So I bought the Panasonic RS-755S as a fix-it project. It works like a charm already, except for a minor problem: It won't play. Rewind and fast forward work perfectly, but when I put it into play, three things happen simultaneously:

1. The power light goes off.

2. The motor seems to die.

3. The clutch definitely engages, but it just gives the takeup winder a hard impulse, causing it to instantly spin at speed, but then wind down within a couple seconds due to friction. Obviously it doesn't get continued torque after the initial impulse because the motor dies.

Anyone have any ideas? Do I have an electrical short that kills the power when I try to play?

Thanks.

This post is VERY old but I will answer......... there is a lever that detects the end of the tape. The lever rubs against the tape pushing upward. When thetape ends, th elever goes right up and turns the unit OFF. If you attempt to hit PLAY with no tape, it just turns the unit off. If there IS a tape installed, this lever must be malfunctioning somehow. Pull the upper cover off the heads and you'll see how it all works.

yep, the little lever, often what resembles a bent paper clip like affair must be under tension from loaded tape for the machine to work....rewind and fast fwd are unaffected....many Sony's have the same feature... easier to tell with the head cover removed...look for a little affair either dropping down or up and with the tape installed under tension place the tape so the lever is kept under tension....most likely the lever drops down with no tape in place..and is held under tension upward with tape inplace thus allowing play and record function. ..if it doesnt..there are other issues..... blooeyz