Accessories: TEAC TZ-612 Hub Adapters - Cleanup.

With all my purchases, TEAC X-2000M, TEAC A-3440 and OLIMP MPK-005S-1, I also bought TEAC TZ-612 hub adapters. These hub adapters were always very hard to work with at the beginning, as because of their age, opening and closing was difficult and some amount of force was required. Pushing the adapters in and out became risky for the reel table locking system.
Below I am trying to explain a short and simple cleaning procedure in order to restore the hub functionality as it should be.

In the image below you can see the three screws that must be opened in order to completely dismantle the adapter:

Then, the hub can be completely separated in all the pieces:

Now, if you look closely in the pictures below, you can see some PVC dust accumulated in time as a consequence of regular operation (friction between parts) and also some dry lubrication grease:

I have used isopropyl alcohol to clean all the parts.
All the parts were assembled together at the end, the result is a hub operating normally, no more force to close it or open it.

TEAC X-2000M: Data Information And Technical Characteristics.

Specifications:

• Track System:
• 2 Track, 2 Channel Stereo Or Mono;
• 4 Track Playback Switchable;
• Head System:
• Erase, Record, 2 Track Playback, 4 Track Playback;
• Reel Size:
• 26.5cm (10-1/2");
• 18cm (7");
• Tape Speed:
• 38cm/s (15ips)
• 19cm/s (7-1/2ips);
• Input Level And Impedance:
• MIC:
• Specified Input Level: -60dβ (0.77mv)/10kΩ;
• Min. Input Level:    -70 β (245μV);
• LINE IN:
• Specified Input Level: -12dβ (195mv)/50kΩ;
• Min. Input Level:    -22dβ (61.5mV);
• Output Level And Impedance:
• OUTPUT:
• Specified Output Level: -5dβ (436mv)/10kΩ;
• Max. Output Level:    1dβ (0.869V);
• PHONES:
• Specified Output Level: -24dβ (48.9mv)/8Ω;
• Motors:
• Capstan Motor: FG servo DC motor:
• Reel Motor: 2 DC slot-less motors;
• BIAS Frequency: 150kHz;
• Playback Equalisation:
• LH Tape:
• 38cm/s: 3.180μs + 50μs; µ + 35μs (IEC);
• 19cm/s: 3.180μs + 50μs;
• EE Tape:
• 38cm/s: 3.180μs + 35μs;
• 19cm/s: 3.180μs + 35μs;
• Power Requirements:
• 100/120/220/240V, AC 50/60Hz, 115W/110W (General Export Model);
• 220V AC 50Hz 115W/110W (Europe Model);
• 240V AC 50Hz 115W/110W (U.K./Australia Model);
• 120V AC 60Hz 115W/110W (U.S.A./Canada Model);
• 100V AC 50/60Hz 80W (Japan Model);
• Weight:
• 21kg (46-5/16lbs) net;
• 25kg (55-1/8lbs) with wooden case;
• Dimensions (W x H x D):
• Without Wooden Case: 432 x 456 x 218mm;
• With Wooden Case: 472 x 486 x 218mm;

Project: Restoring a Reel-To-Reel Tape Player/Recorder: TEAC X-2000M.

OK, so, there is some time since my last post, but I wasn't sitting around doing nothing. In the next future posts I will introduce a new category: tools and accessories I am using to work on my projects. I have done some purchasing and I am closely approaching the moment I will have a complete set of tools in order to do almost all the necessary work by myself.
But until then, I would like to introduce my new acquisition: TEAC X-2000M:

The unit is in quite a good shape, I have the wood case with it and this one looks almost new, in fact the whole unit looks like new. I was able to test only the Play function with the 4 track Play head. I don't have for the time being a good 2 track tape and I was not able to connect it yet to a sound source and to make a short recording on 2 track. I will do that in a while.
Before starting to use it at home I have done a short lubrication of the moving parts and a good heads cleanup. The tape path looks great with no visible wear.
I will have to work on it in the future as I have saw that the tape tension on the take-up reel is not really right, the unit brakes are a little bit loose and the speed of Fast Forward and Rewind needs some adjustments.
I will keep posting also the technical characteristics of this unit, as I will be able to find the owner manual, I have only the service one.

Project: Restoring A SONY WM-EX652 Walkman - Contact Cleaning For "Gum Bar" Battery.

I was trying to measure the amount of Play time having both batteries installed on the Walkman, as I saw some information saying that it should reach almost 40h.
In my case it was no longer than 10h, so at some moment I assumed the charger is not working and the "gum bar" is not charged.
I tried to use it without the AA battery extension and it was not working at all.
After measuring the "gum bar" battery I realized that something else is causing this low amount of Play time, maybe a broken or corroded contact.
I removed one of the face plates of the Walkman, as you can see below:

After removing the screws marked with red color I was able to reach the battery housing:

After a closer look I saw the corroded contact:

In order to clean it I used an old tooth brush and contact cleaner, below you can see the result:

Now the unit is working on both batteries, used together or separated. What is left to be done is to count how many tapes I will be able to listen without charging the batteries.

TEAC A-3440: Data Information And Technical Characteristics.

Specifications:

• Track System: 4-Channel Multi-Track Simul-Sync;
• 3 Motors: 
• 1 DC-Servo Capstan Motor;
• 2 Eddy Current Induction Reel Motors;
• 3 Heads:
• Erase;
• Record/Sync;
• Playback;
• Reel Size:
• 26.5 cm (10-1/2");
• 18 cm (7");
• Tape Speed:
• 38 cm/s (15 ips)  (±5%);
• 19 cm/s (7-1/2 ips) (±5%);
• Wow and Flutter (NAB Weighted):
• 0.04% at 15 ips;
• 0.06% at 7-1/2 ips;
• Frequency Response (overall):
• 25 - 24000 Hz (±3dβ/0 VU: 40 - 22000Hz) at 15ips;
• 25 - 22000 Hz (±3dβ/-10 VU: 40 - 20000Hz) at 7-1/2ips;
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (overall): 55dβ (3% THD level, weighted);
• Harmonic Distortion (overall): 0.8% at normal operating level;
• Stereo Channel Separation:45dβ at 1 kHz;
• Rewind/Fast Forward Time: 140s for 1800ft;
• Inputs:
• 4 Line: 60mV/50kΩ;
• 4 Mic: 0.25mV (-72dβ)/600Ω or more;
• Outputs:
• 4 Line: 0.3V/load impedance: 10kΩ or more;
• 1 Headphone Jack: 8Ω;
• Power Requirement:
• 100/117/220/240V AC, 50/60Hz (EX Model);
• 220V AC, 50Hz (EUR Model);
• 240V AC, 50Hz (UK/AUS Model);
• 117V AC, 60Hz (USA/CND Model);
• Power Consumption: 125W;
• Dimensions (W x H x D):
• 445 x 523 x 235mm;
• 17-1/2" x 20-1/2" x 9-1/4"
• Weight: 25kg (55lbs) net;
• Supplied Accessories:
• Input Output Connection Cords;
• RE-1002 Empty Reel;
• NAB Reel Hub Adapters;
• Spicing Tape;

SONY WM-EX652: Data Information And Technical Characteristics.

Supplied Accessories:

• Battery Case;
• Stereo Headphones with Remote Control;
• Clip (which I don't have, I don't know how it looks like);
• Battery Charger;
• AC Plug Adapter (except European, Arabian and Korean Models);
• Rechargeable Battery (NC-6WM, 1.2V, 600mAh, Ni-Cd);
• Carrying Pouch (don't have it either);
• Rechargeable battery carrying case;

General:

• Power Requirements:
• 1.5V;
• Rechargeable Battery;
• One R6 (AA) Battery;
• Dimensions (W/H/D):
• 108.9 x 79.6 x 23.9mm;
• Weight:
• 140g;
• 225g rechargeable battery, headphones with remote control and cassette inclusive;

Tape Section:

• Frequency Response (Dolby NR Off):
• Playback: 20 - 18000Hz;
• Output:
• Headphones;
• Load Impedance: 8 - 300Ω;
• Power Output:
• 5mW + 5mW (16Ω);

Project: Restoring A SONY WM-EX652 Walkman - Headset replacement.

Because of the time passed, the rubber (black insulation) of the headset became very stiff; the feel of it was also a little bit strange. In the same time, the acoustics of the headset were not so great.

As a consequence, I tried to replace them with a new set, in-ear model.

First step was to identify a suitable headset with 16ohms impedance. I found this model: SONY MDR-E11LPB.

Then I was opening the remote control, as you can see below:

I was unsoldering the old headset and attached the new one:

Now the headset looks like new and it works like new:

During this procedure I learned, from a colleague of mine who helped me, an important lesson: before soldering the new wires, which were covered with special insulation paint, need to be cleaned by a process of “boiling” in soldering cleaning solution. After this process they can be soldered on the circuit board, otherwise, the soldering compound is not creating enough retention on the board, the wires can’t be soldered.