Audio Systems: Sony stereo cassette deck TC-WE605S, sony stereo, dual deck

Question
QUESTION: My tape deck has recently been cleaned and was working fine. I put a couple of cassettes in (it's a dual deck)to play over the holidays. It played both and then stopped instead of repeating. I found the door on the right (recording side) won't open in order to remove the cassette. How can I get this to open?

ANSWER: This sounds like a belt is slipping and the unload sequence did not complete.  DO NOT force this open.  You can try moving the gearing by hand to get it to release.  If the cleaning was recent and completed by a service tech, bring it back and explain the problem.   Most servicers will extract the tape and perhaps change the belt for the cost of the belt. (That's what I do in situations like this.)
Dan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks! Since the service tech has retired and I can't find any service within 50 miles, is this something I could do myself? Also, when I said recently, it was about 9 months ago, but the machine hasn't been used since. When it was serviced, it had the same problem and a belt was replaced. Is this machine worth servicing?

Answer
When the unit is powered up, both sides should attempt to "reset" to a know condition.  You can try powering on an doff a few times to see if that one side will reset.  Or, open up the unit and watch the side that does reset.  Pay attention to the direction that the gears move.  Then try moving the gears on the bad side in the same direction.  That may be enough to free the tape.
Dan