Hey there, I recently got my hands on a WM-F5 and have replaced the center gear and rubber parts since then but I have noticed the left channel is nearly inaudible compared to the right but only when playing tapes, I get both channels at the same volume when using the radio. Does anyone have something to point me in the right direction on what to look for?
Given the signal from the radio goes through S301 (radio/tape switch) into volume potentiometer, it's obviuous everything past this point (volume pot, headphone amp) works. So you are left with head itself, head cable and head preamplifier. With no cassette, volume at maximum, do you get noise in both channels that varies with volume setting ?
Could also be S301 not making good contact in tape mode, it's DPDT switch, one pole could be dirty. Try some contact cleaner on that switch see if the left channel becomes stronger again. Otherwise what Valentin said. @Siem Rienmeijer een goede contact cleaner is Kontakt 60 van Kontakt Chemie....wonderspul. Als het goed is gewoon verkrijgbaar bij electronica zaakjes.
Sorry for the later reply, I've looked around a bit and it seems that the issue presents itself in the tape preamp so between the tapehead and tape/fm switch. I guess I'll just have to see if every trace is good and then check the components.
I suspect capacitors....there are some inline with the audio signal...actually the head enters C101(L) and C201(R) before going into the discrete pre amp, i would replace the lot.
