Help! VCR Audio, mechanical Idler wheel questions
Keith Lee
1. Goldstar GHV-9000M audio problem. The audio outputs have static
when the audio select switch is set to stereo. When the audio output
is set to either left or right, the audio is fine, albeit one-sided.
This happens whether a tape is playing or if the program material is
off-air. This lead me to believe that the audio is OK, but there is
something strange happening on the stereo side. Any ideas?
2. Emerson VCS966H idler wheel problem. The idler wheel located beneath
tape center control the movement of the reel spindles. The spring
tensioning this broke. The wheel has a top arm that the spring
connects to; the other end of the spring conects to a post dead
center of the tape and 3/4" from the center of the idler wheel.
The idler wheel swings back and forth to contact the appropriate reel
spindle in both forward and backwards rotation. Problem: The
tension of the spring is strange. The spring either is too strong or
not strong enough. Adjusting the spring tension has no effect on the
side-to-side swing of the idler, which needs to be increased in order
for the idler to have enough pressure to cause the reel spindles to
turn. The idler is similar to a Fisher/Zenith idler. The net result
right now is that every tape inserted gets eaten because it not only
won't move, but the tape isn't retracted back into the case. Is
there any way to control the pressure as the arm swings side to
side?
Any help appreciated.
Keith Lee
mega...@maui.netwave.net
Sam Goldwasser
> 1. Goldstar GHV-9000M audio problem. The audio outputs have static
> when the audio select switch is set to stereo. When the audio output
> is set to either left or right, the audio is fine, albeit one-sided.
> This happens whether a tape is playing or if the program material is
> off-air. This lead me to believe that the audio is OK, but there is
> something strange happening on the stereo side. Any ideas?
There should not be much to that circuitry. I assume the switch is clean.
>
> 2. Emerson VCS966H idler wheel problem. The idler wheel located beneath
> tape center control the movement of the reel spindles. The spring
> tensioning this broke. The wheel has a top arm that the spring
> connects to; the other end of the spring conects to a post dead
> center of the tape and 3/4" from the center of the idler wheel.
> The idler wheel swings back and forth to contact the appropriate reel
> spindle in both forward and backwards rotation. Problem: The
> tension of the spring is strange. The spring either is too strong or
> not strong enough. Adjusting the spring tension has no effect on the
> side-to-side swing of the idler, which needs to be increased in order
> for the idler to have enough pressure to cause the reel spindles to
> turn. The idler is similar to a Fisher/Zenith idler. The net result
> right now is that every tape inserted gets eaten because it not only
> won't move, but the tape isn't retracted back into the case. Is
> there any way to control the pressure as the arm swings side to
> side?
Are you sure you do not have multiple problems? Has the tire been
replaced? That spring tension (if I understand the location) is not
super critical - the idler should not slip on the drive wheel. What
about the idler clutch (I assume there is one)? Is that too lose?
--- sam
Mark Neff
>I have two VCR problems, unrelated.
>1. Goldstar GHV-9000M audio problem. The audio outputs have static
> when the audio select switch is set to stereo. When the audio output
> is set to either left or right, the audio is fine, albeit one-sided.
> This happens whether a tape is playing or if the program material is
> off-air. This lead me to believe that the audio is OK, but there is
> something strange happening on the stereo side. Any ideas?
Is the noise present in both the direct audio output jacks AND the RF
output? If not, it might narrow it down a bit.
>2. Emerson VCS966H idler wheel problem. The idler wheel located beneath
> tape center control the movement of the reel spindles. The spring
> tensioning this broke. The wheel has a top arm that the spring
> connects to; the other end of the spring conects to a post dead
> center of the tape and 3/4" from the center of the idler wheel.
> The idler wheel swings back and forth to contact the appropriate reel
> spindle in both forward and backwards rotation. Problem: The
> tension of the spring is strange. The spring either is too strong or
> not strong enough. Adjusting the spring tension has no effect on the
> side-to-side swing of the idler, which needs to be increased in order
> for the idler to have enough pressure to cause the reel spindles to
> turn. The idler is similar to a Fisher/Zenith idler. The net result
> right now is that every tape inserted gets eaten because it not only
> won't move, but the tape isn't retracted back into the case. Is
> there any way to control the pressure as the arm swings side to
> side?
The idler itself contains a compression spring and a felt pad that
provide some resistance to turning. When the idler is turned, this
resistance causes the idler to swing in the direction it is driven.
Remove the idler and check to make sure it does NOT turn freely on its
shaft. If it does, replace the whole idler, not just the tire. Even
if everything seems OK, replacing the idler should solve it.
Mark Neff (mn...@en.com)
Richard Symonds
>I have two VCR problems, unrelated.
>1. Goldstar GHV-9000M audio problem. The audio outputs have static
>snip
>2. Emerson VCS966H idler wheel problem. The idler wheel located beneath
> tape center control the movement of the reel spindles. The spring
> tensioning this broke.
snip
>. Is
> there any way to control the pressure as the arm swings side to
> side?
>Any help appreciated.
>Keith Lee
>mega...@maui.netwave.net
Hi Keith,
You should find that there is a felt clutch in the idler, this has
probably worn and the entire idler unit needs replacing (they are
usually quite cheap. I have never had a problem with the springs on
the idler units.
Another possibility is unrelated to the idler. Both reels usually
have some form of felt friction pads (as well as rubber coated brake
pads) these pads get clogged with dust and probably plastic they wear
off the reels and this simulates the effect of a faulty idler. Either
rough the pads up and clean them and the reels with a bit of alcohol
or cut new pads if you have a sheet of the material. Some machines
use the back tension band to double as the friction pad on the supply
reel by pushing a small post against it on fast forward.
Cheers
Richard