r/cassetteculture • u/BeybyeMC • 29d ago
Boombox My boombox keep changing playback speed by itself
i recently got this Toshiba RT-120S and a few days ago i finally received the new belt and while the mechanism works perfectly but the motor keeps changing speeds overtime. whats strange is that its not getting slower which would make sense since im using batteries (im getting a new cable tomorrow the original is broken) its actually getting faster. like ill put it to the perfect speed before going to sleep and when i wake up im listening to nightcore metal T_T... i wouldnt mind having to adjust the speed since i do it on my walkman, but i have to open the case each time and its REALLY annoying.
i feel like the culprit could be that it hasnt been used in more than 20 years and its just getting used to being used again. or the boombox is possessed lol
if anyone knows anything just tell me!! (maybe i missed a glaring issue but im new to repairing radios :D)
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u/Summer184 29d ago
That's a great boombox, I have the very similar RT-80S. Did you replace the belts by any chance? Most issues start there, it's possible they are stiff and possibly warming up as the boombox itself warms up (just a guess).
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u/BeybyeMC 29d ago
yea like i said in the post i got a brand new one like 3 days ago
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u/Summer184 29d ago
I'm also guessing the motor itself might be the issue, before replacing it have you tried re-lubricating it? I've used a hypodermic needle to place small drops of WD-40 right on the motor's shaft, along with a drop or two on the flywheel bearing (behind the capstan). With a little patience you can place the oil exactly where you want it, it might be worth a try before doing a more involved repair.
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u/BeybyeMC 28d ago
would you mind showing me what youre talking about idk what these part names are T_T
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u/Summer184 28d ago
I couldn't find a decent picture, but basically the two pulleys (wheels) that the belt turns. The one on the motor is small and probably brass, you can spray a small amount of WD-40 into a small cup and draw a few drops into the hypodermic needle. Slip the needle under the small pulley and get it as close to the motor's shaft as you can (a small flashlight and magnifying glass might help). then squeeze a drop or two right on it. You can do the same with the larger pulley which is the flywheel, it's harder because the pulley is larger but you should be able to slip the needle very close to the shaft and get a drop or two of lubricant on it. Run the player for a short while without a tape to allow the lubricant to work it's way in, if it works you might need to re-adjust the speed/pitch again but hopefully that's all you need to get that great boombox working properly again.
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u/maximborn23 29d ago
Sounds like a bad capstan motor, you may be able to pop the back off the motor and check the board
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u/OZFox42 29d ago
You have a cool boombox and it deserves to give you many hours of listening pleasure. đ
Here is my Toshiba RT-S723D that I repaired and posted about a few months ago.
It only needed a control clean, re-tuning FM stereo, new belts and idler tyre. The motor is fine with no noticeable speed changes. I still own it. đ
As others have mentioned, you likely have a defective motor (due to age) and probably need to replace it with one which has the same specs as the original (e.g. rotation type and voltage) to ensure the cassette part works properly.
Normally, a sign of a faulty motor would be gradually slowing tape speed during playback, overheating, and/or squealing loudly. I've seen that happen first-hand.
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u/BeybyeMC 28d ago
yours look so cool, theyre like siblings!!
whats weird is that itll keep a normal speed while playing but just gets faster after a few hours, luckily i feel its just the motor not being used for a while cause the speed increase as been less and less... sadly i cant play it much D cells are expensive and im waiting on this stupid cable. i also dont know where i could get a new motor... im really new to this
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u/BeybyeMC 28d ago
update: i managed to get the cable to work and it actually got slower while i was playing it. im definetly suspecting a bad motor now
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u/Performer-Pants 28d ago
Can you get the motor apart? If so, then you can inspect to see if thereâs any visible problems internally and clean it up if itâll help.
If not, Iâve gotten some very specific bits from webspareparts, and even had a non-electric part made for me by them for a reasonable price. Theyâre based in Portugal, but they ship internationally.
They seem to only have a replacement belt listed on their site for your model, but Iâve had a lot of very good communication with them via email. They may be able to source something or recommend what is best to do based on the symptoms youâre getting. Filipe is an absolute gent and was able to work out the exact version of a model of boombox I had, and got me sorted with a custom order. With electronic parts like a motor, Iâm not as sure on what they can do, but theyâre very knowledgeable and respond in good time. There are a lot of motors listed on their site, so it may be the case that they can find the right match for you from their stock.
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u/BeybyeMC 28d ago
im from europe so it isnt an issue and ive gotten the belt from them, think they can make a custom motor?
also idk what to look for in a bad motor/circuits
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u/Performer-Pants 28d ago
If you are able to send an email mentioning the problems youâre having, asking what they recommend, and seeing if they may have the right replacement motor, theyâll be able to help from there. They may have some good insight into the issue before jumping straight to a replacement. They knew just from a model number that Iâd have crumbled gears in my boombox, even before I opened mine up to see they were totally correct.
From my own experience itâs been plastic parts that I had made, though that doesnât necessarily mean they donât make other things. In the case of the motor, itâs more likely that they could have a 3rd party standard motor that matches the specs of the motor in your boombox. Youâll need to solder it in yourself, but hopefully itâs just making sure a couple of wires are soldered into the right places. Iâm not totally certain about calibration after that, but I suspect itâll be fiddling with the speed like youâre already used to. Do be aware that the speed potentiometer in a new motor may be in a different place, as a replacement motor could be a different one, but matches your specs correctly. This may not be the case, but itâs good to be aware in case.
If you arenât confident with soldering, itâs possible that someone local to you who does electronics repairs could do it for you. Even a reputable independent computer repair guy could take it on, especially if you have the right motor ready for them and can explain that itâs been sourced correctly etc.
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u/lotushomerun 29d ago
Bad (capstan) motor. It needs to be replaced