Sony TC-277-4, help

[quadsearcher]

Now that's the way it should be! If this guy has problems with it, it certainly isn't because he doesn't appreciate what it is.

 

[Q8]

He showed me one of the big Quad Teacs that a friend recently gave him.

He was surprised to find that I found it at a garage sale (especially in the cosmetic condition it was in) and spoke highly of the unit. He stated that it was a shame it sat unused so long before I purchased it, "when you use them regularly, you can't kill them."

But I agree with you. This is what I have been looking for. Someone who actually cares about this stuff.

 

[Q8]

Well, this doesn't seem to be going as well as initially dropping it off did. As you can see, there have been no real updates. What updates I have gotten have been from calling the guy myself. Same stuff from him, says he is going to call you in a couple days, never does. Plus he doesn't seem as friendly over the phone and/or once he has the machine. So. The first amount of time was explained by the fact that he thought it was another type of machine at first, and has had to order a repair manual for it. Now he says that there is a drive part that needs replaced and he is unsure that he can locate a replacement. Seems that this guy is working on the drive first and not the buzz like the other guy started with. I haven't posted much on this thread because its depressing...

 

[Q8]

I have very good news! He says it's fixed!!!!

He replaced several parts in the drive, some caps ad resistors, thoroughly cleaned and djusted everything. $135+tax. He states no more buzz, that it runs perfectly now. He said the sound surprised him as well, that it stands up to a lot of the pro machines he works on. Will hopefully pick it up tomorrow morning!

 

[cupboy]

$135 is a good deal. I paid $200 to get an old VHS VCR fixed and all the guy did was replaced one electronic component.

 

[Q8]

I picked it up tonight. It's working beautifully. I can finally say I have a working TC-277-4. It also got a good cleaning and calibration. Working like new.

Since he did a good job, I'll let you know who he is:

A-V Specialist
Kettering Ohio

 

[quadsearcher]

What a relief! I knew there must be techs out there that can still do that. And yeah, very fair on the price.

 

[quad head]

I was an audio bench tech for 20+ years, so I got used to it. If you get really lucky or know someone who does that kind of stuff regularly, it might cost as low as $60 to strip/relube and clean switches. The noise is possibly a dirty switch.
If you want to try it yourself and you haven't done one before, have a big workspace to lay all the knobs, screws, parts etc, and allow a full afternoon. It's not fun to leave it apart and come back a week later.
Alcohol to clean off the old lube, Lubriplate white lithium soap grease or similar to re-lube. Caig DeOxit to clean switches and controls. A box of q-tips and some rags.
I did a stereo Sony a few weeks ago, and when I thought i was done, I had a clutch problem on the take up reel pulling the tape too tight. Not to say that is common, but sometimes there are surprises. A Sony clutch rebuild is not something to get into the first time without help.

Or to be a bit more optimistic about it, it might be just a matter of taking the silver face off the front and you might see the link right there and perhaps a drop of oil worked-in could do it. I always go whole-hog when it's someone else's machine because if I had to do it over, well, I would be earning negative cash. Common oil mixed with whatever is in there is not the best practice 'cause it could gum up worse over time, I'm just sayin' ..... it might work.

The price seems right, the 4 channel version is rare. These Sonys are workhorses. Great motors. Not sure there is more than just a counter belt on this one, but if there is, they'd be big, fat ,and last a long time.

i realize this is an old post, but i replaced the pinch roller on my tc-277-4 the tape keeps running up the pinch and takes off fast. trying to refurb it. i have had it since the late 70's. any thoughts?

 

[Beefalo]

i realize this is an old post, but i replaced the pinch roller on my tc-277-4 the tape keeps running up the pinch and takes off fast. trying to refurb it. i have had it since the late 70's. any thoughts?

Welcome to the QQ forum @quad head !

 

[MidiMagic]

Either the capstan or the pinch roller is not perpendicular to the tape path.

 

[quad head]

Either the capstan or the pinch roller is not perpendicular to the tape path.

all so noticed the tape does not like to follow the tape guide next to the pinch, have tried to adjust but still tries to climb both, if not watched close. this is the only thing that has been changed. i have the original shop manual for it.

 

[quadsearcher]

Did it do that with the original pinch roller?
I'm gonna guess it did. Need to find an old-school VCR tech who knows R-R decks too. Heavy VCR techs remember felt clutch assemblies.
The stereo Sony R-R I worked on has two clutches built in to the takeup reel. It was pulling too hard forcing the tape to skew out of the pinch/capstan. I don't know if someone worked on it before me, but the play clutch was too tight. A service manual helps, I think I found it at HiFiEngine.com . Familiarity with mechanical clutches is necessary, the assembly has many parts. That's why I mention VCR techs, good ones who started in the 80s or 90s remember felt wearing out in reel clutches.

Of course it could have a different problem(s). Since you've had it a while, you might have noticed the tension of the tape between where it exits the last guide after the pinch/capstan, and where it starts winding on the take up reel. If that tension is higher than previous and is now drum-tight, then it is likely the reel pulling too hard.

A barely visible crust of oxide somewhere in the tape path can skew the tape also. Some tapes have been shedding for decades.

 

[quad head]

i think you are right about the tension on the tape, and yes it did it with the old pinch roller. i did notice also the take up reel has some give when lifted up. the other reel is solid and has no give to be lifted up at all. the take up has about 1/4 that it can move up if lifted. not sure if there was a clip that might be missing or what? nothing shows except a round piece of plastic broke in 3 pieces. it was like a plastic washer. any thoughts?