How To Repair A Sony Walkman

Sony DD series pace-past-stride repair guide for dummies

By Marian Mihok

Sony DD series (direct bulldoze) walkmans are very popular among portable cassette players because of their high quality construction, fantabulous fully analog audio quality - and slap-up timeless blueprint.

Although they're well built, they will non piece of work within specs without proper service. Because they're xxx+ years onetime, most of them volition take some mutual issues by at present.

In this transmission I will give very detailed stride-by-pace instructions on how to set up all common problems - and recommendations on maintenance tasks to practice, to avoid future problems. With the help of this manual yous should exist able to do proper service on whatsoever DD unit. I've stock-still more than 200 DD units and will present my know-how and best practices, discovered through the years. I volition endeavor to brand information technology as complete as possible.

This transmission is suitable for everyone with at least bones technical skills. Experienced technicians will besides find useful information here.

What skills do y'all need?

Y'all need to have at least basic soldering skills
Y'all should know how to work with basic paw tools
Y'all need to be patient and never use stiff force to open or dismantle annihilation.

What tools do you need?

Simply uncomplicated and easily available tools. I will describe them afterward.

What models are covered?

WM-DD / DDII / DDIII
WM-DC2
WM-DD30 / DD33 / DD100
WM-F5
WM-D3

Workbench

The cardinal to success is to prepare a workspace where y'all volition work. It must exist clean - if you loose some small part, you lot will find information technology easier. All tools and devices must be well organized and should be readily at paw.

This is how my own workbench looks.

Tools needed

Mandatory tools:

All needed tools are easily available at low prices from eBay or Aliexpress.

precision tweezers
screwdriver: Philips type PH00. Use loftier quality to avert damaging screws. I use Vessel
Oil: synthetic oil that dries very slowly, similar high-grade watch oil, 702 for example
Vaseline: there are special types for plastic and for metal
pocket knife: the thinner the bract, the meliorate
IPA (Isoprophilic Alcohol): for cleaning
Cotton fiber: for cleaning
soldering station and accessories, or elementary soldering iron
External power source: a 3V power supply or 2x1.5V AA battery pack, with the right connector and correct polarity
Organizer
2mm carbide stop manufactory engraving bits
Lamp with magnifying glass

Optional tools, co-ordinate to situation

Scissors
Textile duct tape and double-sided duct record
Drills
Pliers
Small hammer
Other tools as needed

This is how my own workbench looks.

Getting within the walkman

1.- Remove the front door

Unscrew the two screws holding the door from their hinges, one on each side, and remove the front end door. Be careful not to break the hinges, they're very delicate. If they're already broken - proceed to the "Fixing broken hinge" chapter. If the transparent plastic window on the door is loose - proceed to the "Fixing loosened window" chapter. If the door lock slider is broken - proceed to the "Fixing broken door lock" chapter.

Put the screws in prophylactic place - e.m. a pocket-sized cup or tray.

2. Tighten five screws located in cassette compartment

Many times they have go loose and need to exist tightened. Sometimes they're missing. These are standard M1.four screws, easily bachelor from eBay.

three. Remove the back embrace

Unscrew the four screws on the sides of the walkman, 2 on one side and two on the contrary side.

And so pull out the back cover. Start from the empty side. Be very careful, there is a spring located under the door lock slider. Do not lose this bound! Concur the slider with your fingers while releasing the back cover. Otherwise the slider will jump out, together with this small jump. Secure slider and bound with a minor piece of tape earlier proceeding.

If you have trouble removing the back comprehend, push the FF and REW buttons simultaneously,
while trying to lift the back cover away. Never use strong forcefulness to open anything.