SONY TC-366 Reel To Reel Tapecorder Restoration EP-01 

This brings back memories! I bought one of these at a flea market around 1985 or so, and it worked great until I had to get rid of it because I emigrated in 2000. The sound quality is amazing; I have many radio recordings at 19cm/s (7.5ips) and when I play those at half speed, I can clearly hear the 19kHz FM stereo pilot tone. I took it apart many times but never as thoroughly as you. Back then it only needed a drop of oil in the capstan and cleaning the heads every once in a while. My TC-366 was in the case 180 degrees opposite of yours (I liked to use it upright) but I found out quickly it's designed to go in both ways. Thanks for posting!

Excellent video, very well done. You hit all the bases, this is a good tutorial. Thanks for posting, you saved another open reel machine from the landfill!!

I had this model back in the mid-70’s. The big function selector knob on the right became hard to use and make work. There was a metal linkage that bent and I would bend it straight again to get it to work. I used to do some routine maintenance on it but I never took the mechanism apart like that. I might have been able to keep if working if I had. Good video. Brings back memories.

Teddy: What a talent you have! Beautiful to watch a restoration done so meticulously. Thanks. Wish I had the patience. I still can't get my machine to fit back in the casing. It's stuck with one corner sticking out 1/4".

Excellent video my friend. I was just given this exact model today and plan on diving into it this weekend. I will definitely be using your video as a reference guide!

Nice restauration! simple but genuine! and sony stuff is still amazing after long time!

I love to do this kind of stuff! Good Job! David - Texas

You're the first person I've come across who still uses an old analog camcorder in modern times. (I do too!) Very nice restoration and video. This helps me in case I ever need to repair a similar model

Excellent restoration, you going far to save a reel to reel tape recorder, i like it, i'm also a reel to reel tape recorder lover.

Ok Teddy thank you for all the help you are already finning my sony TC 377 THANK YOU GREAT HUG

I'm restoring a sony tc 377 your video is a big help

Great video! I bought one for €10,00 with one week warranty. Speed selector needed some WD40 and the counter belt had to be replaced. Works ok now for some years.

Hi - thank you for this video, I have a TC-377 coming to me via ebay. While the listing says "all functions working" I take that with a grain of salt for equipment so old but it does look very clean (which is a good starting point). I also have a little Sony TC-255 and its a pain to work on the back side and to take bits off but the TC-366 (the 377 is similar) seems to be a breeze to work on from the front, back and to disassemble!

Hello Teddy I didn't know that this taperecorder was sold in the way that you put it together. A friend of mine bought this machine about 45 years ago and I bought a TC 252, because I had no seperate amplifier and in this it was build in and it had also the speakers. I think it is a quite good machine although there is just one single motor in it. I soon sold it to the sister of a friend of mine. Ten years ago a bought an Akai 202 ss-d, a four channel unit with auto reverse. It works fine, but I bought it just for it's good looking. Most the Japanese electronis, the tapes, the receivers, amplifiers and turntables of the seventies look much much better than those who were build afterwords. The time of real Hifi have gone and most of the people are no more interestet in it. It's a pity! Thank you for your answer and have a good time.

You have become very skilled. in the hope that your achievements will be continuous

Thanks to Your Great Video I Can Repair My SONY Reel to Reel tapecorder TC- 377

Nicely done.

This is great Teddy, thanks!

Very nice. Enjoyed

My Sony TC 377 is just like that and may just come back to life soon :)

Gran video, Muchas gracias!! Saludos desde Argentina

excellent work..well done!.

Super!!!!!!! Great job!!

thanks a lot you inspired me to repair mine sony

I have my Ampex 2100 restored and it worked completely, the other day, and then it worked this morning, and went I got home, the motor is dead, but when I checked, it got warmer and the motor doesn't seem to run, and it doesn't move at all. I checked the wires and it goes into the capacitor and didn't do too much at all. But all I need to do is replace it. This is the same issue that they did with the Sony TC-366. I hope I have to look for a replacement sometime in the future.

Thank you for sharing this amazing video on the restoration of this Sony R2R. I have a Sony TC-399 and Its speed is getting slow after about 10 minutes of playing back. I was afraid to open the deck ,but now after watching your video I decided to open it and see what is the reason for slow speed. Could you advice me what would be the probable reasons for getting the speed reduce?. Im from Sri Lanka (Asia) and there is no any proper service center to get it repaired.

good job

This video is fantastic - thanks for sharing!! I just bought a TC-366 player and might need a new motor and capacitor. Anyone have suggestions as to where I could purchase these items?

Brah you make it look easy

perfect job~~

Hi Teddy, great job! I have a tc-355, do you know where I can get a new fuse for it?

Teddy: I've tackled minor repair on my TC-630, thanks to your inspiration. Managed to clean up a few things, fix a couple of stiff controls. Can you tell me why it seems to play at the same speed no matter where the control is? I've checked mechanical, seems okay. The lever moves up and down according to the speed, but the reels don't seem to change speed on record OR playback. Thanks.

Great video. Even looks like the video was made in 1989

Hi Teddy I received the belts yesterday from the US wont be able to start until the end of next week ( Going away for a few days ) Cheers Jack

Thanks for your email Teddy I ordered the belts Cheers Jack

Does recording part of tape recorder still work

Heyyy! I have a sony TC366, but the motor is burnt too... I can't find one to buy here in my country. I would like to know if I can use a motor from another brand, like Akai?

FANTASTIC TUTORIAL!!! I bought a SONY TC-630 D from a thrift store that needs some repair. Where did you purchase your spare parts from please?

my front panel won’t come off as easily as yours is this normal, i have the machine configured vertically

Thanks for the nice video. What kind of grease or lubrication you use here?

Hi, what are you using to clean the components and what is the grease you are using? Thanks!

Great video Teddy; I'm working on a Sony TC-355 and have a problem. The R2R is runs well and plays well however in order to get it to play I have to manually push the screw (middle section) of the felt pad flaps to press the tape to the record/play heads. When I stop the play function the felt pad flaps retract away from the heads like they are supposed to but when I engage the play function they stay down and don't come back up to come in contact with the tape and heads. Does this sound like a clean and lube operation should be done or could this be more serious? Your comment would be most appreciated.

Very helpful..what do you charge??

bonjour tu utilise quoi comme graisse pour les axes

Amazing restoration video! Can you tell me where do you get the new pads for the brakes and the new grease for the moving pieces? Thamks.

Great stuff! +1

Hi there, I have exactly same capacitor which is leaked like yours , what would be replacement for it? Thanks

Maestro hola tengo un tc 366, y tengo este problema, las teclas de tape cuando las bajo a las dos no se escucha nada si las bajo de a una si, mucha gracias!!

Very nice vidio and helpfull! I also have the TC 366 and now it give some troble. Maybe you can give me a tip about what course the troble. The left canal is suddenly much to high and the goes in the red area sometimes?

Can any run motor capacitor work for the tc 377 or do you have to with matching numbers

Teddy, where do you get the time to do such marvellous work? Brilliant magic and successful again.

Hi @Teddy Hashee , and thank you so much for this great video! Q.) at 3:40 how did you get that little crescent locking washer (E3) off of the shaft to be able to take the Idler wheel (take-up) off the clean and grease it? I've tried needle nose pliers, jeweler's screwdrivers, all with no luck. Thanks!

Ok my friend

FRIEND I WILL DISCOVER IT FOR A TIME AND THERE PROYNUMNO I COME BACK AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE INDICATIONS AND HELP ME TO HAVE IT. THANK YOU

tanks

Teddy, Refer to your video 2:24 - you span the flywheel, then at 2:25, you picked up something underneath, I think on top of the flywheel bearing thrust plate, you did it too fast in your video, and I was not sure what you had picked up and put it into a paper cup. I am restoring a 377, nearly identical to 366. During my restoration, I picked up a large inner diameter fiberglass made washer near the bearing thrust plate, I am not sure if this washer goes on top of the bearing thrust plate, like the one you pick up. If yes, I didn’t see you put it back when you assembled the flywheel. What is the purpose of this washer? How to put this washer back, using just grease to hold it in place? Can you please clarify this? I appreciate your assistance. Great Video! Thanks!

I have a TC-355D unit. Is the belt setup the same as this unit?

Hi Teddy Jack here from Aus Wow mate you done a pretty good job there restoring that machine I've got one like that only an later model the TC 378 with the full stainless front what I've got in 1976 in Europe The only problem with mine is the belts I think and a lot of dirt I stop using it many years ago when the CD's came out Lucky I still have all my tapes so tomorrow I'm going to give it a shot to start cleaning the inside and see what belts I need Don't think they are the same as the TC 366 If I get stuck can I please contact you to help me out? Cheers Jack

Have a question for you. I also have a Sony TC-355 which seems to be running very fast when it is in Play. Why do you think the cause of that ? I have not opened it up yet. Thank you.

tanks which is the best product for sony tc 377 cleaning

Perfect!

I am looking for a run motor capacitor, 1.5 UF and 0.5 UF for a TC-366 recorder.. This is a dual capacitor evidently. There is only one capacitor, but has 5 wires going to it, with three posts on the capacitor. Do you know where I could locate one? James Mauldin

Olá senhor Vettore boa noite o senhor po mim ajudar? Tenho Sony Hp 319 eu vi o senhor fazendo uma reforma em um ! Eu fui trocar a correia do toca fita e ao fazer está troca um cabo amarelo soltou e eu não sei onde soldar ele pode me ajudar?

Can you put a link of ebay item here, so I can look it. Alo friend on ebay do not send to Portugal already tried to make the purchase of the condenser but do not leave.

Hello TEDDY is not easy on ebay you know another site that can search the front part with the heads of the recorder?

HEY!!! EXCELENT VIDEO!!!.. I TRY TO FIND THE RUN CAPACITOR FOR A TC 540 1.5+.5 uF ,,WERE DO YOU BUY YOUR CAPACITOR?

Hello, could you tell me, how to have the foam that you change on the pieces, that you cut and well you glued. Thank you for your answer (and where to buy it) Bonjour, pourriez vous me dire ,comment avoir la mousse que vous changer sur les pièces, que vous découpé et puits vous collé. Merci de votre réponse (et ou l'acheter)

Super!

is a tc 366 very similar to a tc 355 ?that's what i have

Comment savez vous qu'il faut démagnétiser les t^tes de lecture ? Merci de votre future réponse . How do you know that you have to demagnetize the reading heads? Thank you for your future answer.

Hi. Is any reason why you go with a 1.5 uF 450V capacitor since the old one was 1.5uF 250V AC? that is far less; did you check the motor prior to switch the capacitor with the CBB61 at 450V, not sure if that burn the motor. I notice that you replaced at end both the motor and capacitor with similar to the original one, that is a 1.5 uF -5+10%, 250 WV AC...

The sleeves and their plain bearings in the control mechanics are hardened and non-lubricated.

MOTOR CAPACITOR for Sony TC 366, TC-377, TC-266, TC-399 Reel

I'm doing a restoration job on a TC366 which has developed a motor fault, namely the start/run capacitor. Looking at your model I've noticed that there's only a 1.5mF cap connected and not a twin cap that's in mine (has a further 0.5mF ) Any ideas as to a replacement part or mod? Gr8 vid BTW

What about the back side? Capacitors, motor, etc.

I have a studer A67 but im to scared to open it and fix it :(

did the new motor run capacitor work after you replace the motor ?

Alo friend already tried to make the purchase of the condenser on ebay, but do not send to Portugal thank you very much

Friend Freddy has already dismantled the panel where play is made etc. the reels go well back and forth but in the play continues without fixing what will be more? '' Thank you for your patience but help me thanks

Where did you find the run motor capacitor

Hello Teddy. I have the same tapecorder. I used to play and record using the 7.5 speed and it used to work great, when suddenly it begins to slow in speed. Now I can't use the 7.5 speed but instead I switched and uses the 3.75 speed in which it works well. Is there a way to fix the 7.5 speed since most of my tapes are in that speed? Also, the player is having difficulty when I put in fast forward and reverse. Can you give advice? Thanks and by the way, I really like this video of yours. -Martin

Friend Teddy 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

I am about to restore a TC-377. What sort of grease did you use when you cleaned it?

How to tune the heads of the sony tc377?

Friend excuse to bother but I have already disassembled I reassembled and I get the recorder to play play backwards and forwards but not fixed in the play ...

Super

nice job and well done except one thing. you put it in upside down. you should be able to but it on end and the big end should be at the bottom

my capacitor does not give power to the engine in the play the voices come out of drag, can I put a capacitor with more power ?? ' Thank you

We have alot in Common @

What material did you use for the brake pads?

What is that thing at 1:05? Looks like a glob of glue but I can't see a reason why it would be there unless the techies hand slipped? Edit: Nevermind I see it now, its the capacitor fluid. It's good it was there so you could easily troubleshoot the problem.

friend has already purchased one that is compatible with sony whose + reference is the following: 16uf-5% 400v ~ 10000 clb, 450v ~ 3000 / clc, 500v ~ 120/20%. only that this model has four tabs and the sony only has three, I ask how it connects ????? Sorry for the inconvenience but I am lay on this subject.

Why did not use the new motor capacitor

hello, I live in Argentina, now buy a sony as the one shown here, my question is this, in my country mains power is 220 volts 50 hz, looking at the engine that you change in the video, says 100 volts 50/60 hz, that means that in my country the engine speed will remain correct? thank you very much.

goood

The grease is notorious for turning to glue, my 366 has a record problem, quit recording on one channel, probably a capacitor failed since it happened like overnight...I would not have re-used the original cap on the replacement motor, they are junk and it will fail and take out the new motor, probably what caused your old one to burn out, the replacement you got is more reliable.

Friend in Portugal there are no accessories for the Sony tc 377 the desmaganetizador had to have to come from the USA and I need the engine because he is already 48 years old kk

In Portugal there is the engine for sony tc

Great video. I'm trying to restore a Sony TC377 but when I put the head assembly back in and turn the knob to play, it won't stay in play. Any suggestions. Also, do you hire out to do restorations?

Friend I found compatible ... 16 uf + 5% h and 400v-10000h 450 v ~ 3000 500v ~ 120