR6]

Nice recorder, I think this is one of the best mono

consumer recorders. I had one when I was ten

but I do not know what happened with the recorder and where it is.

[paranormaalutrecht]

nice recorder! I just restaurated a totall-loss tc 252.... he is as new :) I always enjoy your nice vid's!!! Very funny and nice!

Greetings from the Netherlands *Holland* :)

[umajunkcollector]

another common problem with some old Sony's is they need pressure pads under the head hood.

[umajunkcollector]

If I recall, I think it used a 15mfd motor run cap. I am looking into using ceiling fan motor caps. But they are hard to find in stores like Home Depot or Lowe's. So I will look online for them, perhaps on ebay. I need a good source to buy them. I need one for my Uher now, a dual 3/5mfd. The motor stalls and runs hot when you get it going. Or they run slow. .

[KERLZ124]

Question, I have this same tape recorder, but the volume/pwr knob just spins around and will not turn on, I know that the machine works because the knob wasnt broken for a little while. and it worked just fine. Just curious if you have heard of this problem or know of a place that can fix it thanks!!

[CassetteMaster]

THe knob might be loose on the spindle, or the thing that turns inside the potentiometer might have popped loose. If you can't fix that, then the knob might need replacing, and you should be able to get them from a scrap machine or RadioShack.

[KERLZ124]

ok that sounds good I think that, that is the one thing that I have not tried yet. I think that the potentiometer is loose. I hope that I can get replacement part if I need it. well see thx!

[KERLZ124]

we were also considering wiring a power switch and a volume knob, I suppose we will see

[vieuxson]

nice reel to reel i have a tc 200 with hybrid amplifier output is your tape recorder solid state or tube thanks for thr video very detailled

[CassetteMaster]

Mine's all solid state.

[vogtrob]

Found one of these in my attic. Mine doesnt have a mic or speaker. Do you know the size of the mic input or the speaker out so i can get some adapters????

[CassetteMaster]

If it's the same model machine, then the mic jack and ext. speaker jack are 1/8 inch "phone" jacks. (not telephone, but like on a mono headphone). If there's no built in speaker, the size I think is 4" by 6" oval.

[vogtrob]

Yeah its the same one, I didn't even try 1/8 jacks cause it just seemed too small by eye. Will do when i get home. Thanks!

[toastyplatters70]

I'm simply marveling!

[CassetteMaster]

The problem is easily fixed. The motor run capacitor is failing, it needs replacing. Use a 1.5uF capacitor over 120V rating and non-polarized. (I used a 1uF and .47uF in parallel to get 1.47uF, close enough to 1.5.) It doesn't have to be electrolytic, I used, I believe, mylar. Very easy and effective fix!!

[nikolai1959]

hi MASTER......BIG test for you..... reel to reel (PAROS-750 4 TRACK STEREO HI-FI TAPE RECORDER) SIT ON A FRONT OF MY FACE----4 MONTH. I LIKE THIS MACHINE....BUT?????? NO INFO ON A NET.....YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT?????? I WILL PUT ON A YOU TUBE NOW VIDEO....IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT INFO---JUST POST ME PLEASE..... SEARCH ON A YOU TUBE-----(PAROS-750)...THANX

[Dessna32]

Can You play all the tracks in unison?

[CassetteMaster]

No.

[gli7utubeo]

Beautiful. I had a similar one in 1970.

Every control is mechanical, with a satisfying THUNK. I wonder how someone would go about lubricating an ipod...

[CassetteMaster]

Yeah...I like the ways of a solid feel of old tape recorders' controls! I love to have to use a little force to CHUNK the control. Wheather turn knob, or push. There's somethink about it! Also but CHUNK sounds of solenoid operators... Nothing today is so cool like that!

[itscool1968]

i had the pro versio of that unit was a stereo unit was heavy as all heck to

[CassetteMaster]

This machine is idler drive.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Very nice recorder. Really great quality and sounds terrific!

[Nokorola]

Beautiful machine.

[chameleonday]

That's amazing there is a instruction manual with that unit.(And in immaculate shape at that!) Most of the time they part ways.

[JBlair1982]

On the other hand, the belts do loosen a bit when running for a long period of time. You might be able to find some products that you either pray or wipe on the belts that will tighten them up to prevent it from playing slower than normal.

[JBlair1982]

If it's heat problems,you might have some dust build-up inside of the reel-to-reel deck. You may want to take some compressed air and gently blow on the internal components, removing the dust. Also, you might want to go to Radio Shack and buy a Needle-Tip Precision Lubricator for about $4. This product worked onders on my '71 Panasonic cassette recorder. One half drop got the motor spinning like crazy, and it's still working even if I let it sit for a week.

[retrochad]

Very high quality Sony! I used to do a lot of recording of records at 1 7/8 IPS...you can really get a lot of hours of music on a single 7" reel at that speed.

[wilkes85]

Cool how it's in a suitcase-type box like a portable record player. Also, it Sounds like a 1960s or 70s radio broadcast. Also, I was just gonna ask u to make a vid demonstrating the sound quality of the different speeds. COOL! I didn't think there'd be such a difference.

and I like how on reel to reel tape recorders, you can record on each individual channel on the tape, to get more on the tape. 8 tracks should be like that! with a STEREO/MONO switch to get sound out of both speakers in mono.

[coondogtheman1234]

a 5 watt amp in that recorder? thats how many watts the rigged boombox on my computer desk is, ill have to get a video on it but im sure vinylman/Damusician has seen it already b/c i have pictures of it on my myspace, Nice desk lame o got one like that but its black and it has a clock on it ill prob put that in the vid of my boombox, 6:45 runnin a little slow eh? good song, 7:19 thats just the 2 of us but whos it by? thats a very nice reel to reel unit there cassettemaster

[CassetteMaster]

Oddly enough, after running for a while, it starts to get slightly slower than normal... Could you or someone please give me advice on how to fix it? I think it has to do with all the heat this machine builds up as it runs...

[jaredgetsacookie]

I find it's usually the right "pickup" side that affects the speed. I don't know how to fix it... maybe too much tension somewhere that needs lubrication.

[TheRecordCollector]

its the same with my record player once ive had it on a long record for 2hours it goeas a bit slow this is due to that the motor is getting old and soon it wont even run attal. if it is not motor the belt could be getting a bit weaker as well. mind you it is from the 60's

[CassetteMaster]

Do you think it will help to lubricate the motor?

[TheRecordCollector]

probally

[jaredgetsacookie]

Just the Two of Us is by Grover Washington Jr and Bill Withers.

[vinylman86]

nice machine! i have a 1950's pentron multi-speed tube r2r machine on the way. lol, tuesday i was at an antique shop and i saw a late 60's magnavox mini record player only stereo console for $40. well, that same night i dreamt of owning it.