Ta@#$% DA-302 Error 3 message?

[Text_Edifice]

Hi,

anyone help me out decoding an error message on a Ta@#$% da-302?

On instertion of a dat tape the machine returns an error 1 (load error) or an error 3 message (not in manual).

Would love to know what the message means as tech support on the ground over here (Lao) is non-existent and would like to have some idea what the problem is before sending it OS.

Cheers.

[Text_Edifice]

woops - just realised this should have gone in the troubleshooting forum - apologies.

[Mark Bassett]

Actually the troubleshooting forum is for forum troubleshooting, your post is fine where it is.

[Howard Jones]

At the very (very) least, this fault is due to the mode motor belt slipping. This is an extremely common problem with this mechanism and is in large part due to the very poor design. This belt is very small indeed and, in no time at all, develops a shiny surface that causes it to slip. This means that the mode motor (which controls tape loading among other things) revs its head off but that the tape does not load. The microcontroller eventually detects this, times out and brings up the error message.

The error message could be Error 01, 02, 03, 10; just about anything you like, but the underlying cause is the same. At the very least you need to replace this belt but, in the machines we get through for repair, there are usually other problems as well. A competent person can replace this belt themselves with a bit of care.

[Text_Edifice]

Thanks Howard,

yep that sounds exactly like what this machine is doing - stick in a tape, the machine whirs like crazy and then displays the error message. Would you mind sharing the process for replacing the belt? Also wondering if it's possible to improvise a new one (genuine parts not readily available)?

The machine apparently hasn't been serviced in five years so I'm guessing there are probably some other gremlins in the works...

[Howard Jones]

I don't believe that you would have success with anything other than the genuine part. The mode belt is square cross-section with a very small diameter. Once you have it off, you could take it to a VCR repair place and see if they can match it from a belt kit. Otherwise, email Electric Factory spares in Melbourne, quote your credit card number and get them to ship the belt to you. I will look up the part number for the belt at work tomorrow and let you know what it is.

Here is the disassembly routine (from memory):

[1] Unplug the machine from the mains.
[2] Unplug the machine from the mains.
[3] Unplug the... okay, okay, you can see the pattern here for yourself.
[4] Remove the screws securing the top cover (2 each side, either 1 or 3 at the rear) and take off the cover
[5] Looking down on the DAT mechanism, you will see the black plastic tray that accepts the tape when you insert it. At the left hand rear as you look down on it, you will see a spring running from the mechanism to a hole in the side metalwork. Disconnect this spring from the metalwork. The spring is potentially long enough to flop down into the power supply, so BE CAREFUL. If one of those capacitors still has a charge on it and the spring discharges it, it will be a day that you long remember.
[6] Trace each of the wire looms coming from the various points of the mechanism and unplug them where they plug in - mostly you will be unplugging these at the main PCB end, but some will need to be unplugged at the mechanism end.
[7] At roughly each of the four corners of the mechanism there is a medium-sized Philips head screw. Remove all 4.
[8] Remove the DAT mechanism from the machine and lay it out on the table.
[9] Turn it upside down. From here, uh..uh.. can't remember accurately. Will have to look at a mechanism at work tomorrow. I think there is a small PCB that you have to remove to see the mode belt.

More tomorrow.

Howard

[Text_Edifice]

Many thanks Howard,

just a quick question though - the machine is front loading (for want of a better term - tape's are inserted vertically and deck opens to 80degrees-ish to accept tape) so there is nothing that looks like a tray (as on slot loading - terminology again - machines). Just want to make sure we're talking about the same machine and that I'll be looking for the various other parts in the same place?

Will wait for the rest of your instructions before proceeding.

Once again thanks for sharing your wealth of experience.

[Howard Jones]

Yeah, right, sorry. I was thinking about the DA-30 Mk2 which uses the identical mechanism. My instructions therefore require some modification. BTW, are you using the second deck? If so, you will want to order 2 belts.

[1] With the unit powered up, hit the 'open' button.
[2] Remove the cassette door cover by sliding it in an upward direction in the same plane as the open door. That is, the cover is clipped on to the mechanism and has to be detached (otherwise you cannot remove the mechanism from the rear).
[3] Close the door.
[4] Switch off the machine, unplug it from the wall socket and leave it a while.
[5] Remove the cover as per previous instructions.
[6] Disconnect the wire harnesses from the mechanism, as per previous instructions. If there are any flat cables (easily distinguishable from other types) take GREAT CARE when undoing them. Some of these are an interference fit into a black plastic housing (i.e. you just pull them gently out) whereas others plug into a brown housing that has locking ears at each end that have to be released first. I seem to remember that the DA-302 has one flat cable but I will check in the service manual tomorrow.
[7] There is no spring to disconnect, unlike the DA-30 Mk2 instructions I gave you before.
[8] The DAT mechanism is connected to the front panel chassis with 4 Philips head screws at, roughly, each corner. To get at these, you need to lean over the machine or rotate it so that you are looking at the rear panel. If you take a careful look, you will be able to locate and unscrew these and then remove the DAT mechanism.
[9] Remove the mechanism and place it on the table.
[10] Turn it upside-down. There is a circuit board to be removed.
[11] I will doublecheck the rest and post it tomorrow.

Howard

[Text_Edifice]

Thanks Howard,

that's some memory you got there - makes a little more sense now.

yeah using both decks (machine is used primarily for dubbing backup tapes for an archive project) but problem is only on the first one - if I have to order parts from australia I'll get them to send over a bunch of spare belts as shipping's going to be the real kicker.

Cheers.

[Howard Jones]

Okay, let's carry on pointing you down the road to disaster... or delight... who can say?

The part number for the mode motor belt is V00013500B. The service manual actually describes it as a loading belt. The story so far is that you have succeeded in removing the DAT mechanism from the chassis and that you have it on the table, looking at it.

[1] By studying the mechanism carefully, you will see that it is comprised of 3 major sub-assemblies.
[2] At the back (facing you, if you have turned the mech upside-down as I suggested) is the Servo PCB.
[3] At the front is the DAT transport itself.
[4] In between there is a metal frame known as the bracket assembly.
[5] Both the servo PCB and the DAT transport are screwed to the bracket assy.
[6] Your aim is to remove the DAT transport so that you can get at the mode belt. To do this, you will need to at least disconnect the cables that run between the DAT and the Servo PCB.
[7] Looking at the exploded view, it appears that you may not need to actually unscrew the Servo PCB from the bracket assy.
[8] There are 3 small Philips head screws that secure the DAT transport to the bracket assy. Remove these.
[9] You should now be able to separate the DAT mechanism from the rest.
[10] You will be able to see that the mode belt goes around the mode motor pulley at one end and a gear pulley at the other.
[11] Slip off the defective belt. Examine the inside edges of each pulley - if there are any rubber deposits visible, use a cotton bud and alcohol to clean them off.
[12] Fit the new belt.
[13] Re-assemble all parts in the reverse order.

The picture below shows the DAT assembly from a DA-45 as viewed from the Servo PCB side. The assy in your DA-302 varies from this a little, but it gives you a good idea of the connectors and flat cables I told you about yesterday. In this picture, 3 of the flat cables go to white-housing connectors and 2 go to brown-housing connectors. The latter have locking ears that must be released before you can withdraw the cable and that must be secured when re-inserting the cable.

There it is. Rotsa ruck.

Howard
[url=http://upload3.postimage.org/47772/photo_hosting.html][img]http://upload3.postimage.org/47772/DA_45ServoBoard_1.jpg[/img][/url]

[Howard Jones]

Dunno what happened to the pic - here it is again.

[Text_Edifice]

Thanks Howard,

really really appreciate your assistance. If I could ship you a beer from over here I would - Beer Lao is possibly the finest drop I've had in quite some time.

[Howard Jones]

P.S. Observe anti-static precautions at all times when handling the Servo PCB.

[Howard Jones]

So, how d'you get on... ?

[Text_Edifice]

oh - sorry, should have updated.

got the machine disassembled and reassembled.

seems to be working ok but I want to get it looked at properly at the next available opportunity as I'm not 100% confident in my abilities or that something else won't go wrong with it in the near future - machine hadn't been serviced in a l-o-n-g time.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.