the walkmans that won't play

September 5, 2006 10:25 AM

Walkman repair help needed.

I have four Walkmans all with some problem or other, usually minor (one has a bad earphone jack, one warbles, etc.) I would like to be able to fix them. Do I have to know all sorts of things about wiring and circuit boards? Is there a book or web-site that might explain such things?

I know it's probably easier to go to the thrift store and buy yet another, but usually they're snatched up (by... who? hipsters? I don't know...) and that's where these have come from and a problem always develops. Plus, I'd rather not throw in the trash perfectly repairable electronics.

n.b.- by 'walkman' i mean those what play cassette tapes.

posted by baklavabaklava to technology (3 comments total)

Quite often the problem with these is a stretched or broken belt. They look like small black rubber bands. Open them up and have a look. You might be able to salvage from three to make the fourth work. Sometimes the jack is OK, but the headphone wires have broken. Try different headphones. Jacks are easy to fix/solder. If you're soldering other components, be wary of too much heat--it can fry sensitive electronics.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:19 PM on September 5, 2006

Isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip will clean rubber rollers and tape heads.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:23 PM on September 5, 2006

I routinely fix ancient junk... vacuum tube radios, old computers, TV's... you name it.

Two things are essential... patience and fearlessness. Aided by a willingness to fail, you simply gently attempt to figure out how the device has failed, what you might do to repair it, and how to reassemble it. If you have several, you have one unit to use as a sacrificial parts cabinet and test case for disassembly.

Get small tools, a magnifying glass, a magnifying illuminator, a monochrome work surface, and some small containers for screws, etc.

For low value items, there will likely be no maintenance manuals anywhere, but for some stuff that was expensive when it was new, you can sometimes find service manuals.

Recognize going into it that you will be engaged in an effort that will PROBABLY fail, and be willing to use the exercise as personal training. The more you do it, the more you'll successfully repair.

Good luck!
posted by FauxScot at 6:43 PM on September 5, 2006