VCR Repair: How much $ is too much
Joel Burgess
given to me broken. I had it working for a month or two (after
lubricating the half-loading arm) before it quit again. Now it aborts
playing after a bit (and usually doesn't play properly while it goes). A
couple people suggested the capstan motor bearings, which I priced at
$25-$30 Cdn. Being a university student (and low on $), and already
having another working VCR, I never bothered. If I knew the bearings
would fix it for sure, I'd have coughed up the $25. I've just been
using it as a converter for the Commodore monitor that serves as my TV.
Anyways, I am now graduating, have just signed a job offer, and will
have some extra money (FINALLY!). I've decided that I'll probably opt
for having it professionally repaired now. Saves me the time I will not
have in the next few months, and from potentially messing it up more
(being an amateur).
What I'm wondering is how much money is too much to spend on it. I
used to work at a TV/VCR repair shop a couple years ago (doing deliveries
& other non-tech shop duties) and I know their charge was $75 minimum
shop labour + parts (Cdn prices). Offhand I think I could spend $100 on
the unit, since I am a believer that an old unit like this one (circa
90/91) is better than the cheap plastic units produced today. When it did
work, the picture was phenomenal, the stereo sound great, and all-round
great (until it decided it would go down with the Titanic, which is the
scene it died in of that movie). At what point (approx. dollar figure)
would I be spending too much to repair the unit for what it's worth?
i.e. when is the value of a SLV-555UC worth less than the repair.
Also, my other VCR a 1985 Mitsubishi needs a cleaning. I normally
manually clean VCR's, only this one has circuit boards both over and
under the tape transport area. I'd consider getting it professionally
cleaned (since it's been neglected) which last I saw was about $30 (more
than I'd like to spend). Anyone know how much can go wrong for a
semi-novice to pull these boards up for a cleaning? My main concern is
all the wires that appear to be in their running off the boards. The VCR
itself still runs rock-solid, but it's picture quality is suffering some
so I'd like it running top-notch.
Thanks,
Joel
Jerry G.
professional assistance for your machines. This type of work does
take some training and knowledge.
Both your machines are excellent and worth repairing. Most good
service centers will charge about $40 to $50 for a general cleaning.
But they do a lot of checking and fine adjusting while they do the
job. The type of checkouts and cleaning they do is much better than
you can do at home. They will also give you a list of any parts that
may be slightly warn. Generaly if the machine has been used for a few
years it is wise to change the pinch roller. The belts can also be a
bit dry, and need changing.
As for your Sony machine, in this series there as been some problems
with some interconnect contacts on the boards. Under the capston
assembly on the under side of the mechunism assembly you should see a
small spider contact assembly. It is about 1cm x 1.5 cm with 8
contacts on it. There is also one on the far side of the machine near
the supply reel. These are the sensing photocell coupler contacts.
I have had problems with these and had to replace them. Sometimes I
remove them and bend the contacts a bit tighter. Then I put them
back. They snap out of position from the ends using some retainer
wedges on their sides. They are easily broken when being removed.
This is why I replace them most of the time. They are available from
any Sony parts dealer.
You will find that if these contacts are not making very good contact,
the tape will thread, the capston will move a few turns, and then
stop. Because the capston can move in the first place this means
that it is not seized and the main coil assembly is good. Only when
you play the tape you will know if the capston servo is working
properly, and the bushings are in good order.
I have had a lot of problems in this model with the capston bushing
getting worn out. I prefer to change the complete capston when this
happens. This way I am confident that the machine will be very
dependable for a long time. When putting in the new capston, it
would not hurt to let a little drop of oil run down into its bushing.
Make sure that you do not leave any oil on its main shaft that will be
touching the tape!
--
Jerry Greenberg
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============ Message Separator ===============
"Joel Burgess" <jo...@uoguelph.ca> wrote in message
news:8cmkte$t16$1...@testinfo.cs.uoguelph.ca...
Ken G.
with the capstan motor warping and the flywheel will rub the coils after
the vcr is warm . the bushings are about 5$ but it takes a little time
to get them in there .
In my oppinion vcr`s are nearing an end to be replaced by dvd although i
would not give up my vcr any time soon because i like to still record
stuff .
around here a brand new vcr by panasonic is 56$ 4 head and 98$ stereo/4
head .
these new machines are pretty light weight and wont withstand rough
treatment by the kids but for normal use i would buy one instead of
dumping $ in an old one that is known to have serious faults such as the
warping cap motor at 50$ each .
yours may not be that model ? the newer ones used a crappy tape basket
that would jump gears .
your best bet is an older panasonic 10 years old or so . after the power
supply is serviced and the mode switch cleaned you almost cant beat them
i have one .
ken
Maik Hyke
holding it down needs re-adjusted . Push play and if the nut is tight,
you need to turn it loose and push rewind while playing, keep backing
off the nut untill you can see the tape going smoothly against the audio
head, when tape runs smooth, leave nut alone and you are done. That nut
is desighned to stay where you left it and is not suppose to be tight.
Good luck and let me know what happens!
Joel Burgess
: Also some of those older sony ( supposed to be good ) vcr`s had trouble
: with the capstan motor warping and the flywheel will rub the coils after
: the vcr is warm . the bushings are about 5$ but it takes a little time
: to get them in there .
This unit usually fails right away (doesn't need to warm up). I know
when I had the VCR in the shop I used to work (it needed the channels
reprogrammed and I had no remote so I used one of their's in the shop)
that they commented that is was one of the better VHS units out there.
I've also been told that once the half-loading arm is fixed (which I
did), and the capstan motor (if that's what it is) then it should be good
for years to come. Apparently these are the two classic Sony problems.
: In my oppinion vcr`s are nearing an end to be replaced by dvd although i
: would not give up my vcr any time soon because i like to still record
: stuff .
In a few weeks I should be getting a new Dell laptop from the company
that I just signed with. One of the frills of the laptop is a DVD drive
in it (and S-VIDEO out on the unit!). Needless to say I'm definitely
looking forward to it!
: your best bet is an older panasonic 10 years old or so . after the power
: supply is serviced and the mode switch cleaned you almost cant beat them
: i have one .
Well for now I still have the working Mitsubishi VCR (which has no AGC
-- could be good with the DVD!). The main reason I would like the Sony
up and going is it's incredible picture quality, and stereo sound. If I
don't get it going I will probably settle for the Mitsu unit and DVD.
TTYL
Joel
Joel Burgess
: I think it would be in your best interest to spend a bit of money on
: professional assistance for your machines. This type of work does
: take some training and knowledge.
I received an email suggesting just the opposite, but I tend to side
more towards your view. While I've had success with most of my repair
attemps (despite being an amateur) I don't feel like writing off a good
VCR from my own error. The beatup walkman that I accidentally wrote off
(after installing a belt and having it almost working fine) I could
handle. A really nice VCR, well I'd be a little more upset.
: Both your machines are excellent and worth repairing. Most good
That's good to hear. I picked the Mitsubishi up cheap a couple years
ago, and the Sony was given to me free, so I don't mind putting a little
money in them.
: job. The type of checkouts and cleaning they do is much better than
: you can do at home. They will also give you a list of any parts that
: may be slightly warn. Generaly if the machine has been used for a few
: years it is wise to change the pinch roller. The belts can also be a
: bit dry, and need changing.
I'd like to know the state of the rubber parts in the Mitsubishi. I'm
not sure when they were last replaced. There was another Mitsu VCR I
could have and perhaps should have bought at the place I used to work.
It cost more (and was a 1986 model vs. the 1985 I bought) and was $30
more, but tax free (which would have closed the gap). The nice thing
about this unit is that it had low wear, and had just had all rubber
parts replaced. Being frugal I bought the 1985 model, although it's been
running rock-solid so I can't complain. Actually last fall it decided
during a couple really hot days that it didn't want to work, but it's
been fine since.
If the rubber parts aren't in good shape, I might be more tempted to
take on that repair myself depending on what they'd charge. I can get
them fairly cheap from the store I once worked at (not that they're
expensive to start with, but the labour could be?).
: I have had a lot of problems in this model with the capston bushing
: getting worn out. I prefer to change the complete capston when this
: happens. This way I am confident that the machine will be very
: dependable for a long time. When putting in the new capston, it
: would not hurt to let a little drop of oil run down into its bushing.
: Make sure that you do not leave any oil on its main shaft that will be
: touching the tape!
One problem I have is the lack of knowledge to properly diagnose. I am
quite good at following directions, and if I knew for sure it was the
capstan motor, I'd probably order one and do it myself (when school is
over). But not being able to diagnose well, I fear buying a part that
doesn't fix the problem (although I'm sure even the best of techs
experience this once in a while).
Another thing I forgot to mention is that the VCR sometimes struggles
to engage the tape. It loads the cassette fine, but then it sometimes
fights to get the tape out and to the heads, rollers, etc. The
half-loading arm itself is clean, lubed, and free moving. This doesn't
happen 100% of the time but often. Once loaded it usually will not play
the tape properly. Perhaps 20% of the time it will, but it will fail on
the first RW or FF. BTW, I haven't put a tape in it in ages so save any
un-needed wear (in case it sounds like I'm always popping tapes in).
Thanks,
Joel
Joel Burgess
do remember loosening a nut off (I'd have to open the unit to remember
which one). I counted the turns on it, as I remembered reading that it
was important to put it back on the same. All I did when I cleaned &
lubed it was gave it a little spray lubricant and worked it in (which my
father recommended, as he used to do when he fixed typewriters).
I'll see if I can find some time to have a look in the next few days.
Right now I've got two essays due tommorow, and a project and only the
project is near completion. Somehow when I get playing with things
trying to fix them, it always takes longer than I expect so I'll have to
resist temptation for now and get my butt to the library :).
TTYL & Thanks!
Joel
Maik Hyke (HOUST...@webtv.net) wrote:
: On yor Sony vcr, did you remove the arm when cleaning? If so the nut
Andy Cuffe
This VCR is about 10 or 11 years old. Mine had a lot of bad caps in the
power supply. The capstan bearing was fine in mine, but I have seen
many of that age with a bad bearing. It's well worth repairing, so if
you can't get it working take it to a good repair shop. I would pay
more to have this VCR fixed than a new Sony hi-fi VCR would cost.
--
Andy Cuffe
balt...@psu.edu
Joel Burgess
like to see it operational once again. I checked the bank balance today
and it's doing somewhat better than I expected. Ideally what I'd like to
do is take it to the store I used to work at (TV/VCR repair place, I was
a lowly labourer doing deliveries, vacuuming etc.). I know them, trust
them, and may as well give my business to someone I know. Plus they
offer free estimates (which it itself is half the repair sometimes) and
perhaps I could even get bumped up in the queue being on good terms with
them :). That's back in the town where my parents live, and I'll be back
there for a few weeks soon, so I may just swing by and see if I can get
the beast repaired. I had the VCR in there once after I fixed the
half-loading arm, and needed to reset the programmed channels and had no
remote so I borrowed one of their customers'. Even they told me that
this was a high-end VCR, and much better than the modern equipment. Most
people I talk to are completely oblivious to this fact (they like the new
gadgets on VCR's, which BTW they never use). But I can't complain, a
friend of mine gave me the Sony for free after he replaced it with a
brand new one.
Anyways, back to my essay writing! Only one more week of this school thing!
TTYL
Joel
Andy Cuffe (balt...@psu.edu) wrote:
: This VCR is about 10 or 11 years old. Mine had a lot of bad caps in the