Sony TC-230 Recorder Repair

[lesnombredix]

hello. my akai 1730ss is not playing tape. could this be a head problem?

[lesnombredix]

@lesnombredix i mean, it plays tape, but no sound comes out

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@lesnombredix

That is one of many possibilities.

[IanCanefire]

I just received one of these from my in-laws. They had the TC230 in storage for over 20 years. It still works just fine. This is my second reel to reel. The TC230 will be my back up, I use a Pioneer RT-707 constantly in my recording studio. I am a fan of the reel to reel sound. Thanks for this video, watching it was time well spent.

[greg2007ify]

My nephew has one of these and we basically got it running but it plays really really fast no matter what speed setting we have it on. What do we need to do to slow it down to proper speed?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@greg2007ify

Check to see if there is a motor speed control. And how do you know it is running fast?

[heroesunplugged]

I have one question regarding the Record Button. I got the tape head transport working properly, but the record button is ever-so-slightly needing to be moved so that it can be pushed down and then release when stopping the tape. Everything is lubed using 3-in-1 Oil and now moves freely. Any ideas concerning the Rec. Button? Is there any such adjustment?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@heroesunplugged

Lol, you got the other problem, the tape transport fixed before I could respond, great. The record button is suppose to release when you move the recorder to stop. Is the problem that it is to easy to push down?

[heroesunplugged]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio

No it is difficult to push down because the tip of the outer swing arm (for lack of a better term) is slightly in the way. Move it about a 1-2 mm and it is out of the way. the locking mech for the record button functions normally and will click and release when moving to the stop position.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@heroesunplugged

If you don't want to bend anything, I would try affixing a thin piece plastic between the two metal parts. So they can slide past each other.

[heroesunplugged]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio

I was thinking along those lines. I will try to find something that will work. Maybe a little contact cement to hold it in place. I'll post again if I get it worked out. Thanks for the suggestion/confirmation. You've been a great help!

[heroesunplugged]

I have a question about the motor. I get a power light, but no movement of the motor. Does this potentially mean that he motor is bad or something else? I think the motor is suppose to run when powered on. Is this correct?

Thanks for the great presentation! Very informative.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks heroesunplugged

Yes the motor should run when power is on. Hopefully it is a dirty contact and not the motor.

[heroesunplugged]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio The switch that activates the motor was stuck. Once I figured out that the switch is the "paper clip" looking piece of metal that fixed it.

I will have to approach this one the same as you have. I'm going to try some 3 in 1 Oil and see if it does the trick. So far it has helped with the record button and the switches on the flip-side. I was able to play a tape and it seems to be playing at the correct speed. It sounds pretty good too with a small adjustment of the tape hd

[Nivicoman]

Sounds like hardened/congealed lubricant needed to be flushed out and replaced with fresh. I used cleaner to wash out the spindle bearings of my JVC Nivico STR-26 R2R (built into 4TR-990 Deluxe console stereo). They were stiff and the hardened idler wheel couldn't drive the take up reel. Same thing in rewind and fast forward. The rewind belt was hopelessly stretched and flabby, that got replaced.

The meters in your TC-230 look like my Nivico's, red bodied. So do the idlers.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Nivicoman,

and thanks for the information.

[ktmyamaha01]

I probably woulda just lubes the hell outta it and twisted that knobby thing for a good hour or so till u got er loose. Good video. Very informative

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

LOL! Thanks ktmyamaha01

[ddogg90]

i got a tc-230, everything works but the red record button won't go down, and the record position light won't light up, any suggestions?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Cleaning and lubrication unusually helps. Some adjusting may be in order also.

[Nivicoman]

@ddogg90 Hardened/congealed oil and grease can make things really stiff. I had to wash out the bearings in my JVC Nivico R2R and relube to free things up. I got the complete guts of the same model console I now have and it's R2R needs the same treatment, I can't push down the record button and the play/stop/rw/ff lever is very stiff.

[ForgetfulCollector]

Mine had the same problem! I also had some problems with the capstan drive idler which no amount of cleaning would restore grip. After installing a stopper and a tougher spring, it now plays fine. Before I fixed it, it would change pitch or slow to a halt. I suspect these problems occur on all of the ones that don't get used regularly.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Glad you got yours working. Yep it is a good idea to use them every now and again to keep them in good working order.

[Nivicoman]

@ForgetfulCollector I had to sand the driving surfaces of my machine's idlers to get them to grip. They are the original 40 year old pieces and very hard/stiff. After sanding the hard glaze off there was fresh pliable rubber. I then applied brake fluid for a few minutes then wiped that off to soften the entire idlers. The idlers and belts are probably 70% of the mechanical problems with tape decks and turntables, the other 30% hardened dried up grease and oil which binds everything up.

[rodsnratfinks]

I appreciate that you pointed out how to adjust the meters. That's the only thing I have left to tackle on a TC-530 that I have been restoring.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Your welcome and thanks.

[millfixer1]

Any chance of video on how to disassemble the chasis of this unit - for those of us lacking the guts on jumping right in & taking alllllll the screws out. Thanks much for the current video.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Im sure there will be one in the future. But until then what I would do, would be to take digital pictures at every step of disassemble. That works.

[vieuxson]

very nice job on a very nice sony your video can help me because i collect reel to reel but have no experience in servicing them

[analoguebuff]

hi, good tipon unseizing, i have a tc 458 in lovely condition with similar problem. i shall try your method and take it slowly. enjoy your machines and keep them alive!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks, I hope it works for you!

[CoolDudeClem]

Nice repair job, is such a shame when people let old tape recorders get in such bad shape. I had a cassette recorder that had got "sticky" inside so I just took it completely apart and cleaned the parts individually. I never thought about using any kind of "cutting oil"

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I try the oil first, but you have to be patient, this took over a week. In a couple of days I could see progress though. If that had not happened I would have taken it apart. Thanks.

[joernone]

Rick,

Good vid. I wonder how many novices would have torn the player completely apart trying to figure out the problem...and all it needed was some quality oil. You've really taught me a lot about how to approach a repair.

Thanks again.

Regards,

John

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks John.

[Organgrinder010]

My first R2R was a sony. There was a smaller solid state unit like this one, and a much larger valve unit. They both run great. :D Nice find.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

My first R2R was a Sony TC-200, both Tube and Transistor (hybrid). I used it for many years and when I sold it, it was still working great. Thanks.

[Mastercorder]

Thats really the way to repair when you can recondition leave things hooked up re - lub etc. great video good old machine.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I have been enjoying playing this recorder. Im not sure just exactly when I recorded the Gang Busters radio program, but it is still entertaining. Thanks.

[jefferyb304]

I want a reel to reel and several tapes. lol

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

They are still out there and I will be looking for more tape myself. Thanks.

[jenko701]

Great job ,I have never worked on a reel to reel, but I have worked on things like it. I have worked on VCRs sinse they came out. Beleve it or not I still get them in from time to time.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I have a Magnavox VCR and it still works great. You shouldn't have any problems working on a reel to reel. The motor and speed controls for the Helical scanning heads of a VCR are very critical. The audio tape speed needs to be accurate of course, but it is audio not video.

[CindyBradyTooh]

I'm glad you told what that oil was. I never heard of it before.

You don't have a Sony 630 or 630D tape recorder, do ya? :D

~Cindy! :)

..

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. No, I dont have a Sony 630/D. They are very nice recorders and it would be nice to find one some day. I just recently found a couple of recorders and decided to get them. They are a lot of fun.

[retrochad]

Great repair job! Sometimes we have had to take mechanisms like this apart and soak them in Varsol to remove grease but it looks like the oil did the trick. The meters really work well now. And was that a Dragnet radio episode at the end?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I was not sure what radio show it was myself. It turns out to be a Suspense radio program that I had recorded from KMOX in St. Louis. I think tonight Ill fix a big bowl pop-corn and listen to the entire tape. Thanks.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Correction the radio program was Gang Busters

[JimmerSD]

I recently found a TC355. The biggest problem that found had were seized cast aluminum levers.

Along with a shorted startup cap on the main drive motor.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Yep, just like a most everything you have to use them to keep them in good working order. Hope your TC-355 is working great!

[BadEditPro]

Nice machine and in such good shape after you got it running! Too bad Quarter track faded away in the 80's.... The quality can be stellar. I had a a couple of very nice Akai and Teac decks that I used all through the 80's but I got bit by all of that bad Ampex and 3M tape they made during that time. It all disintegrated and I had to throw it away. It became so sticky that it would not play on anything. Still, I love to see them working today. It brings back great memories.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. That is a real shame that you had to throw those tapes away. I have been thinking about storing what few tapes I have in a moisture proof and metal container in my refrigerator. That may slow down the deterioration I hope. The last recording is from KMOX in St. Louis and I do not remember when I recorded it. But it does bring back memories and is fun to listen too.

[retrochad]

Oh no...we dealt a lot with the sticky tape problem at a radio station in the mid-90's when we were still using reel to reel for everything. Did you try baking the tapes at all, like with a food dehydrator? Some people had reported great results with the tape heating method.

[BadEditPro]

I have baked tapes in my professional life, in radio and as a freelance audio archivist, but most of what I had recorded at home was also transferred to cassette along the way. Thus, the open reel tapes were, for the most part, redundant. Cassette actually seems to be more robust as most of my cassette recordings, going back to 1978, are playable today. I have had to swap the tape into new shells in many cases but the tape is just fine.

[coondogtheman1234]

Nice Repair, it works and sounds beautifully, CassetteMaster will love this one

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. That rascal probably has three of them, lol.