Panasonic NV-FJ630 with jammed cassette

[dave cox]

Hi all,
I am looking at Panasonic NV-FJ630 with a cassette that won't eject. The tape looks correctly loaded round the head (but I'm no expert!). On power up, I see a twitch of the mechanism (lid off), trying to eject results in more twitching and it then powers off. It does not respond to any other controls.

The owner was trying to play an 'old' tape and thinks the cassette might be the problem (but it looks OK, best I can see).

Any pointers will be much appreciated by me and the owner

Regards, dave cox

[Welsh Anorak]

AFAIK this is similar to the NV-FJ620. Electrotanya have the manual for that which is hepful in giving details on removing a stuck tape, either by going into the service mode or mechanically unthreading it.

I thought at first it would be a K-deck with a slipping worm gear, but no such luck!

[dave cox]

Yea !!
Cassette now removed - many thanks Glyn

No obvious issue with the cassette and it now loads / unloads without problem. It did feel like it needed a decent amount of force to overcome some initial 'stick' and then moved freely.

Regards, dave cox

[Michael Maurice]

This uses the Z mech. There is also a small plastic coupler on the loading motor which just like that on the K mech, cracks.

You'll probably have to glue it to the loading motor spindle as there are non available to buy.

[dave cox]

Hi folks,
This WAS loading / unloading reliably and everything seemed to work
I did notice the lube on the big plastic cam was very sticky so I am guessing this could be the cause ? Can I use silicon grease here ? The coupling Michael mentions looks good so I don't think it has cracked.

Anyway, this has now decided to spit tapes out shortly after loading them - more often than not ! ( luckily, I've not yet given it back ) When a tape does finally load it won't play / rewind / FF. The spools look like they are trying to turn but then give up. I am guessing the 'capstan belt' is in poor condition and needs replacing (VDV0382 - CAPSTAN BELT) ?

dc

PS. Looks like a very good service manual for this

[John123]

Have you tried giving the mode switch a blast of contact cleaner? Usually the best way to clean them is to de-solder and carefully disassemble, but you might get lucky.

[Nickthedentist]

Originally Posted by Michael Maurice

This uses the Z mech. There is also a small plastic coupler on the loading motor which just like that on the K mech, cracks.

You'll probably have to glue it to the loading motor spindle as there are non available to buy.

Agreed, the little coupler on these is notorious and often cracks giving this kind of symptom.

[gallowfields]

on every one of these we did i used to fit a new loading motor coupler and mode switch , obviously they are no longer available at panasonic so it might have to a glue job on the coupler and a strip a clean and adjust on the mode switch contacts
brian

[dave cox]

Thanks for the pointers folks

I've now removed the mech, removed the loading motor and the coupling looks good with no cracks and is firmly attached. The worm gear also looks good.

I don't see any reference to a 'mode' switch, apart from the micro switches for the front panel ??

Popping a cassette in and manually loading, the cassette gets as far as 'lowering' but the mech won't go any further - so no wrap. Turning the capstan motor manually (at that point) is causing the belt to slip although the tension feels pretty good.

dc

[gallowfields]

the mode switch lives near the loading motor assy
brian

[Welsh Anorak]

Isn't this a Z-mech with the mode switch on the main PCB? If so it's S1501 which AFAIK was a rotary click type.

[dave cox]

Thx Glyn, your memory is correct, it's driven by the underside of the cam gear.
I thought that was just part of the mounting HW !

Switch clean applied and fingers crossed ...

dc