Check your screws...

[MichaelBeardy]

For some while I've noticed that the top cover on my NH900 wasn't sitting exactly level - there was a tiny gap on one side. I reasoned that if I backed off one of the screws holding the top cover I could adjust it and I could just nip up the screw again to hold it tight.

So this morning I got out my 00 size Philips screwdriver and got ready to back off the screw a quarter turn to adjust the cover. I know the threads of the screws are treated with something (a kind of green Loctite?) so I was expecting a little resistance - but no, the screw turned very easily, as if it hadn't been tightened properly in the first place. Anyways, I was able to fine-tune the fit of the top cover of my NH900, which is good , but I did just check all the other external screws for tightness before putting the screwdriver away - I didn't muscle them down, but I did just give a tiny tweak to be sure they were tight.

It's worth a check - the screws were available from Sony service centres (had one similar fall out of a cassette walkman once - back in 1984 I think!) but they charge you an arm and a leg for them.

Peace,

Michael

[sebastianbf]

you can't find those type of screws in a hardware store then? A special screw?

[leonyuhanov]

Tell me about it! i have owned 3 units sony and jvs and they all had screws that were so hella loose that they were almost falling appart.

Whenever you get a new MD unit check all the screws after a few months, all the ejecting the units do woble the screws around, and i asume they dont put locktite on them so that its easier to service.

Whatever you do, if the unit it underwarantee, dont scratch the unit near teh screws or when you take it in to get fixed they tell you something like "looks like you have been fiddling with the unit".

and yeah, i havnt ever been able to find replacement screws, i had an old sony unit that lost 6 screws! i later found 3 of them in my bag using a magnet! hehe!

Leon

[sebastianbf]

Leon: congratulations for the magnet idea. Maybe you can take the screws from another device to put them on the minidisc, don't you think?

[MDX-400]

Sony does put a green thread tightening assurance coating on these small screws however there have been many reports of screws loosening on MD units throughout the years. It seems in some uses or situations the coating just doesn't work that well.

The screws are *very* small and would be hard to find in any stores but they are available from Sony DAPC for relatively low cost.

If you buy replacements here is what you should do. Go to a hardware or automotive parts store and pickup a small tube of Permatex or Loctite "threadlocker". There are usually two types blue and red. The blue will be sufficient for these tiny screws. Follow the directions and apply a very small amount to the screw threads (just put it over the Sony green stuff). Again these are very small screws so you'll need less than a "drop" of the stuff on each screw, trust me. Once the threadlocker sets (about 24hours) those screws will NOT come out again. In fact removing them with a screwdriver will become difficult to impossible; BUT, you won't have screws falling out/missing after that

[greenmachine]

I've once visited a local optician and got 2 perfectly fitting screws (for a Sharp MD) free of charge. Could be worth a try.

[javertim]

Greenmachine is right. Eyeglass screws are the right size and work very wonderful as replacements. I bought a pair of sunglasses at the dollar store and was able to use 2 of the screws to replace those missing from my MZ-N707 unit. Never have had this problem with either of my Sharps, though.