Walkman DD can't be repaired I'm told!

Discussion in 'Tech talk' started by greg, Jan 17, 2018.

  1. greg

    greg Member

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  2. autoreverser

    autoreverser Well-Known Member

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    hi greg, this unit isn't worth 10% of the offered price - it's NOT a "proper" DD - this uses a later, cheap mechanism, don't bother !
     
  3. Boodokhan

    Boodokhan Well-Known Member

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    I think This can be repaired and you will have a lot of fun repairing it. In my opinion spend time to repair this walkman and you will learn a lot by practicing on this one. If you successfuly repair it you will have no problem fixing other DD walkmans.
     
  4. autoreverser

    autoreverser Well-Known Member

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    yeah, but for practicing your skills you can use first a unit "from the bin", i just cannot recommend you to buy especially this overpriced unit to start with, it's definitively not worth it.
     
    Command8 likes this.
  5. T-ster

    T-ster Moderator Staff Member S2G Supporter

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    I had been looking at this auction, I was not however aware it was not a true dd model.

    What is the best reasonably priced DD model for me to start on? I have been meaning to pick up my first DD walkman and would like the best bang for buck i can.
     
  6. bub

    bub Active Member

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    WM-F5

    Actually, for bang for buck, D6C?
     
  7. Silverera

    Silverera Active Member

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    Hi Greg,
    The DD1 is a bit of an orphan. There is a good description on www.walkmancentral.com on this model but I wouldn't bother with it like the first post states. I know your problem of trying to buy a DD to learn on. I managed to do that for $46 but then ended up spending another $130 to replace it's door, the main gear and then the case. This is the trap. You buy one, learn how to resolve all the common problems and the heart rules the head. I ended up with a nice DDII and learner heaps as part of the restoration. They are a delight to own, listen to and work on. Get yourself a DDII if you can as a project item.
    Cheers
    B
     
  8. greg

    greg Member

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    Hi Guys

    Thanks for all the input...

    I bought it, found out what you all said and then cancelled with very agreeable communication from the seller. Lesson learned but a lovely seller to-boot!

    I actually ended up finding and buying a new/sealed Panasonic RQ-SX46 from the 'bay.
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-stereo-cassette-player-RQ-SX46-retro-walkman-Retro/352256022719

    Cost was about the same and it arrived the next day pretty much. Superb condition, unused. 2003 vintage.
    Charger for UK, remote, phones, cased NiCad in torpor, AA holder, ever'thang!

    As I thought it had a perished belt, so I carefully unsoldered following a really helpful vid on youtube by sunsunny, cleaned out the goop and ordered the new replacement from Marian on his new site.
    http://fixyouraudio.com/


    Marian says the belt comes in a kit of two, so I'll wait and see what arrives, as I only saw one visible and the belt outline outline actually printed on the PCB inside the Panny walkman.

    Probably totally devalued the walkman by opening it, but I want to use it, not look at it. My WM-D6C is potentially too valuable to take outside on casual listening, so I'm happy to suffer the inferior RQ-SX46 for the sake of keeping a nice thing, nice.

    Realistically, I'm not into the heavy collecting side of things, I want to have gear that works well, that isn't too much of a pain in the arse to upkeep, and something that can be passed on to the kids should I get run over listening to high volumes on busy roads.

    On the other hand, I do like a good fiddle, so if there's a job-lot box for a good price, or some walky-waif in a chariddy shop, I'm on it like a rat up a drainpipe. I know there's bargains-galore at carboot sales, but, ugh, so not my thing. Soggy fields and unwashed citizens with not a cup of Earl Grey in sight.

    Where was I? Ah, manuals...took a bit of digging with google images giving numbers to subsequently search with, but I found a service bulletin with an internal reference to the RQ-SX46 Service Manual I couldln't immediately find, and, Hey Presto, the SM appears by magic.

    https://elektrotanya.com/?q=keres

    Sniff all you like at Panasonic late vintage, if you like, but it's music that sings in my ears, hopefully, on a long-dead machine that had, until now, an unfulfilled life. If you're into animism.

    Prick up your ears! Will report back...eventually!

    GB
     
  9. bub

    bub Active Member

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    The Panasonic 2 belt SX series is one of the worst mechanisms in terms of reliability. Bad Clutches, gear made of cheese, silly rubberized capstans that can cause indents in the tape after repeated plays.

    HOWEVER, your SX46 does not use the 2 belt mechanism! It's a later cheapened 1 belt mech. It's also NOT the same as that SX11!
    Look here, this is your mech: https://ameblo.jp/bay-3/entry-12231283915.html

    So less chance of bad reliability.
     
  10. greg

    greg Member

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    Useful pic! Thanks!
     

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