Hello All, I've tinkered with electronics since I could work a Philips, and it just got worse the more tools I got.  I lucked out on 3 vintage 80's soundboxes while looking for some props for an 80's b-day party, one of which was a VZ-3500 in beautiful cosmetic shape.  However, the turntable and tape deck need work.  I opened it up once already, the belt is gone (I say gone, it in small pieces inside, and when I pick them up they turn to tar!)  so I know it needs a new belt, by problem is, the stylus arm seems very wobbly, or loose (see vid).  It's doesn't seem normal, but I can't see any obvious signs of something broken or missing.

The tape deck problem is, when you put a tape in it, the door will not close, like something isn't getting out of the way, or clicking back into place when it should.

Thanks for any help!

the stylus being free like that seems normal , mine is the same.     the tape deck sounds like its half  engaged in play fit new belts sure it will be fine .

glad i could help , one more thing to note when you do the tape deck lift out the flywheel and clean up the two small wheels that run off the flywheel they have rubber tyres on them and if they are not cleaned up ( also clean the flywheel)   ff/rw will be sluggish 777"s are the same . 

if you cant fix it, i got one you can have

yes parts, or the whole thing

Here is the Video.

Lol, in your last video you were trying to insert the casette the wrong way

I have two Sharp VZ-3500 units.one of them works very well,other has turntable main board problem.if I switch it from other unit,everything works.

would You sell Yours for parts?

Thank You

hiya everyone,

i just stumbleed across this thread (i know it goes back a bit) and was fascinated by jonnydons posts

i bought a vz3500E in the very early eighties and the girl i was living with at the time bought me an electronics kit(you know whats coming next) needless to say sharp picked up the sorry vz and fixed it for free and it was like phewwwww,ive kept that hifi for 30 years and other than my antics with the screwy it has never given me a days problem,new needles aside till a month ago and the turntable gave up the ghost so if anyone has a turntable assembley let me know.

mark uk.

Most likely the belts need replacing, have you tried that first ?

hiya docs,

its not the belts its the drive belt motor plus the lefthand hinge has given up the ghost so im opting for a decent replacement unit if poss

its nice to able to chat about this vintage piece.

mark.

Are those parts shared with the VZ3000 ?

yer there part of the turntable on the vz3500e