Sony Walkman wm-30 help finding parts - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 12:50:31 am
content: I have a wm-30 model Walkman that as far as I can tell needs new gear assembly's for the take up and supply reels. The original ones have both lost a tooth where the metal cover plate was crimped on to the plastic gear and the plastic has shrunk and cracked causing the tooth to break off. Here is a link to the service manual:http://freeservicemanuals.info/en/servicemanuals/viewmanual/Sony/WM10MK2/WM30/the part numbers are 3-315-436-00 for the gear (outsert), supply reel and X-3315-315-0 for the gear assy, take-up reel . I do need the take up reel more then the supply reel due to how the player works but it would be nice to get both units. I have tried searching for parts but have not been able to find anything except for belts for the unit. Got any ideas where I could get parts? Or would they have to be 3D printed?

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 01:51:15 am
content: If you can't find anything, try watching Techmoan's videos about Walkmans.Q) Why don't they use 3D Printing to create a new centre gear for the DD walkman rangeA) Too thin, too weak - not possible. Check the forums linked above for more info.Maybe that can help.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 02:18:34 am
content: Quote from: poot36 on March 15, 2021, 12:50:31 amSomeone with the right skills can probably knock gears /reels up on a small lathe... they'll last longer too!

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 02:27:54 am
content: Just a lathe is not enough to cut gears...

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 03:03:47 am
content: Quote from: amyk on March 15, 2021, 02:27:54 amYou need the cutter, sure.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2021, 06:53:14 am
content: Find an authorized Sony repair shop and try to order from them ... or try to order parts directly at Sony .... 3d printing them will need a very fine pitch printer, not even sure it will workThose Walkman where hard to repair, sometimes you had to order the complete assembly : like the number 367 they where direct drive ...Tons of Sony Walkman(s) had the cracked plastic gear with metal pin insert problems, changed lots of theses parts in my youth. Even searching for an identical model for parts may end having the same problem(s)You're playing with an very old model around 1984 ... Sony in the past (in 1987) could provide us with 15 years old parts, not sure now you can order "old" parts

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2021, 02:35:32 am
content: I did some more research and it looks like my only option is to try adding epoxy and filing it into a tooth shape. I do not have high hopes for a lasting repair though.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2021, 03:03:25 am
content: That's not likely to be last more than hours. The problem is that plastic gears are typically nylon, which is a more durable plastic to deal with, but it's also tough to glue. It is 3d printable, but in FDM printers which probably don't have the fine detail capability that is probably needed to get a good tooth shape on a fine pitch gear, so then you'd be looking at a SLA resin printer and the most durable resin you can get your hands on.Depending on how specialty it is, you may be able to source a replacement from something else (maybe looking at hobby servo motors or something and trying to match thickness/pin count/diameter), but the simplest replacement would of course be a donor unit.

author: poot36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2021, 10:07:29 pm
content: Thanks for the help, the Walkman is from a friend who wanted me to take a look at it to see if I could fix it and they have decided that it is best off as a display piece unless proper replacement parts become available.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 12:49:06 pm
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on March 15, 2021, 06:53:14 amSony doesn't carry parts for any Sony product anywhere near that old, unfortunately. I've tried.

author: Nusa
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2021, 02:28:33 pm
content: It's also possible to take a glued together gear and use it to create a mold for resin casting. Metal casting is another option, but I've never done that for really small parts.