Sony Walkman WM-FX20 Teardown Guide
Author: JaosnT
Introduction
This document provides a detailed teardown guide for the Sony Walkman WM-FX20, a portable FM/AM tape cassette player. The device features digital controls for the radio and alarm clock on the front, and traditional cassette controls on the side. The author recounts finding this unit again, stored in a Logitech Tape Case alongside a live music recording, and notes that it runs on 2 AA batteries. This Walkman was the author's first portable device and has been kept for many years, marking this as their first disassembly guide on iFixit.
[Image: A front view of the Sony Walkman WM-FX20, a portable cassette player with FM/AM radio capabilities. It features several white buttons on the front for playback controls and a small LCD screen. The SONY logo is visible on the right side.]
Tools Required
- Phillips #1 Screwdriver (1)
- Spudger (1)
Teardown Steps
Step 1: Initial View
Begin by examining the Sony Walkman WM-FX20.
[Image: Front view of the Sony Walkman WM-FX20.]
Description: Good Ole Sony Walkman.
Step 2: Locating Screws
[Image: Three views showing the underside and back of the Walkman. Red circles highlight screw locations on the underside, the back, and near the tape controls.]
Start by removing the screw on the underside. Next, remove the screw on the backside, followed by the two screws located on the reverse side of the tape controls.
Step 3: Opening the Casing
[Image: Three images showing a hand using a small Phillips head screwdriver to carefully pry open the sides of the Walkman.]
With a small Phillips head screwdriver, carefully pry open the sides of the Walkman.
Step 4: Removing Underside Casing
[Image: Two images showing the Walkman partially disassembled. The underside casing has been removed, revealing the internal circuit board, battery compartment, and tape mechanism.]
Take care not to jostle the switches on the top of the unit while removing the case. The underside casing has now been removed from the device.
Step 5: Disconnecting Ribbon Cable
[Image: Three images showing the process of locating and disconnecting a ribbon cable from the main circuit board.]
Locate the ribbon cable that connects to the main board. Carefully pry open either side of the connector as shown, then remove the ribbon cable from the board.
Step 6: Removing the Board
[Image: The main circuit board is shown separated from the black plastic casing.]
Now, the main circuit board can be removed from the casing.
Step 7: Cassette Door Assembly
[Image: Three images showing the removal of small components from the cassette door assembly. Red boxes highlight a small spring and plastic bumpers attached to the door hinge area.]
If you do not need to replace the front door control assembly, it is not recommended to continue further with this specific part. The small spring can be difficult to reinsert correctly, taking approximately 40 minutes to get back in place. It is crucial to install it properly so that the cassette door remains flush and closed.
Find the Door Spring and remove it carefully. Then, locate and pry off the glued-on bumpers on either side. These bumpers limit the travel distance of the door hinge, allowing it to be pulled off.
Step 8: Removing Front Door
[Image: Two images showing the process of prying the door hinges off their pivot points.]
Gently pry the door hinges on either side off of their pivot points, and remove the front door from the assembly.
Step 9: Removing Cassette Door Panel
[Image: Three images showing the backside of the cassette door with three screws being removed, and then the panel being removed.]
Remove three screws on the backside of the cassette door. Then, remove the panel.
Step 10: Front Control Board and Speaker
[Image: Three images showing the front mounted control board, what appears to be a small speaker attached to it (possibly for the alarm clock), and the various disassembled parts.]
This is the front-mounted control board. It appears to be attached to a small speaker, likely for the alarm clock function. This small speaker component was found to be particularly interesting.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
