Decided to buy the model that replaces this unit, the TC-RX77es. It uses the same mechanism as the RX70es. Needed the belts and the capstan motor. I found the motor new old stock, and the belts are easy to find. It is a well put together unit, and easy to work on. The service manual was easy to find and has been very helpful. Your video also helped me seeing how easy it was to service this machine. Thanks for posting the video.

Wow there's a lot to changing belts on that unit you done a great job

Great video! Never would have tried to replace the mode belt on my Sony TC-RX79ES without it! Same mechanism, at least as far as belt changing goes. There was one serious omission in the video -- or at least the Sony service manual regards it as a definite step in the reassembly process. Before the two "halves" of the mechanism are joined back together after having secured the new mode belt to the motor pulley and its temporary anchor point, you are supposed to adjust the timing of the gears by aligning certain marks on the Mode Cam with the Selection Lever and one other piece so that everything functions properly when the mechanism is reassembled. None of this was even mentioned in this video. Find a free service guide from HIFI Engine or another source and you'll see this.

Sony's midrange line was ES in the USA and Canada, but not in Europe and Asia. This was the TC-RX70 in Europe. ES in Europe was real high end stuff.

Hey Dave , I have the same deck which you helped me fix ….lol that darn fusible resister went open and you told what to look for ….fixed it ! I've torn down mine as well to replace the belts ,mode switch ...etc: I also had to tear that motorized record mechanism motor and clean it as it was seized .great deck and it sounds amazing .

as I said before, you are not a technician, you are a magician !! thanks for another great lesson !!

I have a Akai GXC-710 from 1975. Needs some TLC. When i get the guts to send it i'll be in touch. Never had the unit serviced.

Thank you very much for spreading this video. It helped me a lot to know the machine. Greetings from Spain

Thank You! this video helped me to fix my 606ES, it has the same mechanism but instead of the left side, it's mounted in the middle of chassis. However, for the small belt, I managed to replace it without removing the front plate inside the mechanism (with background cassette light), I just unscrewed couple of screws so I can lift it up enough to pull out old, and put a new belt! I was lucky that belt was still "a belt" not a sticky goo, that's why I didn't need to disassemble the whole thing. Thanks again!

Amazing repair. I would never attempt it without fear of breaking other things and making a total coaster out of it.

😊 excellent video. I have that exact model, followed most of your tuition but found no need to take off the pendulum on the front. You can unlock the screws at the back just enough to slip in the square belt. This saved a wee bit of time and effort. I accidentally broke the red/white and the white wires to the belt drive motor. Will solder them back tomorrow. But an A1 instructional video, keep up the good work.

great vids, and thanks for the last advice, it works fine now, have anissue now on another sl-f1e, whereas, soon as fired up, the motor starts to run, and of course, it will not take a cassette, checked all cables and connections. seem fine, but there is 1 black earth cable off at the circuit board , its connected at 1 end to a tin plate, could it be this causing the motor to run ?

Great repair!! At Min

Can you share any source for capstan belt sortiments? Thanks for the great video.

Good job!

@12voltvids -thanks for the video, has been an enormous help. Would you happen to have the inside diameters for the replacement belts; am unable to find anything, especially for the larger belt. The mode belt seems to be 20.6mm. Any help would be much appreciated.

If you may be so kind to answer, have any experience with the TC-K707ES? If so, what's your opinion of it?

Great video! I have a Sony TC-RX79ES. Is it the same procedure to replace the belts? Many thanks in advance.

Longtime fan of the (roughly) late-80's to mid-90's ES gear. But I'd really love to find some reproduction, gold, "It's a Sony" stickers.

May i ask I just got hold of a TC-K677ES that does not play, it winds forward and back but will not play, I've ordered all new belts and will change them up. My question is I want to clean up around all the buttons and I'm trying to get the metal front off, is it clipped on underneath? I've taken the screws out but cant seem toget the front off, it looks like all the control will just go through the metal holes and it seems I dont need to remove the knobs. This mech looks the same so i will use this video to change my belts. What the best way to clean the pinch rollers or should I just replace them also in your view?