Topic: help Sony PCM-R500 started playing fast! any simple fix?

[easyed]

My low hours Sony PCM-R500 has worked fine til recently when it started playing the tape fast.  I can hear the recorded sound (speeded up) and the AB Time meter shows the time going by (speeded up). I use this deck exclusively for playback/transfers.

Is there a simple fix or do I have to pay an authorized Sony Repair Center to make my PCM-R500 a productive member of the family again?

Thank in advance for your replies,
Easy Ed

[popskull]

I know these decks have the nifty self cleaning head mechanism, but when the last time the cover came off for a manual head cleaning?

[schoepsnbox]

Sounds like the pinch roller is your likely suspect...Common issue with them coming off the arm.
There is a plastic retaining cap that usually cracks and causes the pinch roller to come off...
If you can find it inside the deck, you can easily put it back on (pinch roller and cap) with a slight touch of nail polish to top it off to keep it locked in.

Sounds crazy enough to work, right