Hey All! I have quite some Panasonic RQ walkmans that I want to repair and this is becoming a real pain....even though I have service manual and checked it like 5x.... I have RQ-SX41 which I cleaned up, replaced the clutch holder, replaced belts, cleaned head, capstans....Everything looks good....I put everything together....and.... FF works REW works PLAY -> Only capstans turn (and pull tape), the cassette turners do not turn (and thus tape is not wound) at all....Seems like I have some weird timing issue....And this happened on more than one walkman. I checked the modes (PCB switch SW3 marked REW STOP FWD): - If the PCB mode switch is in the middle (STOP), capstans are down, cassette turners turn either way when manually turning motor - If the PCB mode switch is in FWD or REW position one of the capstans goes up to grab tape, but cassette turners do not turn when manually turning motor This seems wrong to me. When capstan is up, cassette turner should wind the tape or? Here is the pic of inside in the STOP mode (when cassette turners turn and capstans are down): I am slowly going crazy with that thing
It's hard to tell from a still picture. I'm guessing by casette Turner you mean the take up and supply spindles that goes into the 2 holes of the casette tape. Generally in Walkmans (well the Sony ones at least) if you've put on the belts properly around the motor and drive wheel, the take up spindle should move as the motor is turning. Unless somehow a resistive force is being applied from somewhere or the gear teeths aren't interlocking with each other. The only way I think you'll find the problem is by playing with it and seeing what cog ismt moving try running the motor directly from a power source or turn the take up reel directly and work backwards or something.
A big problem with Panasonic walkman slimline series is you cannot run the walkman during the repair process, or at least is not practical. It requires soldering the PCB board back to its place and by do that you are losing access to the movement parts. I had this issue with different Panasonic walkman models What I found is when installing the PCB board back there is a mechanical part needs to be placed in the correct order If this is not placed in correct order only certain function of the walkman can work. Your walkman might have other issues , I just wanted to share my experience that fixed the problem.
Thnx! Yep that is the part that hold the PCB switch SW3 marked REW STOP FWD. My guess is that when you put it back it should be in the middle, which means "STOP" and you have to align it with the switch. I think I identified the problem.....The clutch is slipping. Even if spring, retainer ring and clutch textile ring are properly positioned the lower ring is not turning and thus the take up spindle doesn't rotate! If I manually turn the lower clutch part spindle turns as it should!
If I ever decide to torture myself, I will get me one of these for repair! I had a few which I bought as an "add-on" when buying boomboxes from Yahoo-Japan and the fun of constantly soldering-desoldering the mainboard I will never forget
Yep...CONFIRMED. If I place everything together, put the position mode left or right (REW or FWD mode) the take up spindle WOULD spin, but the upper ring (you can see it in the pic in battery compartment with spring and retainer ring) is slipping! I can see that Panasonic changed the groves on clutch rings in later models. This model just has partial groves in the middle and they are slipping:
