Stereo2Go Forum Reader

minty - 2012-11-10 10:27

Greetings all. Has anyone repaired a broken WM-107 solar walkman? If so, what are the most common faults with them?

fortexg - 2012-11-10 14:02

Hi Minty, you reading my mind? Guess what I am doing: listening to FM on my WM-F107, powered by internal battery (it's been charging for a couple of hours under a 20W halogen desk lamp), searching this forum for exact same info. The internal battery does turn the motor also, but is not strong enough to pull the tape.
The most common fault I guess (next to the belt) is the internal Ni-Cd battery (gum stick - same as NC-6WM - 1.2V 600mAh). The internals should be the same as other 100 series (except for the internal battery & solar panel) - see comparison photo with WM-F101.
To open it, you need to undo the screws under plastic caps (5 on the body, 2 on the cover for opening mechanism). There is a screw also for volume button (remove cover).
Have not done this jet though.
If you're lucky, the battery just looses oomph (no wonder after 25 years). My battery did not leak (it's in the bulge, below tape buttons - circled in red on second photo), which is good, since this ruins the internals. OK, the radio now died, had to connect the external battery :-)

Will replace it with modern equivalent - a Ni-MH 1400mAh (GP14M, NH-14WM,...).
Searching the internet, found no pictures of internals...
I remember there was a description of battery replacement on this very forum, but can no longer find it - I referenced this guide in my first post back in 2008. Anybody has a link to this post?

minty - 2012-11-10 14:14

So we both have the same problem. Do you now how to remove these caps without damaging them?

fortexg - 2012-11-10 16:01

Using a sharp object - a very small screwdriver. Tried one, pops right off - they are glued, about 0.5 mm thick. Judging by caps, mine was already opened before.

Good luck.

retrodos - 2012-11-11 00:00

You heat it first, makes the glue soft, then won't damage the case.

minty - 2012-11-11 00:25

Thanks for the tips guys. I notice in a previous post you mentioned whitening yellowed plastic Retrodos. Is the thickener required as part of the chemical process, or can the parts that need whitening just be submersed in the solution without it?

retrodos - 2012-11-11 00:35

The thickener is not required, only to keep the solution on.

minty - 2012-11-11 00:48

Okay. I think I'll double the quantity of solution and submerse the pieces I require whitening. This will not damage the decals?

minty - 2012-11-30 07:18

So I received the white WM-F107 last week. Seriously, this thing was a bin job. The things people sell on eBay amazes me sometimes. But I didn't give up. I bought a second one, this time a yellow one for 50 pounds. A good price I think. This time I got lucky. This one is in lovely condition. The radio works fine, and I can hear the motor turning. Most likely a belt. I will also change the internal rechargeable battery. The only good thing from the first one I got, was that I learned how to take it apart. I found a razor blade removes the covers on the screws without damage.

ao - 2012-11-30 07:53

Originally Posted by retrodos:

You heat it first, makes the glue soft, then won't damage the case.

Brilliant

minty - 2012-11-30 11:28

So I've opened this one up. Changed the belt and replaced the rubber headphone plug. I was unable to lift the board in order to get at the built in battery. This was due to not being able to remove the power socket inside the unit. I didn't want to pull at it and break it. Any ideas how best to remove it?

minty - 2012-12-02 02:27

Has anyone got a service manual for this Sony? I need to change the internal battery. Thanks.

minty - 2012-12-09 11:41

I managed to remove to solar panel from inside this one. Seems the internal battery has badly leaked. I've cleaned up the fuzz. Would there be any point replacing the battery, or would the leakage have damaged the board? Also, the belt I've put on seems to be the wrong size. Sound is a wee bit slow. Where can I get a belt for this one?

minty - 2012-12-09 11:49

Does the wm-f109 share the same mechanism as this one?

cozo - 2013-03-09 23:25

Hello everyone,

I could not remove a cover on the volume button of the WM-F107.

Please advice me how to do it without damage.

regards,

minty - 2013-03-10 01:18

Use a very fine blade or flat headed screwdriver and it should just pop off.

cozo - 2013-03-10 05:31

Hi Minty,
Thank you for your help.
I will try it for my repair work.

minty - 2013-03-10 06:44

Remember it's the cover on the knob you want to remove. You will then see a screw holding it in place.

johnedward - 2013-03-10 11:40

NOW THIS IS WHAT THE FORUM IS REALLY ABOUT... GRAND to see a post back to basics and Walkmans. Love the boombox and have many but seems in past year the Walkman guys have been less active.

A much needed post and PLEASE all those taking this player apart POST MANY clear up close photos. I have a white one that until recently was fully working and could hold a charge to play a tape although only for ten or 15 mins. Radio works for hours. Actually a quality sounding machine. I have a video done while ago showing how when put into bright sun the tape player starts playing and when moved into shade it stopped.

I need to take mine apart for battery and while in do a belt. WHAT BELT where purchase fits this player ???

VIDEO WORKING WM-F107 including CASSETTE by Solar power

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnE29MlmIws

minty - 2013-03-10 11:57

I think it uses the same belt as a WM-10. Same mechanism. Replacing the battery is no easy task. Be prepared to get your soldering iron out. Why sony didn't make battery replacement easier on this one I just don't know. Rechargeable battery's don't last forever unfortunately!

johnedward - 2013-03-12 12:01

I totally agree about poor engineering in that the rechargeable battery could easily have been designed into a accessible opening with cover inside player like the DD series players so that a replacement battery could have been owner replaced.

Thank you for information on belt will look into that.

visitorx - 2013-05-25 13:13

I recently dug my old WM-F107 out from storage, and sadly it doesn't work as well as it did last time I used it (5 years ago).

It plays, and rewinds/fast-forwards, but seems to run slightly too fast (I think), and the sound is really wobbly and quite muddy. What could be the cause of this? Is it a belt issue or something more complicated?

I've also been trying to find a European (230V, europlug) 1.5V AC-adapter that fits the F107, without any luck. Does anyone know where I could buy one?

Any help would be much appreciated.

david - 2014-08-30 22:47

Actually, the player uses the same belt as the WM-100 which is like an 8.2 or so instead of the 5.8 size. Is the internal battery just a gumstick inside that brown case or is the brown case the internal battery? If it's a special battery, where do we find a new one?

minty - 2014-08-31 10:57

The battery is a standard Sony Gumstick battery. It is positioned below the mechanism, circled in the above pictures.

anders - 2014-09-05 15:06

I've got a virtually never used, stored in a drawer for ever, WM-F107 for sale. Any bidders?

B.T.W. I've also got a WM-F73 in same condition. Any bidders on it?

ao - 2014-09-05 21:17

Originally Posted by Anders:

I've got a virtually never used, stored in a drawer for ever, WM-F107 for sale. Any bidders?

B.T.W. I've also got a WM-F73 in same condition. Any bidders on it?

Anders, please post this in the for sale section. Also, you won't get a lot of interest unless you hint at a price.