Vintage Panasonic Tape Recorder tear down

Mechanism tear down and reassembly of an old 1980 Panasonic cassette tape recorder.

[fernando]

Saludos desde Mérida Yuc. Estoy reparando una igual..💯👍

[dmj-ptcm]

Yes, these types of units replaced the classic RQ-309 series. Not a happy time in Panasonic history. "How can we cheapen the product as much as possible and have (barely) acceptable sound quality?" I had one of these. The plastic gears made noise on any recording using the condenser mic. Then I found a store that had old-stock RQ-309DS's. Problem solved. The mystery to me is why, after cutting production costs, Panasonic INcreased production costs by making a dozen variations on this same basic unit that were mostly functionally identical.

The next generation after this had a mechanism that was far superior (the grinding gears were gone). Eventually they went to a quiet system with full autostop and IC-controlled motor speed instead of an electromechanical governor (but they went to a lighter, cheaper flywheel).

[boatingcharlie]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skill with us. Would love to see Panasonic AG-1980 S-VHS VCR transport timing and common issues with it. I have one I think has dried grease, going to tear down this winter would be very helpful to have some idea how before  jumping in. Thanks!

[Ramdileo_sys]

can I point out that this device of around 40 years old... does not have a single bulging or leaking capacitor 🤨​....
while a "vintage" motherboard from 2012 that I got a few days ago... has more explode capacitors that fleas on a mule 😖​...

[Lonnielove]

Hi the problem I'm having is play won't stay locked down in place but the FF and Rew will.

[VintageElectronicsGeek]

Very cool to see! Would be interesting to see the computer in action!  Just wondering, in this video, by chance was they're Scotch tape on the lens?

[johndoe]

Hi, I'm also interested in how cassette players operate. I have a couple in need of repair and would like to understand the electronics. I've fixed loads needing new belts or a clean and oil. Even a couple where the was a dodgy capacitor but some are more tricky and without fully understanding what the electronics do i cant fix them ! I'm especially interested in the DATA transmit and record electronics as one of the tape recorders plays music fine but wont play the data tape ! Rather the computer doesn't hear the tape. The computer works and loads games fine on other cassette players but not the one I'm currently tying to repair. Or if you can link me to a good website or other resource specifically covering this type of circuitry that would be awesome.

[Bluethunderboom]

I have the same model as yours that I found them at the Yard Sale, and when I picked them up, test them out, it worked really good, and when I opened the case of what's manufactured, and the code that I see is 271185 saying it's manufactured on Wednesday, November 27, 1985.

And when you look the date code inside the case saying 080790 saying it's manufactured on Monday, July 8, 1990.

Unfortunately, When I was put the gear back where it was for the head gear is located for to fast forward or rewind, I accidentally stretched the belt and caused the belt to go lose, and I may have to find me a new belt in order to have a correct speed for the tape recorder.

Do you know which web site that I could find the right type of the belt for my 1985 Panasonic Tape Recorder RQ-2107?

[benmeuninck]

need to fix take up on one like this mine is 2170a the deck is the same

[boatingcharlie]

Encoder seems ok everything is moving free and same spot every time. I have found if I clean the video heads it will play great and continue to play until it retracts the tape guides and starts play again then bad video. I clean the video heads again and get more black dirt on the paper. Have you seen video heads get this dirty before? I'm using 91% alcohol to clean them. Any recommendations for good cleaning solution?

[catthecommentbothunter]

Mkae sure to save the dc motor that type of dc motor is hard to find

[infinitecanadian]

How come the left side of the video is blurred out?

[adenanthony]

Just found one in a pile by the road. Doesn't work. Hopefully this helps. EDIT: I got mine working. The sound quality is garbage