I've an old Aiwa PX257 that I used a lot years ago but have not used it in 20 years. of course it didn't work but I've just replaced the belt and an issue remains. The unit wakes up when it the batteries are inserted but it won't play or rewind etc. HOWEVER, if I depress the tape detector switches with the tape door open, the unit seems to work in that the motor functions and the turrets move but presumably as it is not detecting a tape, it goes through a sequence of cueing. I'm presuming there is an issue with the switches or their position, etc. Any ideas, Phil PS I've tried with several different tapes (some pre-recorded, some blank).
hi Phil, welcome here ! a few pics wold help a lot, as many users (incl. me) are a bit too lazy to google your unit...
sure sorry folks... [GALLERY=media, 1952]PX257 Front by Phil Langton posted Dec 19, 2022 at 7:49 PM[/GALLERY] [GALLERY=media, 1953]PX257 Rear by Phil Langton posted Dec 19, 2022 at 7:49 PM[/GALLERY] [GALLERY=media, 1954]PX257 Internal Switches by Phil Langton posted Dec 19, 2022 at 7:49 PM[/GALLERY]
everything has been cleaned, though the cassette housing was pretty clean. With a tape installed the play button does nothing at all - no sounds of the pickups or the motor. But, if I open the door and depress the internal tape detectors switches then it all fires up and I see the pickup switches move and then the spool rotates. hard to take a video of this but will if it helps
here's a video of the unit with a tape (not working) and when I operate the internal switches (working). https://share.icloud.com/photos/076MEV6kHxs-wrBdX6rhIF4xA (its still uploading so the video may not yet be ready to play)
yes, the switches were cleaned (with IPA) before re-assembly. Nothing seemed to be damaged (bent, etc) so I'm at a loss to explain it. Was thinking of adding some masking tape the edge of the tape - to make it a little fatter.
Well, adding a piece of masking tape to the section of the tape that will contact the switches worked! The unit plays and the sound quality is great - so the replacement belt also worked fine. Now to understand why the tape appears too small to activate the switch.... Any clues?
It's fixed. I removed the body (for the fifth time) and saw that one of the contact strips was displaced a little relative to the other. I bent it back only slightly so that it lay closer to the inside of the unit (closer to the tape). When back together, everything worked as it should. The unit now works just great. I found lots on this site that was helpful to me. Thanks!
