Problems with cassette deck

[Parcival]

Hi, I newly purchased this boom box and played well for a while, but then all of a sudden it just stopped playing and It won’t keep playing. It can rewind and fast-forward, but it won’t eject. So how do I open it with the cassette still in the boom box to fix this problem?

 

[hopey]

Once you remove all the screws you can wiggle it to release the door. If the back comes off you can turn the mechanism by hand to release the cassette. Be very careful and take your time.

 

[Parcival]

Ok i got it open, any way i can keep it playing. It seems that sometimes it will play all the time and other times it won’t continuously play.

 

[Parcival]

These chrome buttons

 

[hopey]

remove the four screws to separate the mech flip it over and replace the belts.

 

[Parcival]

I dont rhink its a belt problem. Its just that the buttons don’t always stay down. Maybe a spring gone bad?

 

[Parcival]

Right here it sometimes wont stay latched.

 

[dubout]

Without knowing the model it is a bit hard to guess whats wrong or to find someone who knows the mechanism and can interpret the picture. Sounds like a malfunction of the auto stop but who knows if the box even has that?

 

[Parcival]

Its off of a General Electric 3-6035A

 

[dubout]

Sorry, I don't know that model.

But in the second picture where you circled the 'faulty' section I notice that right above the circle there is a slanted (rubber) wheel or something. Is that how it should be? Normally everything is in line in the cassette mechs I have seen.

 

[Parcival]

It’s a gear and it seems that every once in a while it pops up like that but then it corrects itself back to where its supposed to be. Do I take apart the whole thing to see and possibly fix a placement issue?

 

[dubout]

'Once in a while' sounds to me like this is the issue and fits to the occasional error you experience. Take a good look and find out why it pops out of place / isn't held in place. There must be a reason.

Normally it is easier to find the source of a problem when things are assembled – depending on how good you can see the parts while working.

But if taking apart the mechanism is the only way to find out I am afraid you will have to do that. Take photos, the mechs look more complicated to disassemble and reassamble than they are. In most cases all falls into place when putting back together.

 

[hopey]

first replace the belts as this is the most common problem. Can you post a photo of the back of the mech.

 

[dubout]

first replace the belts as this is the most common problem. Can you post a photo of the back of the mech.

If you haven't done that I would recommend to do this first, too. Maybe a (still working but) loose belt prevents it from staying in place. Worth a try.

 

[geoffhartwell]

check that the idler tyre hasn't got a small split, you can see it from the front of the deck

 

[Parcival]

first replace the belts as this is the most common problem. Can you post a photo of the back of the mech.

Thats the back of it

 

[Parcival]

check that the idler tyre hasn't got a small split, you can see it from the front of the deck

Theres the front and top

 

[hopey]

Because it was working the problem is with the rubber belts. They respond to duty cycle so they work for a while then stretch after use.