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The Sony CFS-201L was first released in 1988. It is a vintage portable radio cassette-recorder, or "boombox," popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It features a multi-band radio tuner (FM/MW/SW/LW) and a cassette deck with recording functionality

Cassette Take-up reel fails to

I’ve had this Sony since early 90s. I finally decided to fix it. I took it apart, cleaned everything, replaced the disintegrated belt and reconnected.

FF works, RW works. When I press play I can hear the recording, but the tape spills out after it runs through the capstan and pinch roller. The take-up spool/reel/spindle does not move.

I’ve checked the tire wheel which is supposed to drive the take-up spool with friction and it slips. So I cleaned the tire wheel rubber and dried it, which seemed to improve it as I turned the capstan manually. But as soon as I add power the take-up spool hardly moves and the tape spews out.

I cant see how to improve it - it can’t be the drive belt as it’s new. The spring which pushes the tire wheel against the take-up spool works well - Is there a drive that I cannot see under the take-up spool? Or should I replace the rubber on the tire roller? If so, where do I get that from?! Any help appreciated.

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@tim97874 not sure about the drive since we can't see yours :-). I would suggest you check the SM that you can now get from this page Sony CFS 201L under the Documents Tab. Page 12 and 13 show the explosion drawings from the cassette player. You could compare that to your mechanism. Ultimately, I would not be surprised that after 30 some years, the original grease and rubber are what keeps this from working properly. I'd continue with the cleaning since that improved it already. Not sure where and if you can get a replacement roller, but it looks like the same cassette mechanism was used in other Sony models like the CFS-902. You may have to start scrounging around :-)

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Tim crwdns2934231:0crwdne2934231:0
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