:INFO
The 1984 Walkman
The Sony WM 22 put a tape deck in your pocket and taught the world to listen alone. Forty years on they mostly fail the same way, a perished rubber belt. This is a full teardown and the fix that brings one back to life in an afternoon.


:STATS
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:GALLERY

:CHECKLIST
Disassembly
[x] Pop the battery door and remove the two visible screws
[x] Lift the cassette door and unclip the front shell
[x] Note the belt routing before removing anything
[x] Lift the old belt off the flywheel and capstan
[ ] Clean the heads and pinch roller with isopropyl
[ ] Fit the new belt and reverse the steps

:NOTE
Do not pry the circuit board. The flex cable to the tape head tears easily and is almost impossible to source. Work from the shell side only.
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:NOTE
Measure the old belt flat across before ordering. A belt 2 mm too long will slip and run the tape slow.


:CONTACT
Sourcing parts
Square drive belts and pinch rollers come from specialist audio repair sites and from marketplace sellers who list belts by flat diameter.

:LINK
https://www.google.com/search?q=Sony+Walkman+WM+belt+replacement+guide
Full belt replacement walkthrough