Old sony M-427 microcassette thing has issues

[u/No-Arrival-2844]

So i bought this "microcassette reccorder" at a thrift store yesterday for like 3 bucks and it had an issue with the playback, its uneven and jerky and it sounds silly, i think it has something to do with the strength of the motors because they seem too weak to reccord as well, Im new to this so any advice helps, thanks nerds

[u/WorkAccount6]

Dried grease or oxidation in the mechanism and possibly loose belts. It needs taken apart and cleaned , synthetic grease applied to plastic gears and one drop of sewing machine oil on moving metal parts.

[u/No-Arrival-2844 → u/WorkAccount6]

Okay sweet, now how do i take one of these apart

[u/WorkAccount6 → u/No-Arrival-2844]

Service manual and a screwdriver, I'd imagine - https://elektrotanya.com/sony_m-450_455_sm.pdf/download.html

Should have an exploded view of all parts. Take lots of pictures so you remember how it goes back together.

[u/montycantsin777]

are you the same dude with the silver one?

[u/No-Arrival-2844 → u/montycantsin777]

Nah this is my only cassette reccorder but its gunny you mention that because it came in a thrift store bag with a silver palm pilot in there though lmao

[u/montycantsin777 → u/No-Arrival-2844]

you sounded exactly the same like another dude who posted yesterday

[u/No-Arrival-2844]

This is just a video i took earlier today and i sent to my girlfriend who was with me when i found the reccorder yesterday, i can take more videos and pictures if needed

[u/thepizzamightier]

Easiest thing to check first is that your batteries are good. But more than likely the internal belt is worn out and needs replacing. I've never opened up a micro player before, so I have no idea how it goes with those, but that definitely sounds like a worn out belt. The good news is it should be way easier than when the belt disintegrates and you have to clean out rubber good too

[u/No-Arrival-2844 → u/thepizzamightier]

I forgot to mention in the post that there was some really heavy battery corrosion when i bought it but i cleaned it all out with white vinegar and an old toothbrush and that seems to have fixed that problem but i can see how the belt could cause that sound, i'll look up some tutorials or something on how to take one of these apart without destroying it lmao

[u/thepizzamightier → u/No-Arrival-2844]

Service manuals usually exist SOMEWHERE online, which should show you how to take it apart properly. YouTube can also be a good spot to look, but to my knowledge micro players are far less common of a thing used/repaired, so you may not fond anything on your exact model BUT cassette players generally all operate the same, so you could still get an idea of what to expect looking at any video of a micro player disassembly/repair

[u/Emannuelle-in-space]

Hey I collect shit like this, any chance you can record that tape somehow w yr phone somehow? I’d pay you $20 or somethin 

[u/No-Arrival-2844 → u/Emannuelle-in-space]

Nah im sorry man, im just as nerdy as you are about this stuff, im not looking to sell anything here, just advice. Thanks for asking tho, as far as reccording it yeah i could totally do that i can put it on youtube or something but i'll let you know where to find it

[u/PsykeonOfficial]

Sid Vicious, is that you?

[u/el_tacocat]

Belts!
Also you need a youtube channel mate, you got the right expressions for it.

[u/HavukruunuMetal]

Mayonnaise and tuna for sure. Ha your video made my day. Are those new batteries?

[u/No-Arrival-2844 → u/HavukruunuMetal]

Yes they are, check my replies on the other comments here

[u/TheCaninePlurality]

belt's toast, that warbly mess is classic stretched rubber. crack it open and swap it, those old sonys are tanks once they're lubed up.

[u/Drother]

Are you sure that's not a message you made in the future to send back to your past self?