One of the best “how-to” videos I’ve seen on KZfaq. Detailed, good lighting/camera work, and well narrated. Thank you.

This video has helped me resurrect a TC-458! The 458 had the exact same problems- needed a new motor/start cap and all the metal to metal contact points, bushings, etc. were frozen with dry grease. I did not disassemble much however. I simply used penetrating teflon-containing synthetic oil to free everything up. I know this is not an ideal solution, and I probably eventually will do a disassembly and deep cleaning and re-greasing. But first I want to dub my ~100 commercial reel to reel tapes to DSD, just in case I can't put the machine back together, or I break something that is not replaceable. Anyway, well done video! Exellent videography and narration!

Excellent video! I bought one of these at the Navy Exchange in Yokosuka, Japan back in '72. One of the channels stopped producing sound in the early '80's. I couldn't find anyone willing to work on it and I was not well versed at the time with working on electronics (that has since changed drastically and I have restored dozens of tape decks). Instead of keeping the machine until I had gained enough knowledge to repair it I foolishly tossed it in the trash bin. I am seriously considering getting another one just for nostalgia's sake. Your instructions will definitely be a help to me should I go ahead with the project.

Just Picked up A pristine 733 and wow hear so much more than even on cds with it :)

This is a major restoration project - patience over several weeks is a must. Very enjoyable video, appreciated. I have a Sony TC-645 which I have almost finished restoring, must have spent 30 - 40 hours on it already.

I take what I said back one hour ago. This instruction (sounds like a bloke accent to me) just saved me from buying another recorder and/or 350.00 at the Sacramento repair store at 5800 Madison Avenue, Madison at Manzanita. I have a Sony TC 388 but the mechanics are the same as a TC377. Bless you.

Literally in the process of servicing a tc266.this video will really help. Thanks

Very nice and informative video! I bought a TC-377 recently and this helped me a lot when restoring mine.

Thank you for this video! I recently aquired a TC378 and I'll start restoring it soon, so these tips will definitely be useful!

I just picked up a TC-366 from eBay. I'm going to watch this 1,000 times. Thank you.

Enjoyed watching this . I bought the TC 377 in 1977 of course. Lasted a good 10 years before the reel rubber band stretched . After moving a few times I forgot who I ever gave it to. Still have a couple tapes laying around from my bachelor days.

I found the felt you mentioned and used it successfully on the part that holds the drive in pause. Thanks for your response, and a very helpful video.

Thankfully for this detaild tutorial. Very helpful for me during the restoration of my TC366. Thank you very much.

This is turning out to be a lifesaver for my 378 refit!!!

I got one of these for free at the electronics recycling center. It works, but of course it needs a good cleaning, belts, etc. Thanks for doing this very detailed video!

Nice tutorial, it helped me service my one so thanks for posting.

Thanks so much for this great instructional video. It's given me the confidence to service my TC-377! I'll be watching 3 or 4 times, and ten having at it! With your video cued up of course!

Wow - What a great restoration video. I've just bought myself a TC-377 for £90. It sort of works but levels are extremely low and mechanically well below par No wow & flutter that I can hear with my ancient ears but belts clearly slipping. So, now looking forward to many happy hours repeating your restoration work. Thanks so much for that. It's given me great confidence to do it and told me what materials to use & what to expect.

Wow what a thorough video. I did a similar restoration video of my own TC377 but mine wasn’t as thorough as yours. Well done mate

Good video, clearly presented and easy to follow. Thought I'd mention that tapping around the heads during this kind of maintenance, will magnetise them, so always clean the heads and demagnetise before playing any studio releases

This is a really GREAT video! I've just spent quite a bit of today servicing and cleaning mine. Used to work on these in the early 90s, wish I'd kept hold of most of the ones I sold on given the recent price rises! These were domestic machines, but really really good ones. Take the front off and take a bit of time to appreciate just how well built these decks are... 1971 IIRC, and these weren't anywhere near the start of open reel Tapecorders for Sony, they produced many other R2Rs before this one! Akai did very similar fine engineering with their decks too... Lovely stuff! :) So, I don't want to critise this video, which is a really good and easy to follow guide for these machines, but I need to make a few points. Firstly: Screws - (50m38) Phillips and Pozidriv screws are quite different and are arguably (to some people) somewhat interchangeable, although really, they aren't! You can seriously damage either screwheads with the wrong driver, and you can damage the screwheads on this using Phillips or Pozidriv. This is a Japanese product so you can pretty much bet everything you own on every screw in this thing being a JIS screw. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) or JIS B1012 to give them their full name, are the screws with a little dot on the head next to the cross head. The lobes are a different shape/pitch to other cross headed screw so while a Phillips or Pozidriv might loosely fit, you could chew up the head of the screw if you slip, which you almost definitely will, because lobe pitch thing, yeah? Main/first idler, the bottom one off of the motor - (34m00) It's been refitted upside down! Although it shouldn't make much difference, I'm afraid it is the wrong way up! The machined cup should surround the felt washer which I guess works like an oil wick... The rainbowy (is that a word?) finish of the metal plates/parts - Galvinised steel plates. Because, of course it's galvinised. This is a very very well made machine! Trapped wires under the front middle screw - Yes, mind these! I remember having to rewire a couple of similar machines back in the day... Last thought, reinstalling the transport plate (the plate under the head block). If you have removed and refitted this, don't you love how it locks in place once it's there? Like, wiggle it around and suddenly it clicks into place and stays there! And, all this was designed before modern computers and CAD! Utterly mind blowing!

I'm so grateful for this video. My father gave me his TC-366 which he purchased new in 1971 (identical in almost every respect to the TC-377 except no ferrite heads). I wore it out in my teenage years, but it got new heads and belts in the 80's, and after languishing for 2 decades my father gave it to me, and it languished for another decade. I recently decided to transfer some irreplaceable tapes to MP3, but the transport barely moved. Your video guided me through regreasing the entire transport mechanism (boy, the metal in this deck is solid, and it's much easier to work on than my Nakamichi CR1A cassette deck!). I spent a happy Saturday afternoon, and I'm pleased to say this deck now plays music flawlessly. The mechanisms are now silent, which they have not been since 1985. This was a long overdue service, and I did it by myself with your help! I had even considered buying a working reel-to-reel on ebay, paying the horrendous prices these items seem to command. Now, I'm wondering what my working unit will sell for once I finish my tape transfers.

Very in depth, and informative. Took one apart, and its a house of cards. But thankfully, for this detailed video. I know I will fix it, I am watching like a hawk. Thank you, very much. 👍 ✴✴✴✴

After watching this video I was able to get my Fathers TC-366 running. However I'm going to replace the belts because after sitting for so long the belts have been deformed and stretched. I'll watch your video on this while I'm doing that, thank you!

Love this video!🌟💯 I remember the ol reel to reels. They are a rare and very cool find! God bless✨️

It seems a small thing, but at 58'10", your comment on the left handed thread: made things a lot easier!

Just tearing Mine apart now Looks new inside but the speed goes from slow i keep stopping and starting changing speed and it will kick in sometimes ff rew seem to work ok Got to love how the vu light looks like a fuse :)

I worked for a company called Teletape tithe specialised in tape recorders. This was the best selling of the reel to reel recorders we sold. The Akai 4000 was a close second. The most common spare part we sold for this recorder, apart from the pins the held the tape cover in place, was the clutch mechanism which was the off white wheel with the metal three pronged steel spring wheel. The clutch mechanism was prone to wear and could be adjusted. Most engineers had problems remembering which washer went where because there were so many of them and the in the service manual it was hard to differentiate which washer went where and which way round they went. Nice job. I should service the ones I have and my TC 399

Thanks for the video. I have a TC 378 and restored it.

Thanks a Bunch, Master Sony San! I succeeded in servicing my TC-377 mechanically with this clear instruction. Your comments are very practical and the video is outstanding. I couldn't get Rubber Renue in Holland so I used another rubber cleaner. Seems to work fine. But the recorder still doesn't record , so I have to look for an instruction to handle that. Hope I will find something of your craft for this too.

Thanks for this video, it's a great help! I got a TC-366 from my grandfather and already replaced the motor cap a few years ago. Now the belts and the rest of the mechanics need an overhaul. Also, the R side doesn't record although the monitor shows there's audio... I hope to find this issue as well.

Excellent, a very useful guide, thanks.

Thank you and I am inspired to take on my TC-366. Cheers!!

And now to open up the machine I just purchased on ebay. It kind of works but has some issues. Thank you for this detailed video. Time to dig in!

I've had a couple of these that I bought cheap because they didn't work. Replaced the same cap you did and both times they worked.

Just like brand new again!

Great tutorial I have just bought the last in this series but suspect from what I have read TC 399 will have much in common with yours. Looking forward to receiving the machine.

I recently received a "Sony TC-366 reel to reel, and your videos are very helpful. I remember them as a kid growing up, but never owned one until now. I'm a beginner and do not know if this model I have comes with an amp or not. Sure like your show. Thanks

I had this very model back in the 1970’s and loved it. Unfortunately, the mechanism got screwed up and I didn’t know how to fix it. I got rid of it and went to cassettes. I would have loved to have rejuvenated it and kept using it, but I had no idea how to go about it and have never been good dealing with fiddly things and not breaking or losing them. I admire your patience and steady hands/nerves.

i have 7 decks mostly akai and pioneers..I was AMAZED at Your prowess and ability...Wish You were near me in the US as I would ..Definately pay You handsomely to restore them all..God Bless..

Because of this video i was able to get the roght capacitor for my one. Got a little confused as the cap has 3 terminals where as replacements all have 2. But seen on this that two of theme are just bridged together

Brilliant video. Have now got a fully working TC377

Among the best tutorials for this machine! Thank you! I recommend using the Rubber Renue only in a well-ventilated area. That’s toxic stuff! To your health!!🙂

Very nice video ! Thanks

Very enjoyable. I could watch that for hours. I wished you'd tackle the Sony TC558 which were notorious for speed issues like dragging reels when they reach the end. They also had problems with their auto reverse which was controlled by a middle lever attached to the capstan.

Thank You, Well Done. Just found one. Will need belts replaced and won't lock in to play.

Great thorough work!

Thanks for this great video. Very helpfull.

Excellent tutorial; my skill-set atm non-existent but will come back 2 this. Just got one that’s “been serviced”, pre-recorded music tape seems 2 play fine thru headphones, so I know that circuit’s good, it is in remarkable cosmetic condition, heads r pristine. Apparently these r a step up sonically from the Akai 4000 family. Gonna hook it up 2 my Kenwood TK-250U & explore ... what a gr8 Sat arvo spend, ay?! Might’ve gotten lucky✌️🤞✌️.. yes, that Rubber Renew I believe, kinda “revulcanises” the rubber BUT I’m warned not 2 overdo it as the rubber must remain firm .. maybe when it stops absorbing.

Excellent job, impressive attention to detail. One thing you did overlook - oiling the motor. If you look very carefully there is a tiny hole with the word "OIL" near the shaft on both ends of the motor. Add a couple of drops of oil here and the motor spins more smoothly.

Отличная работа👍

thank you, very helpful

Thanks I’m gonna give this a shot

One thing I have done is use a small compartment box with numbers for each wheel or mech assembly. This way can keep the screws/washers together when re-assembling

Thank you for a great video!

Hello, I do not fully understand your question, but it sounds like the tape machine does not lock in play position. This happens if the tape is not threaded around the auto stop lever properly. The tape from the left spool goes underneath the thin bar which hangs under the black erase head. Check this bar is hanging loose and moves freely. Look at video assembly at 45:29 to be sure you've got that fitting correct. Look at video at 55:10 to make sure that fitting is correct. Then it should work. Let me know.

Thank you for this (and nice presentation, BTW). Just bought a TC-366 with low-use off ebay for cheap and it doesn't play 7 1/2 speed (just 3 3/4) (is that an idler issue?). Just ordered new belts since I have to take the top off - and after diagnosis research, DLing service manuals - and now finding your video - my confidence level is now high. Taking it apart is easy - it's the putting back together that's always questionable ;-)

Tengo uno igual .le voy hacer mantenimiento gracias a su video. Gracias👍

Hello, I would never have dared to dismantle my TC 377 and 378 without your very good tutorial.It's perfect, except that I did this operation because the right reel (on both devices) is rotating, but without vigor and doesn't have enough force to drive the belt (left reel), even after cleaning, greasing and changing the belts, and thinking about it for a few hours, I don't know what to do anymore. I'm sure you have the answer! Thank you for your help.

Thanks for this video. Outstanding. I bought my TC-377 in the year of 1975. This month I bought two new belts (got non for the counter). I have done some disassembling and lubricating work. I have even dissambled the parts under the big plate (18:21 in your video). Now it’s one item left, that I can’t solve by myself. RWD don’t work! The reel to the left don’t rotate backwards. It works för play and FFW. If i rotate the right reel manually with a pen or simular. Then the left reel will rotate according to the speed I make to the right reel. Do you know if it is a break in the motor? Or what could it be? BR/ Mats

Hi Denbydish, I have watched your video a hundred times now. It has accompanied my own restoration work on my @t cannot even begin to understand how helpful that has been! Thanks a lot! I replaced the capacitor and got new belts (actually I don't think the old cap was broken, but I figured that when I'm at it, it would be stupid not to replace it). It seems to be working OK but sometimes it is as if it doesn't have enough power to pull the tape at the right speed, it then also flutters a bit. This happens towards the end of a tape, when the right reel fills up. Any ideas?

I Serviced mine changed the the runtime cap and belts everything works perfect just wondering there is no mention of in service manual or user manual of oiling the motor so i am not going to risk it. A tip for the Power light switch on the TC 366 that will fail it's !.6V AC so a grain of wheat bulb i swapped it with a 2.1V LED 3 times the size and works perfect.

Hi friend, give me a tip. I picked up a tape recorder to repair it, but despite cleaning and lubricating it besides the belt change, it is slowed down. I tested the capacitor of the motor with capacimeter and it is great. In the engine pulley, it is stamped 0-60, I believe it is right because here in Brazil the frequency is 60 Hz. Thank you.

Thank you for the excellent and easy to understand video. I have one comment- When you reinstalled the idler wheel, it seems to me that you installed it upside down from how you removed it. It doesn't seem to make a difference, since yours is working fine. If you compare the idler wheel at 20:57 (where you flip it over) to 34:02, it looks (to me, anyway) that you've got the underside on the top now. Also, did you replace the oil washer? I didn't seem to have one when I removed my wheel. Thanks again.

G'day Sir I just came across your clip and finally I found out how to replace the small belts. Got them all ready laying here on the shelf for years Thank you so much for doing the clip. I was wandering what type of grease you are using please Thank you so much Jack from Australia

Hello friend cleaned my sony as I saw in your video so now it's ok only when I play the coils do not walk ... what will ??

Great video! I’ve just purchased a TC 366 BUT the panel and everything is upside down. If means that if it stands it is upside down. Really strange

I have a Akai 4000ds mk11 which belong to my dad.. Love the machine but it needs a good a good service as it very temperamental.

Awesome and in-depth video! Loved it. Just ordered one of these bad boys from Ebay. Wish me luck.. Also, question - I was under the impression that there would be more than one electrolytic capacitor that could need changing. Is that the case? I was going to just replace them all just for the hell of it, as I know electrolytic capacitors most likely won’t have lasted this long.

Brilliant video! I’m going to use it to repair mine in a few days, some say I am a different 15 year old! I don’t suppose you have a part number for the bulb that goes in the white housing on the front for the VU meters do you or the bulbs that operate the recording lights? Mine are dead

I recently picked one of these up for €40. The belts are gone so I am going to replace those. This video is going to be very helpful. Thank you so much. The little VU meters light on mine doesn't work. Do you perhaps know what light to get for this machine? Thanks in advance!

great video ive put some new belts on my 377 it was working great before needing new belts now it plays slightly slow on 7.5 ips and is slow on the take up from start up. if i run it for a while so it warms up so to speak it gets better, any suggestions could this be just a duff drive belt or something else

Excellent video. Very informative. Only one question.......I also need to replace the pilot lamps for the VU meters. Where can I get them, and what is their voltage value ? Thank you so very much.

Are you going to list and link where you got the parts from? especially the motor run cap/

Hello Denbydish.....My capacitor seems to work fine as the motor fan turns but I need to clean and oil the main pulleys. The problem is the "lock pin's head" is not coming out, i keep sliding it but it wont come out of the slot even I move it both ways slider. Does the pin had needs to be pulled up or to unwind....Please help, looks like it will break. THANK YOU.

I get the recorder to rewind and fast forward. The take up reel moves at the correct speed but the feed reel is locked and will only turn when in idle other than rewind. Rewind is fine. ! ?? I followed these steps.

This is a dumb question but I removed the 4 face screws and the front will not open. What am I missing? I don't want to force it. I did take off all the knobs. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

@danbydish Hi there, thank you for your video. I'm trying to repair TC-366 that I just got. It's in great condition and I was told it was serviced, but apparently it stops playback due to extensive friction on the flywheel. I noticed that when I lean it forwards it runs, and when put in upright position or lean it back it stops. I removed the cover and discovered that the flywheel just makes strange noises when spinning and stops. From what I see in this video there seems to be just one part missing in my TC-366 - that brown disc underneath the flywheel :) But I cannot seem to find any information about the material used. Is it rubber? How thick is it? Could you help me with that? ;) I would be grateful for any help :) Thank you.

super video thanks for sharing i wonder can you shed some light my machine will not stay in play FF or RW ive not taken it apart it just stopped working correctly. i can hold it in play if i just catch the transport control right and it balances just before FF so to speak then it plays is this problem fixable?

Fantastic the best repair video.

Thanks for the tutorial. When I put it back. The play button doesn’t click into place. So I monitor to a point so it does play but not clicked into place. How to fix this?

@denbydish I'm searching for a reel table for a Sony TC 377, but can only find parts for a TC 366. Do you think the tables are interchangeable/compatible? Thanks for this video!

I use superlube myself it's very good

Hello friend of Portugal, my sony tc 377 after being all clean happens that the button of olay does not fix nor forwards nor forward the coils walk normally only if you want to make play not fixed. It will be of the panel that has a tongue dark that is loose, should it be fixed? Thanks

Very nice work on the video. Very methodical approach. Appreciated the names of the products used. But, when you say "white spirits" you meant alcohol correct not a mineral spirits? Also, I find old idler tyres and belts simply decompose to a sticky tar which has to be carefully cleaned out. Other than finding scrapped items, any resources you know of for replacements? Rubber is the weak link in these old machines. Again, thanks!

When using Rubber Renue use rubber gloves and some sort of cartridge type breathing mask to stop you breathing in the fumes, lungs are hard to replace. 2uF 250V AC capacitors are available here in Australia and have terminals on top that can be soldered to. It's a bit messy the way you have replaced the motor start/run capacitor. I have repaired and refurbished four of these machines now and sold them on eBay. I have two more to work on but the returns on eBay were too small to spend the considerable effort required in repairing and refurbishing these one motor machines. The electronics is simple enough using only discrete transistors and standard passive components, no in house or hard to get IC's. The electronics power supply is a regulated 25V Dc supply. Capacitors can become leaky and high ESR in the supply. The rest of the electronics is hard to work on due to it's very compact nature. The easily downloaded service manual helps in repairing the mechanical side of this machine. There are required adjustments for the correct mechanical and electronic operation. A machine of this age really requires this to be done using the correct test equipment and test tapes. It was available in 1974 new, I was offered one duty free in Penang during my RAAF service in South East Asia. I declined and bought a TEAC 2300 as a 3 motor machine has better specs and lends itself for servicing over a single motor machine. Linkages and idler wheels are required when one motor is doing everything, and the extra loading causes a great deal of wow & flutter. I served in the RAAF as an electronics tech for several decades and still do repair work in retirement. ...Regards Robert

Friend here I am again the problem that exists is the front panel where the button is olay etc, happened that I dismounted because it has a tab that does not stay fixed, and that is the problem, also has a tuning screw but I have already tried various positions and nothing that will happen? Thank you and you desulpa once again to bother you. Big hug

Thanks. By the way tc-399 is also quite mach same.

Hi Sir.I'm sorting TC266 but left tentioning 'y' bracket that presses against the left black wheel under the left spool seems to be toooo tight to let spool go all the way back down. Any ideas. Cheers

Hello there, i got a TC 377 recently and it seems work but when recording it only records the right side of the line input. Also when monitoring the tape, there is a extremely loud hissing noise which is pretty annoying and making the machine kinda loose it’s purpose. Is it a problem of the tape itself or is there some internal problem I’m not aware of? I’d gladly appreciate some advice. Thank you for reading

I like to buy one of these open reel tape recorders because it was my dream since my younger days. But there is problem, are there all the necessary parts available in the market in case a breakdown occurs? I live in SriLanka in Asia, so from where can I buy the spare parts for these machines? Appreciate replies.

We have alot in Common @

Denbydish Refer to your video 18:02-18:06, there was a felt ring on the flywheel, mine is missing. I already remade it. I am wondering if I need to put oil on this ring when I put it back together. What is the purpose of this ring? You said it was a felt oil ring - I will assume that it needs to be fully oiled and it will keep the flywheel shaft lubricated. However, I read the manual, which states that this ring is for friction, it is not a felt oil ring. If it is meant to be for friction, then we should not put oil? Also, will the oil get to the tape if we put oil onto that felt ring? Can you please clarify this? That will be much appreciated. Great video! Thanks!

I have the unti, but it doesn't play forward or engage record, only reverse, any suggestions where to turn to on the video?

Trying to sort mine out..the speed goes up and down....cleaned all pulleys and stuff so I'll try a belt kit.maybe a motor cap too

Hi denbydich .. i just want to ask you about the diameter of the second round belt.. ?? seen at the 45 minute of the video.. i can't buy it from ebay...we are in TUNISIA

Is the fuse lamp for the VU meters 8 Volt 0.3 Amp or 5 Volt 60mAmp?

Great video. I am having difficulty in sourcing a replacement capacitor, even from Ducati in Rumania. Can you provide me with precise information for ordering one please?

Help Me please ! Where can I get a magnetic capsule protective plastic plate? for Sony TC-377

Hello, I have an issue with the speed selector. Seems to be seized. Very little movement. Any idea if it needs to be oiled??