Hello everyone, When I listen to music with my Aiwa HS-P303, I sometimes notice variations in speed, even to the point of extreme slowing down. When this happens, I take out the tape and find that it offers a little more resistance in the rotation of the reel than usual. But not so much that it blocks or requires a particularly large force to turn (I use a pen). I wonder if this symptom would be a sign that it is time to replace the belt. I assume that a Walkman has a motor powerful enough to maintain a constant playback speed. What are the limits of this tolerance? A belt that is too worn? Anything else? In your experience, what tells you that it is time to change the belt? Edit: the tests were done with an AC adapter to rule out any causes that could be due to the batteries
I do very little repairs but I do try to do a belt replacement every once in awhile and 95% of the time I replace whatever is in the unit. If the belt is too hard or starting to get sticky it definately has to go. There's other factors that can change the speed, bad tapes, hard pinch roller (or gooey), motor lubrication and parts involving the motor. I like to think that fixing the belt and cleaning the tape path path will fix most issues but there's always more and that's why they made wow and flutter meters, a good one can help you narrow down what is causing the variations, here's a good article on the machines and the Ampex TU-40 highlighted. I own the 3M Version and it's a beast, the unit went for something like $3500 USD when new. I've also got a much older unit that does just fine for quick tests. https://blogs.telosalliance.com/found-in-the-attic-ampex-tu-40-flutter-meter Running these tests requires very high quality tapes, you can buy reissues today but years ago the manufacturers used to put out tape test sets for various tests, here's a thread on the TEAC Set I picked up a few years ago. These tapes were made to exacting standards so repair and maintanence work could be done and were very expansive when new. I think most wow and flutter meters will pump out a 3khz sound so you can make your own but it's only as good as your equipment and tape. http://stereo2go.com/forums/threads/teac-test-tape-collection.3295/ The cassette tape/shell might also be the problem, some of the plastic parts will start binding and the little motor doesn't have the torque to overcome it. Hope this helps, you may already know most of it. I'm just a tinkerer but it's fun to get into the finer points once in a while. Edit: added first link!
Salut ami français, pour compléter ce que dit Mister X, lorsque tu sors une courroie de son logement dans le walkman, elle doit reprendre une forme ronde, si elle garde la forme des poulies, elle est bonne a changer... Une fois la nouvelle courroie mise en place, il faut faire tourner le Walkman au moins une fois tout les 2 mois, cela évitera au courroies de reprendre la forme des poulies ! Aussi, évite les chocs thermiques chaud/froid le caoutchouc n'aime pas cela ! Hello, to complete what Mister X says, when you take a belt out of its housing in the walkman, it must resume a round shape, if it keeps the shape of the pulleys, it is good to change ... Once the new belt is in place, you must run the Walkman at least once every 2 months, this will prevent the belts from taking the shape of the pulleys ! Also, avoid hot / cold thermal shocks rubber does not like this !
To complete with my latest tests. I changed the belt on another Walkman (aiwa hs-px377) and do some tests with the same cassette. It is sometimes better and sometimes worse. It depends of the direction of playing (forward or reverse) and of course each time I use the same cassette it might help to improve the playing experience. My cassettes did not play since almost 30 years until recently. So I won’t change the belt of my hs-p303 right now. I’ll focus on the cassettes.
