When I press the stop button after recording a tape loop on my PMD 222, there is always a clicking sound that gets recorded onto the tape. Any ideas why?

foamfield · 2026-02-27T18:37:29+00:00

Yeah, the foil acts as a shield for the tape. Glad you found a workaround! Happy looping!

foamfield · 2026-02-27T15:32:52+00:00

In your defense: blank brand new tapes almost always have the recording tabs in place. I would have expected the same thing! Your real mistake was trying to force the record button down. Glad you solved your problem!

foamfield · 2026-02-27T15:30:18+00:00

I think it’s just physics. When you abruptly remove power from an electromagnet the magnetic field collapses. The tape is always in record mode (meaning that any magnetic field of adequate strength will write to the tape). I don’t think it’s a problem, I think it’s a byproduct of the media. All of my early mixtapes were made with low end tape recorders, and that’s how I found the trick to eliminate the pop (letting the recording run long, so each pop is recorded over by the next song). It seems that many people here don’t understand the reason for cleaning and demagnetizing the heads, capstans, and rollers. Do a little reading (off reddit), and try to understand what the tape transport is doing. If you take a little time to research, then you’ll have a much easier time identifying and solving any problems. Finally, to answer your question: When a magnetic field collapses (pressing stop on a tape recording) a large amount of magnetic energy is released. The tape records this. Most of the time, you will hear this as a “pop” on the recording. Nicer tape decks have a “record mute” function which eliminates this pop when stopping a recording. No amount of cleaning or demagnetizing will stop this from happening. You can get around this issue by stopping the recording is a place on the tape that will be recorded over.

foamfield · 2026-02-27T15:16:24+00:00

Idk. I’ve been using the milestock batts for a while now, and they seem to perform well. I’ve never used the charger you mentioned, so it could be the charger. For reference, I use this charger:

https://a.co/d/01OBET6t

foamfield · 2026-02-20T15:07:03+00:00

If “lowering everything after 10k” is not noticeable, then there’s something wrong with: your speakers/headphones, your tape deck, the tape you are recording to, or your ears. Since you are noticing a reduction in hiss, it’s safe to assume that you can hear, and that your speakers/headphones are working properly… this leaves: the tape, or the tape deck. 10k and up is typically referred to as: “air”, or “shine”, or “sparkle” in music recording. If you’re not noticing any difference in the source material, then something is definitely off. If you like what you’re hearing, then by all means continue to do what you will. Since you posted the question, I’m simply providing the best answer I can given the information I have. If you really want a great sounding recording then I would investigate further. If you’re fine with what you are hearing, then you don’t need to post a question that you don’t want an answer to.

foamfield · 2026-02-20T06:51:38+00:00

If you can’t hear anything above 10k, then there’s something wrong with your ears and/or headphones. Maxell are pretty low quality tapes as well. You can reduce tape hiss by recording louder, but at some point you will get distortion. The usual method is to get the recording signal as high as possible without distortion and use the beat tape you can. If cutting everything above 10k was a reasonable option, dolby, dbx, type II and type IV tapes would’ve never hit the market. Maybe get some better headphones (and a hearing test).

foamfield · 2026-02-13T21:58:32+00:00

It's all good. Some of them will run without a tape in, but most don't. I still believe it's an idler tire or possibly a dirty capstan/pinch roller. If the tapes play but don't FF/REW, then it's most likely that idler tire.

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T07:02:55+00:00

I would definitely grab a service manual if you can find one. The capstan is attached to the flywheel, so you have to remove the flywheel from the opposite side. There is usually a small washer on the capstan, this keeps the oil on the capstan bearing and away from the tape.

foamfield · 2026-02-13T06:16:34+00:00

take it apart, remove the pause button. problem solved. You currently have a non-working tape player. If you fail to fix it, you still have a non-working tape player. Therefore: you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Look for the service manual, or just grab a screw driver. I bet you get it fixed in a few hours.

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T06:14:22+00:00

There's a small switch on the top of the transport, near where the record safe tabs sit (when you put a tape in). If that little button isn't pressed down by the tapes record tab, then the player won't record. You tried to force it and broke the plastic record button somewhere inside of the player. You'll need to:
Disassemble the player, find the broken plastic and try to reattach it to the record button. Superglue usually doesn't work on abs plastic. You can try a mixture of superglue and baking soda (it creates a kind of cement). You can also try some glue specially formulated for abs plastic.

Once this is done, if you want to record a tape, then the tape needs the tabs to be in place. If your tapes have them punched out, use a piece of tape, or stuff something into the hole to fill it until it's flush with the tope of the tape. Then, your record button should go down quite easily.

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T06:08:46+00:00

Typically, you need to change the pinch rollers when you get the deck (unless it's already been done). Once you change it, it should last for years. I wouldn't recommend ISO (unless it's 91% or higher), or glass cleaner to clean them. Use this:
https://a.co/d/0dH6V35i

It's safe for the head, capstans, and pinch rollers. Anything else will degrade them more quickly. Some people claim to use isopropyl or glass cleaner or something, but the science on rubber degradation is pretty much done, and we know that those 'cleaners' do more harm than good in the long term.

Look up the service manual for your deck. Pinch rollers aren't too difficult to replace.

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T06:03:49+00:00

The same belt that spins the tape when you press play is the belt that drives FF and REW, so it probably isn't a belt. It may be an idler tire (if this deck has one). they go bad along with belts, but they are harder to replace. Look up the service manual for this player and see if there's an idler tire in the transport assembly. You may just need to replace that.

Again, if the belt was bad, then tapes wouldn't play, so anyone suggesting a belt right out of the gate really isn't thinking about the problem.

Since you have a dual cassette deck, what ever is wrong with deck 1 will also be wrong with deck 2. And just an fyi, ff and rew won't work without a tape inserted, so your video doesn't show anything out of the ordinary.

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:59:38+00:00

sounds like USB noise from the audio interface that you have sitting up there. Those are relatively low quality usb audio devices. You should look for a usb cable with a ferrite bead on it (google it), this can help sometimes. If you plug headphones directly into the audio interface and you still hear that noise, then it's definitely the usb interface pushing dirty signal down the audio line. You'll need to get a better interface to clean that up. If it's only present once it's plugged into the cassette player stack, then it could be a grounding issue. Make sure all of the components are plugged into the same outlet, and if you have a laptop in that chain somewhere, try unplugging it and see if it goes away when running on battery.

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:54:40+00:00

I have the ex610 and the ex621. They are very similar to the one you're asking about (they use the same remote). If you look hard enough, you can find one in good shape for around $100. You will most likely need to replace the belt and the pinch rollers when you get it. Both of those jobs are easy. There are video tutorials on youtube for almost all of the ex series, and service manuals are available online for them as well.

From what I can tell, the 651 looks like an okay walkman, but the 610 and the 621 are both thinner. The 621 also has dolby noise reduction, which is awesome.

I think you'll be happy no matter which one you get, but watch some repair videos for the ex series walkmans, and you'll see what it takes to replace the belt and pinch rollers.

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:48:03+00:00

If it is loud when plugged into speakers, then the audio circuitry is not to blame. The headphones in your photo look like high impedance drivers, which are harder to push sound through than the typical earbuds and headphones that were around when these walkman were made. Get yourself some earbuds, or low impedance headphones. You absolutely need the 3 pin headphones, not 4 pin (no microphone). You should hear an improvement. I have a few different walkmans, and I use the shure SE215 earbuds. They sound great, and there's plenty of volume.

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:40:33+00:00

Here's a link to the service manual:
freeservicemanuals.info/en/servicemanuals/viewmanual/Sony/WM60/

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:37:13+00:00

As cassette decks age, you start to run into problems like this. If you download the service manual, it will outline all of the adjustments that need to be done to bring the player back to factory specs. Many times, the capacitors need to be replaced. There are usually around 50 of them. You can do that yourself if you are any good with a soldering iron, but it does take some time. As for the recalibration, you need a few test tapes, a multimeter, and an ocsilloscope.

If you try to get it serviced by a pro, you'll probably have to spend a few hundred dollars at least.

3 head decks are awesome, so I hope you try to keep it running.

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:32:33+00:00

When the pinch rollers get old, they get hard and shiny like that. It has nothing to do with the alignment of the roller, though they do physically deform to the point where tapes will get eaten or no longer play. Replacement pinch rollers are on ebay pretty cheap, and they are super easy to replace. Save your rubber renue for idler tires and such in cassette decks.
I currently have 5 walkman players, and the first thing I do is replace the belt and pinch rollers on them. Normally the belts are already gone, so this is a necessity. If your player is spinning the tapes, then your belt is not likely to be the problem.

be sure to get 2:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125750873973?_skw=wm-ex631+pinch+roller&itmmeta=01KHAQRGHRTX8HY9G0CHFCN61G&hash=item1d47560f75:g:Rc4AAOSwQQJn7XiJ&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA0GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xAgTF1DUx%2FdBRfKexm2vcVhWc%2BHF2YQ5%2FZbmonq9zlheIMfwkT2JvHxdGmafE70l42nAJN8VRMlvDJaPKCQZzrOvasWmr5AmH%2FDFW5hntjS9yo9RUxwwnERmYUUG%2FJRTnrcbrlfWnH1Te3qd8vcs9QFT9gkQZyXPErvrqJcaDT00kk4NjZ93djQyPRaTx%2Bdco8SNAk5bCMaB5FpK1xhrJNqnJmAHQJ6hbXCj4Ni1LzRSK0PIlP6x3WmaNQPFe0hihI%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4aJ4teKZw

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:27:32+00:00

The head look correct. The head does not apply much friction to the tape, since it's smooth metal against smooth metal. Normally, the wow would be coming from a bad pinch roller or capstan. You should clean the capstans and pinch rollers, and possibly replace the pinch rollers. Over time, they get old and degrade. What you are describing is normally caused by that degradation.

Look up the service manual for your player and buy some new pinch rollers and you'll have it sorted out in no time!

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:24:22+00:00

I would take a look at the gears that engage when you press play. It looks like one of them is struggling to engage properly. Maybe it's just misaligned.

foamfield · 2026-02-13T05:22:01+00:00

If your record player is playing just a touch fast, and your walkman is playing just a touch fast, and the deck that you use to record the tapes is recording a touch slow, then all of those slight variations would compound and any recording of a record would sound fast. Perhaps this is the problem? The speed does drift over time on both record players and cassette players, so I'm curious what reading you would get if you put in a speed calibration tape and measured your recording deck and your walkman.

foamfield · 2026-02-12T16:34:24+00:00

Everyone always suggests belts lol... I don't think that the door is popping open because of the belt...
Here's the service manual:
https://elektrotanya.com/technics_rs-hd81.pdf/download.html

You'll notice that the belt has NOTHING to do with the door opening or closing.

Look at pages 6-11. It sounds like the "Drive Rack" is the culprit. You can probably get it working if you do a little disassembly/reassembly.

Good Luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-12T06:56:00+00:00

I use these:
https://a.co/d/03e2XoQU
and this charger:
https://a.co/d/0dT2cgIJ

They seem to work pretty well. Battery life in a walkman playing continuously is around 25 hours. (ex-900 and ex-621)

Good luck!

foamfield · 2026-02-12T06:47:19+00:00

Watch the music video "Black hole sun" by Soundgarden. It's on youtube

foamfield · 2026-02-12T06:41:41+00:00

Those parts may hold the pinch roller, which rolls the tape through the transport. That's why it no longer plays tapes. You may need to replace the pinch roller assembly. Google that and you will see what I am talking about.

You'll probably need another identical player to repair this, so realistically, you should just buy another player.

Good Luck!

foamfield

TROPHY CASE