HELP! Sony TCD-D3 portable DAT faults
lycaus
Does anyone know what could be causing the following problem on the
mentioned machine?
First fault:-
The machine plays back as if the tape path / head are mis-adjusted,
constantly the error correction has to kick in and huge chunks of code are
missed causing blank sections etc.
Also in record mode, the deck seems to perform normally, but on playback,
the above symptom occurs...in addition to which there seems to be a high
pitch shrill that was either recorded or playing back.
All the symptoms exist on tapes that are known to be good...also on tapes
that where recorded before and after the fault occured.
One other item, when I recorded a frequency sweep from 2Hz to 20kHz, at
about 10kHz the frequency seemed to roll over, instead of hearing the tone
increase, it infact decreased.
Could the tape / head or tape and head speed be too slow which may be
causing this fault? If so, suggest way to check, I don't have a frequency
counter yet.
Second fault :-
When fast forwarding or rewinding the tape in the machine..or just using
track select sometimes the machine or tape (I have not managed to find out
which) seems to grind the gears (a very terrible sound)..but I have found
no evidence of any gears slipping or being ground down.
When fast forward or rewind a whole tape, the fault seems to occur in the
very beginning (in rewind mode) or the very end of the tape (in fast
forward mode). When using track select, the grinding sound may occur just
searching for the next or previous track.
Third fault :-
The time code is not always correct..
The first and third fault together suggest mis-tracking but I took the
machine to a local shop which said that they checked the tracking (but
couldn't fix the other faults because they don't have all the equipment for
a DAT repair like Sony does). Although I don't see any cracks, could the
guide poles have become bent? I know that mis-tracking on VCR's is caused
by bent guide poles.. The machine was being used with the analogue audio
input and output..can't test the digital optical link.
The machine is mine and was purchased new, and it went wrong soon after the
guarantee ran out. No modifications etc were carried out on the machine to
cause these faults to occur.
Are these expensive faults to fix?..I daren't send it to Sony yet as just
for looking at the machine they charge £50(UKP), the test tapes to try to
find the fault myself are too expensive (more than the machine is worth).
I'm not a repair bloke but I do happen to know basic repair as taught in
various electronics courses. I have the service manual (mechanical and
electrical layouts). I have access to an oscilloscope and a DMM, and a 1v
pkpk 1kHz sine wave gen, and test CD with various frequencies.
Thanks in advance
Ski :-(
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Dennis Bathory-Kitsz
Ski,
If you get answers on this D3 problem, I'd appreciate knowing them too.
I am a tech, do have the service manual, own the D3, and haven't been
able to figure out the gear-grinding issue. I've got the tape path
adjusted correctly (the two guide poles had loosened -- a tiny hex screw
at the bottom).
But the grinding seems like there's too much tension on the supply reel,
but I just can't find it! The service manual is terrible.
Thanks,
Dennis
--
Dennis Báthory-Kitsz
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Ron Haholy
On 31 May 1997 09:16:39 GMT, "lycaus" <lyc...@globalnet.co.uk> wrote:
>Does anyone know what could be causing the following problem on the
>mentioned machine?
>
it sure sounds like tape path problems, these are very critical, you
must use a test tape, not one you recorded, if you cant get one then
if you know someone who has a known good machine have him make you a
copy with just tone on it for 5 min then anything else after that. the
noise couldbe your tape???.............Ron...
Sam Goldwasser
You may have multiple problems. Aside from cleaning, I don't think you will
be able to locate the faults.
Even tape path alignment is going to be much more difficult for a DAT compared
to a VHS or Beta VCR.
Sorry, you probably need to have it serviced professionally.
--- sam : Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ: http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg/REPAIR/
Coming soon to a computer screen near you: http://www.repairfaq.org/