My favorite boombox is in need of repair. How do I fix it?
This is the top question we get. Depending on how many people come forward with tips, we might make this topic its own FAQ. By far, the most common failure we see is with the cassette mechanism. Many, many systems “in the wild” or on Ebay will be described as “perfect” with the exception of the cassette drive, which doesn’t work, “but probably just needs a belt.” Don’t be decieved by the seller’s confidence! Belt replacement can be difficult, perhaps impossible if you plan on relying on your local stereo repair shop to do it. You might be able to determine if a broken belt really is the culprit: engage the play button and listen closely for a motor. If you hear it, it may indeed be a broken belt. If not, you could be looking at a more detailed repair. Remember that a broken belt is not the root cause for all tape drive failures. Many pricier systems utilized a power-assisted control system (in this system, the cassette controls need only be touched, rather than pushed, motors do the re
