On connecting to a supply the unit seems to start Ok but within avery short time (say ten seconds) the display shows FO4 and no further control of the unit is possible. What causes the display to show FO4?

Peter, April 2006

Cobweb you are correct as it is the z deck.1000 appologies Peter as I am obviously becoming behind with the times and fading memory.

sparky, May 2006

I believe that model uses the Z-Mech chassis, so check for damaged teeth to the loading gear, - very commonly - one shears off against the sliding metal gear (top centre of mech) and you'll often see a small piece of white plastic (the missing tooth) stuck in the grease. Gear is visible from top side of mech. but replacement is via underside. Replacement is very straight forward.

Otherwise the large main cam sometimes fails on it's hidden underside, which is a slightly bigger job as the mechanism will have to be realigned after replacing the gear + retaining clip (comes as a kit).

(IF it happens to be the earlier K-Mech, then the loading motor coupling will be the probable cause. A small plastic sleeve inserted over the loading motor spindle. It's hidden within the small worm gear. It splits, causing slippage. (The loading motor ass'y/worm gear is fitted on the underside of the mechanism on the K-Mech).)

Cobweb, May 2006

Follow same instructions for Panasonic HD675B below in a previous post.
The fault codes point to the same problem as indicated.

MEANING OF FAULT CODES
0 = NO FAULTS
1 = DRUM MOTOR STOPPED
2 = TAPE REEL STOPPED
3 = MECH STOPPED DURING LOADING TO DRUM
4 = MECH STOPPED DURING UNLOADING FROM DRUM
5 = CAPSTAN ROTATION FAULT
6 = MECHANISM STOPPED DURING TAPE-IN OR EJECT

sparky, April 2006