Not exactly a direct technical question but a query relating to the well known problem of split centre gear in dd series walkmans. I bought my DD-33 back in 1999. In 2008 I went to live in China for 8 years returning to the UK in 2016. While I was away the DD-33 was packed away in it's box and put up in the loft. Since my return I have been using it every 4-5 days. The serial number is 500,000 plus. I have no idea how high the serial numbers go up to. My point is this DD,33 is still working and has never suffered from the centre gear problem. Did Sony reinforce the centre gear at a later date or have I just been very lucky? Just one more thing I never fast forward/ rewind or cue/review on any of my units. Has anyone got any thoughts on this?
I think you are just very lucky as it has been mentioned already. I have seen others saying such units exist, but I've never seen a DD without a broken center gear myself and I did repair a lot of them. Storage conditions do matter in this regard. Not using FF/REW and cue may have helped. My opinion is, even in perfect storage and usage conditions, it's still very rare to see such a unit. The gear is under a lot of tension because it's molded onto the center disc. Initially, it's very hot, then cools down and shirnks at it reaches normal temperature. So, in theory, keeping the load on it to a minimum (only use it in PLAY) can help, however there's no guarantee that this gear will not break in the future. Only units with such a center-gear type mechanism on which the gear does not break are the early WM-2s, on which the gear is fully made of plastic (including the disc). However, I'm unaware of SONY installing such a gear on DD units. Let us know how your unit goes in a couple of years from now, I would be really curious to know.
Hi Valentin. Thanks for reply. I just hope I have not tempted fate. If anything happens in the near future I will let you know. A merry Christmas to you.
@Derek marshall : did you open the Walkman to check the center gear visually? My first DDII, bought over well 10 years ago 2nd hand, I used with normal headphones for a while. I only noticed a slight mechanical noise that I believed to be 'normal'. My Aiwa HS-EX2000 makes a different noise, but I find it very acceptable for analog devices. Fast-forward to last year (pun intended): I bought a DC2 with a cracked center gear. The mechanism was clearly not in order - much noisier than the aforementioned DDII.
Emiel. There is no abnormal noise coming from the unit. It sounds exactly the same as when I first bought it. There is no way I would attempt to open it up, because I don't have the required no-show to even attempt it. I must just be very lucky- so far anyway. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR TO YOU.
Emiel. Love that. Watch this space. I've probably tempted fate. One thing the video reminded me of. Must treat myself to a cigar for Christmas. Don't tell the wife though.
I get lucky with a lot of vintage equipment but boom, one day nothing. I had a pretty crappy fall with several pieces of vintage machinery going down. Luckily most of it is still serviceable but with all of the years of service, the forums have well-documented common failures of tons of products and it just seems like a matter of time.
Mr X. Nothing lasts for ever. It's only a matter of time. Just enjoy while it lasts. A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
