DD30:Need some expert advise on center gear

Hi All,

I have Marians new replacement center gear installed on the arm but the transport functions still don't work properly.
Please look at my videos to see whats happening. I think the height of the gear/angle of the arm is wrong so gears are not engaging properly. However i have no idea how to fix this? Is it impossible to fix?

Thanks so much for help!
Rich

 

That sounds like problem with autostop mechanism. Check whole unit.

 

Yes, most parts of autostop mechanism are hidden under the center gear. Remove the center gear and check all parts under and around it. Post here detailed photos. Sometimes they're better than video.

 

Thanks I will post pics. Why would both tapespools turn when RW is pressed if it was an autostop problem?

 

I think I might know what the issue is. You'll need to remove the small gear to the bottom right of the center gear, then remove the smaller gear underneath and the spring too. First make sure the smaller gear when installed has the gear side facing down. If it is then do below. Refer to the photo I uploaded.

With the gear next to the motor removed and also the smaller gear and spring removed, rotate the centre gear CCW and watch the arms (red and dark blue arrow). They should move together and slide. The arm (dark blue) should move up and down and slot into the cut out (red arrow). I normally make sure the left (dark blue arrow) is sitting in the slot (red arrow) before re-assembly. Go ahead and re install the small gear with the gear/tooth facing down, then the spring and the larger gear.

Also make sure the black lever (light blue arrow) is sitting in between the slots of the vertical assy. Its the one to the left of the centre gear with that tiny tiny spring. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks @buzbox. I will definitely check the set up as per your instructions. I am pretty sure that the small gear is installed with the tooth part closest to the base. You can see it on the video. I was hoping it was upside down because that may of explained why the centre gear doesn’t seem work correctly with RW.
I will get the autostop arms aligned as you suggest and then see how play works. I will post some more pictures.

Could anyone explain (or share a diagram)which gears should be connecting in each of the transport positions; Play, FF and RW???
Thank you

 

@renzgi Thank you!! I am stupid - i have this service info I just didn't see it . Crazy.
These diagrams confirm that my centre gear is running too low. In the play position the the center gear doesn't engage with the FWD gear - you can see this in my video. And in RW mode the center gear touches both FF gear and RW gear at the same time (because it is in a too lower position).
I assume that either the center gear arm is bent down or that the axles that the arm moves up and down on must be bent.
This is tough

 

It may be that Centergear does not sit strong on arm.

 

@renzgi is there any way to fix that? Or does it just wear out /gets loose over time??

 

Remove the centergear.
If it looks like Picture 2. then that's the problem.
Do you have to press brass ring again.

The gear and arm must not be disconnected, but can happen when adjusting by pressing too strong.

 

@renzgi I know that the centre gear has not been taken off the arm as shown in pic2 and so should not be excessively loose.

 

So have you had luck in fixing the issue?

 

Sorry. I have been out all weekend so I haven’t had a chance to further the repair. Hopefully I can do something over the next few days. Thanks for asking

 

I have the same problem with my DD-33! First fixed my 2 DD-2 and one DD sucessfull and then failed with the DD-33. Have been working whole weekend with it. After the third reparation it seemed to work but next day it didn´t start att all. Now only the FWD is working. Starting play and it stops directly. I have done the reparation as I did with my other DD,s. Maybe it has something to do with the quartz locked disc drive system? Any Ideas avbout this?

 

I had the same problem. When you press play are you certain that the top gear on the center gear is connecting with the white FWD gear next to it? On my DD30 the center gear wasnt connecting with the white FWD gear and this means that the Autostop engages and stops Play straight away.

Last night I realised that I hadn't mounted the White FWD gear correctly: It has a kind of "Hex" shape bottom which needs to sit onto the "hex" shape black shaft.
When I got the white gear correctly screwed on play mode worked better ie. top centre gear and white FWD gear are at the same height and engage.

But its not perfect: The centre is not spinning completely flat (it spins a bit like a warped record and so on every few rotations it "misses" (spins underneath)the White FWD gear for a second.
I think the reason for this is either,
A) the center gear arm mounting is worn/ there is play on the arm so the the gear slightly "wobbles" / doesn't spin in a completely flat plane
B) the axles that the center gear move up and down on are leaning very slightly in one direction (@mihokm 's guide mentions the axles possibly being bent..)

(apologies for no pictures - i am posting from my work pc)

Rich

 

Here’s a quick update. The first vid shows the amount of play in the center gear. Is that excessive?
The second video shows that the drive gear B sometimes doesn’t connect with the FWD white gear. watch carefully -sorry for the resolution. Is that due to the wear /wobble in the center gear (shown in the first video)? Do I need to make the center gear be 1mm higher/run straight?

 

Thank You for Your videos. My gear has the same wobbling but I think my walkman have a worse problem. I think the positions of the gears has been rigth but when I pushed the play a little the center gear engaged with the FWD gear but when I pushed the play button deeper it stopped . Now I have given up with the walkman since I even managed to broke the stop button and lost the springs to the other buttons while bendig with sqrewdriver. I´m happey with my two other DD,s. I have even an other DD-30 with original non broken centergear but I´m little bit afraid to change it to the new gear. Maybe i can figure out the problem by opening my DD-30. Thanks for all help!

 

@16s
It's probably broken the spindle bearing on the metal plate. The white part which is riveted on the metal plate.

 

Thanks for that Worth to check!! Could it even be some electronic failure. As I told Before the playfunction did work once but next day the Walkman was dead . The motor had given up but I hade a spare motor to replace it. After that the White Little arm that shoots out when pressing play never did. Your theory is indeed very interesting!