SL-8000
Sony 1978
Betamax SL-8000



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Technical

SL-8000 rear connectors
SL-8000 rear connectors 		Because of its age spares are not easy to obtain for the SL-8000.

Modification for 60Hz, 120V mains operation

Please note that for 60Hz, 200-240V operation, carry out steps 3 to 5 only.

Procedure

  1. Set the voltage selector to 127V.
  2. Remove and tie back the yellow and white wires from the power transformer T9501 which are soldered to the FS-1 board. Connect 2 leads to the terminals left free on the FS-1 board. The lead soldered to F9002 should be connected to Pin 4 of the voltage selector and the other lead should be connected to Pin 3.
  3. Reduce the value of the motor capacitor C8102 from 3.7 microF to 2.5 microF by removing the jumper lead from the PE-1 board.
  4. Remove D3101 from the PT-1 board.
  5. The following pulleys should be changed:

     FormerNew
    Motor pulley assemblyX-3656-025-l/5X-3656-350-l/7
     Select for correct drum free speed
    Drum pulley3-656-034-003-656-421-00
    Capstan pulley3-646-192-01/513-646-194-01/5l
     Select for correct tape speed
Thanks to Martin Imber for providing this information.

Fault and repair guide

Tape transport is sluggish or fails to rewind

Internally the SL-8000 contains many drive belts which are used in the mechanics of tape transport. With age these belts become slack causing malfunctions and when this happens the whole lot should be replaced. In particular for the rewind function you will need to replace a tyre on the supply reel.

Strange behaviour of capstan/drum servo

The first thing to check is the tantalum capacitors in the servo circuit.

Sluggish threading and capstan problems

The bottom bearing on the capstan motor is prone to wear and because this motor also drives the threading mechanism threading can become sluggish. When this happens you will hear a horrible squeaking noise!

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