Mark repairs a Technics tape deck, with a rather alarming fault. Literally like an alarm... a loud screaching noise comes from one channel. And what else is up with it?
This channel is a great pick me up. The unrelenting cheerfulness is a decent tonic if you've had a crap day. Watching someone skilled at their job who takes pride their work is a delight, too.
I repaired several Techics equipment, but without using an oscilloscope, I did not have the money to have one. I repaired many switches, which is a very common failure, sometimes cleaning and changing their parts from other switches, which were recycled. I also replaced flat and round belts, heads, roller pin and other spare parts, good video, greetings from Chile.-
Attention to detail and going the extra mile to do the right thing for the customer (replacing leaky caps for example) - excellent work. The humor is icing on the cake.
I love watching how simple you make it look and remembering where all the screws go. And there's a whole new generation out there that don't know what wow and flutter is.
I watch with baited breath so I can gleen a small fraction of knowledge from watching you repair these electronic gadgets. But alas, I'm lazy and just let you do all the work and basically absorb nothing. It's much too easy just to let you do everything and me absorb nothing. I cringe every time you take apart one of these multiple switches, because I know if I did it parts would mysteriously loose themselves and somehow my chubby fingers would not be able to get it back together. Love the channel, love the videos.
Yes, the play/rec switch is a classic. I guessed as much a few minutes in the video. Usually corosion or grime from too little use/sitting still. My first try would be to just flick the switch a couple of times: usually fixes it, but I love the very thorough approach Mark.
That PCB looks top notch if you compare it to Philips reel to reel recorders PCBs from the same era. Really a quality difference to notice. Nice deck repaired by a nice chap with exceptional care and love.
It is really satisfying to watch someone who's so enthusiastic about his work. I know nothing about electronics or stereos, but it's a great to learn. Thank you for sharing!
Love this (older) stuff - so nicely serviceable, designed to be serviced, with service manuals, unlike some of today's throwaway junk (both cheap and expensive!).
Wow, I just stumbled on this video and I am transfixed! That is a beautiful deck and if any of my audio equipment became faulty, I'd want you to repair it. So professional. As an aside, you sound Brummie. I am from that part of the world. Brilliant!
I have that same model. Don’t use it much anymore, but last time I did it worked fine. So many little fiddly parts that I would not even crack the panels open. Enjoyed watching you do it Mark!
I'm sure I have a couple of old Technics tape decks stashed away in the garage. I'm now inspired to dig them out and see if they are still operational. 🤔 Great video, as always.
Brilliant job and great video. It was interesting to see inside that M17, my first Technics deck was an RS M12. It looked almost the same to be honest I can see the older Technics equipment was quite well put together. I now wish I still had my M12 to have a look inside. Thanks again.
Hi and thank you for sharing an interesting and entertaining video. My father was an TV technician, and I often visited his workshop. In those days, the 1970s, the technicians were wearing white coats. A word of warning and care though. When you cut those end bits of the capacitors, please remove them one by one as you go along. The way you did it, cutting them and turning the unit around to shake them out, one of them could get caught in there and cause a shortcut.
I was assuming that he was doing that for the sake of a better video, not having two hands in there blocking the view. Otherwise, having bits of wire flying around in an electrical device… what could go wrong? ;) … I love his channel though.
Very patient in identifying and rectifying the defects! I liked very much the fineness in soldering the Capacitors Etc along with unscrewing and screwing of the screws! A thorough knowledge of the Circuit will alone make you perfect in finishing and getting success in your endeavour! With Best Wishes!!
You crack me up Mark, great little channel and reminds me of my time as an Electronics Eng and my youth being Mr fix it. Watch those glass fibre strands left in the switch though 🤣 luckily they arent strands of wire! Great show, looking forward to watching some more
I appreciate the extent you go to clean such a switch. I just spray some DeOxit, or what have you, in it as best I can and then actuate it 50+ times. If there is still noise or signal drop I repeat the process. If I've done it 3 times and it's still having issues I usually give up. lol. But seeing how you attack this problem gives me some pointers to try when I get back around to those machines that are on my "try again later" shelf. In fact have an Akai GX-747 open reel deck that I got for a steal because it has issues with a channel dropping. I managed to get most of the issues resolved using my "spray and pray" method but I'm sitll getting one channel to drop out occasionally.It was the record/play switch that was the offending component in fact. So I'm going to try and take it apart for a proper cleaning. I bet that will solve the issues for good now.Thanks.
I used to repair cassettes-back in the day I would have been straight in with switch cleaner before checking anything with a meter or change the switch if the cleaner didn't work- no taking it apart carefully (which is the better approach these days given switches are harder to come by). I have all but stopped repairing them now and sold off all my better decks v cheaply although many were in a part dismantled condition and scrapped anything with mechanical keys. Still left with about 35 cheaper decks the most similar but later to this that I still have is the RSM216. Things are very different now and I love the care you take to make these oldies probably work for many more years but now we are not under pressure to fix loads in one day every day as was a typical commercial setup.
I bet you've never seen a pulley on a cassette recorder so big and heavy. I had also never seen one so big until I took apart my Technics RS-641 which has a mechanism like this one (except the motor which in my case is servo assisted and is at the front). I have kept the original belt and pinch roller and over 40 years of use and abuse both continue to function satisfactorily. I admired the skill and ease with which you unsoldered the rec/play switch to clean it. (Something I was supposed to do on mine and haven't done yet.) As always, good job!
Thanks ! This vid has given me confidence to repair some electro-mechanical bits on a project I put away years ago when I found I couldn't source the needed parts- I think i can carefully disassemble it and fix it now.
Another GREAT video. One small note, Demag should be turned on at a distance and kept on until withdrawn to at a distance. The demag will produce a large magnetizing pulse upon switch ON and OFF. Also a Demag may interfere with a nearby pacemaker.
You have done a wonderful job with this tape recorder. Congratulations! That multiple switch (play/record) is the cause of many problems. I would have also changed the capacitors from power supply block (sometimes they produce low frequency noises. Especially when they are old). You have a great channel YT!
As soon as you said it was producing a screeching sound I knew it was the rec/play switch. One of my decks was doing the same and I just moved it up and down with a screw driver a bunch and it stopped screeching. Obviously you take much more care when repairing these XD love the vid!!
looks easy. I have an M85 here. Up to 95 capacitors to change. 11 small switches and a few big ones to clean. Doesn't like doing anything, sometimes (after warming it with a blow heater for 10 mins) ff works, about as fast as play, if at all + lumpy action, occasionally rewind tries to work but doesn't. Play decided to work after an hour and some switch cleaner in the zone. I've never done much tape mech disassembly before, hats off to you tape guys! It's playing now but there are also 4 potentiometers to clean. Bias does not appear to work, output level acts more like a HPF / tone control. My friend wants €200 for it and i said to him if i get it home and it plays at least i might consider it. But now i'm thinking 40 - 60 hours of work. hmmmmmmm Oh. It's also the 120V version! On a positive note. It's super clean inside. I wouldn't change all the caps but i would test them for terrible ones. What is the most common cause for lazy FF and RW in similar decks? I have many that just hate FF and RW!
That was a substantial drive belt. Nice chunky mechanism at least. Those gang switch mechanisms seem to be a common failure point, like leaky capacitors. It's nice to see a traditional deck from 40 years ago still being used. You did a great job for Sid, I hope he's very happy with it.
Oh Mark, I just went to your website and saw you are completely swamped with work. That is awesome for you. I will check back soon to see if things have calmed down. Retro can wait. Love the channel.
I watched this video and went shopping, and a 1980 RS M11 for 4$. Well couple hours work and some pointers from your video now, it is a nice deck. Just changed the Sanyo and orange electrolytic caps. Yes the switches where in a sad way. Thank you for the video.
I have one identical , just done the belts clean up heads , and all good, works like new. The caps in mine were all good tested fine and no leaks or buldge. I subbbed your channel, you get some interesting stuff, I have a huge collection of mostly Japanese made stuff from 70's to 80's.
Buenas noches tardes o días. Encontré tu canal el día de ayer. Me encantan tus videos y la forma de trabajar cada componente. Felicitaciones. Saludos desde Bogotá, Colombia.
Realy nice to see that there still people out there who know theyr work! Here around my place you don't find people like that no more ..they just wanna sell !
This channel is a great pick me up. The unrelenting cheerfulness is a decent tonic if you've had a crap day. Watching someone skilled at their job who takes pride their work is a delight, too.
I repaired several Techics equipment, but without using an oscilloscope, I did not have the money to have one.
I repaired many switches, which is a very common failure, sometimes cleaning and changing their parts from other switches, which were recycled.
I also replaced flat and round belts, heads, roller pin and other spare parts, good video, greetings from Chile.-
Attention to detail and going the extra mile to do the right thing for the customer (replacing leaky caps for example) - excellent work. The humor is icing on the cake.
Any professional tech will replace leaky caps as a matter of course.
Love these videos Mark. You are the Bob Ross of audio repair.
Yes!!!!
Ad Big Clive is the Bob Ross of teardowns.
Well said 👍
Those of us who listened to music in the 80s like a bit of Technics 😁
You are a pro. Not a single screw left over. I swear I end up with more screws on my bench than in the device when I'm done with it!
Not really, he recorded everything on video so he could see where everything goes.
I love watching how simple you make it look and remembering where all the screws go. And there's a whole new generation out there that don't know what wow and flutter is.
dont be so sure boomer. WOW is world of warcraft, and flutter is flavored Butter. See we arent ALL stupid.
Never thought I would love watching audio repairs, but this is pure gold!! You are amazing!!
I watch with baited breath so I can gleen a small fraction of knowledge from watching you repair these electronic gadgets. But alas, I'm lazy and just let you do all the work and basically absorb nothing. It's much too easy just to let you do everything and me absorb nothing. I cringe every time you take apart one of these multiple switches, because I know if I did it parts would mysteriously loose themselves and somehow my chubby fingers would not be able to get it back together. Love the channel, love the videos.
Yes, the play/rec switch is a classic. I guessed as much a few minutes in the video. Usually corosion or grime from too little use/sitting still.
My first try would be to just flick the switch a couple of times: usually fixes it, but I love the very thorough approach Mark.
one of my favourite channels, your chipper manner always brightens my day Mark!
That PCB looks top notch if you compare it to Philips reel to reel recorders PCBs from the same era. Really a quality difference to notice. Nice deck repaired by a nice chap with exceptional care and love.
Vintage casette decks and radios 📻 are an emotion 😢❤❤❤❤
It is really satisfying to watch someone who's so enthusiastic about his work. I know nothing about electronics or stereos, but it's a great to learn. Thank you for sharing!
This guy is brilliant and apart from his obvious talents, hes a good presenter and naturally funny.
He deserves his own TV show.
Now theres an idea😮
What a brilliant engineer and great guy.👍
Centipede switch, that's a lot of legs😂. Thanks for opening it up and showing us, that was a treat!
I've never seen such a cheerful guy. And great professional :)
What I like about Mark? He’s a Jolly good Fellow, he has a million Pound smile,Keep those vintage sets running. Love to watch your vidros
Love this (older) stuff - so nicely serviceable, designed to be serviced, with service manuals, unlike some of today's throwaway junk (both cheap and expensive!).
Exactly.
Wow, I just stumbled on this video and I am transfixed! That is a beautiful deck and if any of my audio equipment became faulty, I'd want you to repair it. So professional. As an aside, you sound Brummie. I am from that part of the world. Brilliant!
I've always loved the aesthetic of early 80's hi-fi separates. The brush silver aluminium finishes and yellow, red and/or green LEDs.
Love the de-magnetising head practical - thanks for showing us that Mark. Yet another great video and up to your top standard.
always a pleasure to watch for us old-time soldering iron-n-scope lads!! Attention to detail always pays-off. Keep up the good work, Mark!!👏👏
A pleasure to watch. It's so good to know the skill and passion to repair is out their. Kudos to you Mark.
You have mentioned your dad a few times in you channel Mark, I can tell you have a great relationship and he sounds a cool dad :)
awesome showcase of a great repair, your attention to detail is a highly valued skillset
I have that same model. Don’t use it much anymore, but last time I did it worked fine. So many little fiddly parts that I would not even crack the panels open. Enjoyed watching you do it Mark!
Hi Mark, I appreciate the knowledge you share through your videos. Further, I love your humility and humour and jovial approach. All the best always!
Just discovered Mend it Mark and what a joy it is to watch these videos. Superb stuff. Great presentation and personality 10/10.
I'm sure I have a couple of old Technics tape decks stashed away in the garage. I'm now inspired to dig them out and see if they are still operational. 🤔 Great video, as always.
Brilliant job and great video. It was interesting to see inside that M17, my first Technics deck was an RS M12. It looked almost the same to be honest I can see the older Technics equipment was quite well put together. I now wish I still had my M12 to have a look inside. Thanks again.
Hi and thank you for sharing an interesting and entertaining video. My father was an TV technician, and I often visited his workshop. In those days, the 1970s, the technicians were wearing white coats. A word of warning and care though. When you cut those end bits of the capacitors, please remove them one by one as you go along. The way you did it, cutting them and turning the unit around to shake them out, one of them could get caught in there and cause a shortcut.
I was assuming that he was doing that for the sake of a better video, not having two hands in there blocking the view. Otherwise, having bits of wire flying around in an electrical device… what could go wrong? ;) … I love his channel though.
Dear Mark, your videos are outstanding as well as your work. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Great work.. And that's why these things were so expensive back in the day. All the intricate parts and materials.
I have a similar deck the M63 3 head. Still in use today!!!! Loved this series
Very patient in identifying and rectifying the defects! I liked very much the fineness in soldering the Capacitors Etc along with unscrewing and screwing of the screws! A thorough knowledge of the Circuit will alone make you perfect in finishing and getting success in your endeavour! With Best Wishes!!
You crack me up Mark, great little channel and reminds me of my time as an Electronics Eng and my youth being Mr fix it.
Watch those glass fibre strands left in the switch though 🤣 luckily they arent strands of wire!
Great show, looking forward to watching some more
I appreciate the extent you go to clean such a switch. I just spray some DeOxit, or what have you, in it as best I can and then actuate it 50+ times. If there is still noise or signal drop I repeat the process. If I've done it 3 times and it's still having issues I usually give up. lol. But seeing how you attack this problem gives me some pointers to try when I get back around to those machines that are on my "try again later" shelf. In fact have an Akai GX-747 open reel deck that I got for a steal because it has issues with a channel dropping. I managed to get most of the issues resolved using my "spray and pray" method but I'm sitll getting one channel to drop out occasionally.It was the record/play switch that was the offending component in fact. So I'm going to try and take it apart for a proper cleaning. I bet that will solve the issues for good now.Thanks.
your comment was like mine.. I think he opens it up for good content on youtube.
I used to repair cassettes-back in the day I would have been straight in with switch cleaner before checking anything with a meter or change the switch if the cleaner didn't work- no taking it apart carefully (which is the better approach these days given switches are harder to come by). I have all but stopped repairing them now and sold off all my better decks v cheaply although many were in a part dismantled condition and scrapped anything with mechanical keys. Still left with about 35 cheaper decks the most similar but later to this that I still have is the RSM216. Things are very different now and I love the care you take to make these oldies probably work for many more years but now we are not under pressure to fix loads in one day every day as was a typical commercial setup.
Great stuff, Mark! I really enjoy what you do. Keep it up!
Mark I just wanted to say your calm voice and demeanor is a pleasure to watch
I had one of these for years. Eventually sold it in my shop. They used to be prone to system switch problems Thanks Michael
Your videos always makes me happy. Smiley guy great Mark
Mark, make more videos!! We're dying out here !!! You do the best repair content on the web.
You seem to be the happiest technician there is.
Again an excellent example of diligent repair truly fascinating
I bet you've never seen a pulley on a cassette recorder so big and heavy. I had also never seen one so big until I took apart my Technics RS-641 which has a mechanism like this one (except the motor which in my case is servo assisted and is at the front). I have kept the original belt and pinch roller and over 40 years of use and abuse both continue to function satisfactorily. I admired the skill and ease with which you unsoldered the rec/play switch to clean it. (Something I was supposed to do on mine and haven't done yet.) As always, good job!
Thanks ! This vid has given me confidence to repair some electro-mechanical bits on a project I put away years ago when I found I couldn't source the needed parts- I think i can carefully disassemble it and fix it now.
That switch repair was beautiful. You seem to do these things so effortlessly…Bravo
Absolutely love your videos, so interesting to watch, my goodness you have some patience!
I just discovered this channel and I'm absolutely hooked. What wonderful beautiful work
Another GREAT video. One small note, Demag should be turned on at a distance and kept on until withdrawn to at a distance. The demag will produce a large magnetizing pulse upon switch ON and OFF. Also a Demag may interfere with a nearby pacemaker.
I've learnt a lot from your soldering technique. Thanks
excellent yet again,nice work Mark.
I find watching you do these repairs, very therapeutic! Not sure why, but thanks anyway!
I did like the attention to detail.
Thank You for Sharing this video Mark.
Love from Indonesian. Like watching you repairs audio. Thanks Mark your videos
Great job! Also excellent filming and editing. Top notch content, congrats!
You’re one the best repair channels!!
Nice one Young Mark!. Patience of a Saint!!
Thank you Mark. I was able to repair my 1982 RS-M15 with this exact same problem.
Outstanding work! You are a wealth of knowledge.
Excellent work and awesome humor.
Superbe video!!! Cheers from Patagonia Argentina
You have done a wonderful job with this tape recorder. Congratulations!
That multiple switch (play/record) is the cause of many problems.
I would have also changed the capacitors from power supply block (sometimes they produce low frequency noises. Especially when they are old).
You have a great channel YT!
As soon as you said it was producing a screeching sound I knew it was the rec/play switch. One of my decks was doing the same and I just moved it up and down with a screw driver a bunch and it stopped screeching. Obviously you take much more care when repairing these XD love the vid!!
The most professional job from the nicest guy ever seen.
I have a very similar model (M11) with slow playback and the screeching noise. This video helped to fix both problems
looks easy. I have an M85 here. Up to 95 capacitors to change. 11 small switches and a few big ones to clean. Doesn't like doing anything, sometimes (after warming it with a blow heater for 10 mins) ff works, about as fast as play, if at all + lumpy action, occasionally rewind tries to work but doesn't. Play decided to work after an hour and some switch cleaner in the zone. I've never done much tape mech disassembly before, hats off to you tape guys!
It's playing now but there are also 4 potentiometers to clean. Bias does not appear to work, output level acts more like a HPF / tone control.
My friend wants €200 for it and i said to him if i get it home and it plays at least i might consider it. But now i'm thinking 40 - 60 hours of work. hmmmmmmm
Oh. It's also the 120V version! On a positive note. It's super clean inside. I wouldn't change all the caps but i would test them for terrible ones.
What is the most common cause for lazy FF and RW in similar decks? I have many that just hate FF and RW!
Unbelievable skills and knowledge.
That was a substantial drive belt. Nice chunky mechanism at least. Those gang switch mechanisms seem to be a common failure point, like leaky capacitors. It's nice to see a traditional deck from 40 years ago still being used. You did a great job for Sid, I hope he's very happy with it.
Ho apprezzato molto il lavoro che hai fatto al technics,impeccabile!.sei un'ottimo tecnico
Oh Mark, I just went to your website and saw you are completely swamped with work. That is awesome for you. I will check back soon to see if things have calmed down. Retro can wait. Love the channel.
I have no clue what i am loking at .. I have nO skill in repairs but you look like you know your stuff. I watch your clips before bed.
Love the videos, You have a great attitude!
I don't know if Mark is a licensed therapist but his videos have much more therapeutic effect than a session. Thank you sir! ❤
When i watched your video, i just back to in 1990 my childhood time , excellent work you done,🥰🥰❤❤ love you stay blessed, where you from
Love the show, just makes me feel old when I had the stuff when I was apparently much younger!
Mark is aewsome mind blowing knowledge skill and very nice fella...
I watched this video and went shopping, and a 1980 RS M11 for 4$. Well couple hours work and some pointers from your video
now, it is a nice deck. Just changed the Sanyo and orange electrolytic caps. Yes the switches where in a sad way. Thank you for the video.
fantastic repair
Lov your vidéos Mark ! Cheers from France 🇫🇷 fortunately I lived few years in England so I can get the most of it ! Carry on ! Good job !
Your intro is top class, mate!
Appreciate your sharing this with us. Good things….
I have one identical , just done the belts clean up heads , and all good, works like new. The caps in mine were all good tested fine and no leaks or buldge.
I subbbed your channel, you get some interesting stuff, I have a huge collection of mostly Japanese made stuff from 70's to 80's.
Love it.. the brand (Technics) reminds me of my childhood..
Buenas noches tardes o días. Encontré tu canal el día de ayer. Me encantan tus videos y la forma de trabajar cada componente. Felicitaciones. Saludos desde Bogotá, Colombia.
Woooow, my first tape deck! Beauty.
Holy crap. I had this deck. It was amazing!
I don't understand what you're saying, but I understand what you're doing. Thank you.
Hi bro, i,m your big fan after watching your some videos, you're great mechanic of electronics,
Fascinating & absorbing must see tech genius....more.more.more.
I find your videos very therapeutical im also an electronics engineer.
Золотые руки. Приятно смотреть обзоры.
Awesome love your work.
You are genious, I can see, you have life experience with electronics 👍❤️
Always a joy to watch your work?
Is it?
Must be funny having a few drinks with him in a pub. Great job by the way
Realy nice to see that there still people out there who know theyr work! Here around my place you don't find people like that no more ..they just wanna sell !