After about 20 years in storage, I pulled out this old cassette deck to add to a vintage style stereo setup and only got a very low output. This low output is even at the deck's headphone out. Both sides are the same (it's a dual). Could this be something to do with the tape heads? I cleaned them with alcohol and no improvement. I'm not sure what to try next.
The meters didn't show any signal level at all. It was like playing almost blank tape. I thought maybe the one I tried had gotten erased so I tried others. Same result. Can cassettes go bad (erase) over time, just sitting? Some of these are 30 years old or older.
Old tapes can shed oxide badly (some, not all by any means). Have you tried recording to see if the meters show good level, and then play the recording back.
Check that any mechanical record/play switches on the PCB are OK. Something this age may or may not use them i.e. it could be all electronic.
Check that any mechanical record/play switches on the PCB are OK. Something this age may or may not use them i.e. it could be all electronic.
The old tapes are fine. Well.....as fine as can be expected in a digital world and given their age.
Mooly, the tape controls are electronic, as opposed to mechanical. which just got me thinking. I wonder if the heads are just gummed up from sitting and not raising up to the tape.
Mooly, the tape controls are electronic, as opposed to mechanical. which just got me thinking. I wonder if the heads are just gummed up from sitting and not raising up to the tape.
Well you always have to make sure the mechanicals are OK first with any cassette deck issue. If there is doubt then just hold the "cassette in" microswitch closed and see if the head plate raises fully.
(Although the deck is logic controlled you can still find mechanical record/play switches with the switch being operated via a solenoid... unlikely but never discount it 'till you have made sure)
(Although the deck is logic controlled you can still find mechanical record/play switches with the switch being operated via a solenoid... unlikely but never discount it 'till you have made sure)
I think I'll pop the top and give it a full cleaning and lubing. Is there any way the PLAY heads could go bad from just sitting?
No, the heads should be fine. The only way they can deteriorate is by environmental issues such as damp and corrosion.
Over ride the cassette in switch and see if the heads fully rise with no cassette inserted.
Over ride the cassette in switch and see if the heads fully rise with no cassette inserted.
Try as I might, I couldn't find the cassette IN switch. I have found them before on other models but, not on this one. But, I did find that the outer window came off of the door and exposed the head under the door. I popped in a cassette and looked at the head come up to what I would say engages the tape fully. I checked both heads and they both look good.
Not sure what to look at next.
Not sure what to look at next.
If its OK mechanically then fault finding begins as with any equipment. With it playing a known good tape you should be able to trace the signal through the unit. Look for where the head lead wiring goes and immediately in that location will be the head preamp. You should be able to pick audio up there on a scope (preamp, not the head).
A brutal "check" would be to put the unit in play mode and touch the wires to the head. That should completely swamp the preamp and drive the VU meters off scale.
A brutal "check" would be to put the unit in play mode and touch the wires to the head. That should completely swamp the preamp and drive the VU meters off scale.
That's what I'm thinking.
I took the top off the JVC and the entire mechanism is motor driven, including the doors. I can spot 4 motors per deck.
Now if I can find a service manual..........
I took the top off the JVC and the entire mechanism is motor driven, including the doors. I can spot 4 motors per deck.
Now if I can find a service manual..........
Just do the basic test. Play a tape and buzz the wires to the head with your finger. It should go crazy as you massively overload the head amp. Does it ?
Not sure if this old JVC is going to be worth the time. Half the time, pressing STOP will FF the tape. It take a few attempts to get it to stop. PLAY only works part time as well.
Going to dig a bit deeper and see what happens. Still trying to get it disassembled so I can get access to the back side of the tape head.
Going to dig a bit deeper and see what happens. Still trying to get it disassembled so I can get access to the back side of the tape head.
I give up. I can't get it apart. The doors are attached to the rest of the mechanism and pass through the front cover. I can get the assembly loose and moved partly out but, the clearance just isn't there. I have taken apart decks before but nothing as complicated as this one is. With the door open, the assembly needs to go back and down. It just won't go back far enough to start the down. If the door were off, not a problem. But to get the door off, I need the assembly removed from the front cover. Catch 22.
On the up side, I went out and picked up a Technics RS-TR212 deck from Goodwill for $18.00. Not the quality of my JVC but, The JVC isn't a high end deck anyway. I also found a Denon DCD-1015 CD player there as well for $18.00 as well. That one was worth the trip. My old Carver SD/A 410 CD player had died some time back.
On the up side, I went out and picked up a Technics RS-TR212 deck from Goodwill for $18.00. Not the quality of my JVC but, The JVC isn't a high end deck anyway. I also found a Denon DCD-1015 CD player there as well for $18.00 as well. That one was worth the trip. My old Carver SD/A 410 CD player had died some time back.
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