2024 Summer of Sony - This TC-K55 Was SO MUCH MORE BROKEN Than Expected

My summer of Sony continues with the TC-K55 we first looked at around the beginning of the year. This unit had problems with the fast wind reel drive, but these are very old machines. While making this video I expected, and found, more problems than that.
Make sure you check out my TC-K61 videos where many relevant service aspects of this transport are covered. This is a very picky, very old transport that WILL fight you, and you need the patience of a saint to deal with it.
Replacement for rec/play relay (not covered in video): Omron G5V-2-12VDC
Capstan belt: 74mm dia (232mm IC) x 4mm
Take-up belt: 90mm IC x 1mm square
TC-K61 Part 1: • Sony TC-K61 Cassette S...
TC-K61 Part 2: • Sony TC-K61 Part 2 - E...
Facebook: / theweatherwolf
Insta: / oklawolf
Camera gear I use:
Nikon D800, Nikon Z50, iPhone XS Max & 13 Pro Max, DJI Action 3, Autel Evo Nano+, Autel Evo Lite+, DJI Mini 3 Pro
Music:
Diskette Park (catsystemcorp.bandcamp.com)
猫 シ Corp. (diskettepark.bandcamp.com)
0:00:00 - Intro
0:01:52 - Cassette torque gauge discussion
0:04:35 - Re-evaluating the patient and torque check
0:08:00 - Checking the fast wind reel idler system
0:10:44 - Beginning transport service
0:13:18 - Broken head block spring mount
0:17:28 - Fast wind idler clutch problems
0:26:12 - Backtension brake condition
0:36:17 - Inspecting the take-up drive clutch
0:41:40 - Repairing broken head block spring mount
0:54:40 - Fixing the sticking head block
1:02:00 - Finally fixing the fast wind idler
1:03:23 - Calibrating playback speed
1:05:50 - Post service testing

[@JamesE707]

Glad you spotted the dirty back tension pad, I did see it earlier, but I thought not to mention it. They can get quite 'sticky' and create extra wow/flutter towards the end of the tape.

[@JamesE707]

If I may mention the motor controller board - I rescued a long dead TC-K75, and seemingly one of the developed faults was
that the motor controller board shorted to earth. So I later isolated this so that the solder side could never touch the chasis.

[@rust1962]

To restore the felt, you can try using a wire brush.

[@lachlanlau]

Great video, plenty of detail if I need something done on my K65. Where did you get the torque gauge? those are wickedly expensive on ebay..

[@Oklawolf]

Ebay

[@JamesE707]

I had the same sticky idler @1:01:00

[@asbcustom]

Those felt disks can be purchased in kit form from the usual suspects, look for something like "felt washer for VCR repair" or something close. A wire brush can also restore them sometimes. CA was the right choice for the overmolded plastic parts that Sony is so fond of, JB weld is formulated for metal repairs and doesn't wet out plastic very well at all. Another good choice is Acrylic cement assuming, of course, it's Acrylic.
Did you ever get your tape back, and why is shipping from US to Canada so outrageously expensive all of a sudden?

[@Oklawolf]

I got it but haven’t had time to do much with it yet. Shipping from Canada to the US is crazy expensive too.

[@asbcustom]

@@Oklawolf Okay good, just wanting to know if I need to point the pooch at the mailman again ...

[@JamesE707]

Felts: I tend to wash them, and allow to dry. In other words - degrease. :o)

[@darrenwendell1723]

plastic crap

[@LT.tapeheads.service]

Another very interesting video!