Greetings All.

I managed to get hold of a Sony SL-C9E VCR. Unfortunately the previous owner attempted some cleaning and/or repairs to the machine, and disconnected a large number of the internal wire bundle connectors/plugs to circuit boards. I have managed to sort out and reconnect most of the connectors/plugs.

I'm now left with a few plugs that I could not yet find where they should go, as well as a few empty sockets that I could find wires for.

I understand that the above description is quite vague and am more than willing to provide more information - if I know what information to provide.

I would really like to get the machine operational as I have quite a number of Beta tapes that contain very precious family memories that I want to transfer to DVD.

Many thanks.

Hi John. Here's a list of multi system Beta VCRs:

Sony:

SL-T7ME /MER (NTSC 4.43 only, βII speed only)

SL-T9ME/MER (NTSC 4.43 only, βII and βIII)

SL-T30ME /SL-K85 (NTSC 4.43 only, βII and βIII)

SL-T50ME /SL-K95 (Both NTSC 3.58 and 4.43)

SL-500ME (I think NTSC 4.43 only but correct me if I'm wrong)

SL-700ME (Both NTSC 3.58 and 4.43)

SL-800ME (Both NTSC 3.58 and 4.43)

Sanyo:

VTC-R4ME (Both NTSC 3.58 and 4.43)

VTC 9450 (Exact clone of the Sony SL-T7ME, so NTSC 4.43 and βII only)

VTC 9455 (NTSC 4.43 and βII speed only)

Toshiba:

V53-TRK (NTSC 4.43 only, not sure about playback speeds)

V-5480 (NTSC 4.43 only, I think βII only)

V-9680 (NTSC 4.43 only, I think βII only)

WEGA:

Video 7 (Exact clone of the SL-T7ME, so NTSC 4.43 and βII only)

Hope this helps. :)

Tom,

I can help you with the wire loom connections for the C9 through pictures of a "complete" unit and or copies of service manual information.

Just email me back without the nospam in my email address.

cheers Noel (Betaheaven.com)

To the previous poster. NICE list of multi-system machines.

Hello all,

I have developed a method of creating replacement load gears for the Sony SL-C9 and variants. (SLO430 etc.)

It turns out that the same gear used in repairs for the SL-HF100 load gear works in this application as well.

Details of how to make these yourself may be placed on this site under repairs in the future.

But then again you have to get bulk gears in the first place to do that which is hardly worth it for one machine, so I have listed these in pairs on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sony-Betamax-SL-C9-SLC9-Beta-VCR-replacement-load-mechanism-shaft-gears-2/184216000837?hash=item2ae4211945:g:opEAAOSwcIpecg6D

regards Noel (Betaheaven.com) Australia.

Noel,

Well done. It is nowadays easier to find replacement gears with the help of AliExpress and similars. Just curiosity: do you apply heat to the shaft and melt the gear with that size? I usually keep some original metal ones for my repairs but at some point I will run out of them.

By the way, the price you have set is quite fair and competitive.

Greetings,

Gabriel

Thanks Gabriel,

Heat is involved in the conversion process but the intention is to apply the minimum heat necessary to do the job.

You don't want damage to the gear teeth, distortion of the gear or modifications which will lead to it splitting.

The shaft is not directly heated at all. If that technique were used the gear would be out of round in operation and probably lose mesh.

I tried a number of ways to hold the gear in place but they were messy and some involved drilling the shaft ends even to lock the gear.

The big issue was how to center the gear on the 2.5mm round hole of the gear on the D shaft.

The various techniques I tried, had to fill the gap to make the D shaft round, but in such a way that the gear was locked.

I wanted to avoid just gluing them on because that makes the machine difficult to service later if you get issues.

Eventually I had a brainwave. Make a small metal shim and melt that into the hole against the flat surface of the D shaft.

The metal shields used in many of the beta machines are a perfect source to make the shims out of using tin snips. (It tests your eyesight though)

I have sent the details and lots of pictures of the process to Martin Evans so that he can create a repair page on Betamax Palsite for this.

Like you I have a few spare metal gears but overall I have a lot of machines waiting for repair which have the issue of broken load gears.

One big advantage I have in repairing these is I made a black box controller for the load mechanisms over 10 years ago that can monitor the load mechanism.

It has a normal mode to look at the SLC9 in operation and a slave mode which takes over control if you want to control the mechanism remotely or even out of the machine.

regards Noel

Hi all,

Just a quick question. Is the entire video head drum assembly including the motor a straight swap from a C6mk1 to a C7 please?

I'm trying not to take both machines apart just to see if they are compatible.

Many thanks,

Rich.

Noel,

Very clever trick. I think I got the whole picture with your detailed explanation, but it would also be greater if Martin can upload the pictures and additional info you provided.

As per the mechanism controller, yes, I remember you told me about that some years ago via email. This has to be interesting to see in action.

Rich,

For this kind of equivalences it is always good to keep an eye to the service manuals and see if part numbers are the same. Other than that, it is advisable not to modify stuff and connectors unless you are pretty sure you know what you are doing. I have see some "magic smoke" coming while doing things like that.

New and different message for Sanyo experts out there:

Just servicing a beautiful Sanyo VTC-M40 in really good aesthetic condition. Everything is now running fine, with crisp image and nice HiFi sound in playback.

But I have a problem in recording I had never come across: while HiFi recording is perfect, picture is not. What I get in subsequent playback is only a full uniform grey image (with proper sound). So I am not pretty sure the machine is switching to some default setting for editing or things like that. I have tried different setting combinations of front levers and switches with same result.

It is a pity there is no service manual available online for this Betacord. If so, I would have a more clear clue on what's going on inside this little beast.

Any help is always welcome.

Regards,

Gabriel

Thanks, Gabriel,

I'll try to find the service manual online for the C6 mk1 and cross reference the head assembly. I'm crossing my fingers that it's the same for the C7 as the C7 needs a new videohead (which I have a few) but no eccentricity gauge to use when replacing it.

Cheers

Rich.

Rich,

I have photographed the exploded parts diagrams for both and the numbers are similar but slightly different - though they look the same except I notice the head motor of the C6 does not have shielding wrapped around it.

C7 head assembly is DSH-08A-R whereas the C6 shows DSH-08R

Gabriel,

I have service manuals and circuits for the Sanyo VTC40 and VTC50 models but I would not know where to start with the problem you have indicated.

Either of you can email me if you want pictures sent.

regards Noel

Kevin,

How are you and your family holding up with the situation going on in UK? Still fixing machines?

It seems to me that those with a home hobby might be better placed for boring wait of self imposed isolation.

For some - what better time to do digital transfers of VHS and Beta tapes.

I for one never seem to get around to that.

regards Noel

Hi Noel,

Those scan pictures would be very welcome indeed! Many thanks.

My email is now showing if you click on my name.

Thank you,

Rich.

Hi Gabriel:

Yes I have to MINT condition VTC M40 's in black for my own light use for any beta hi-Fi tapes and the odd recording too.

I have never seen that issue. I did sort one out for a guy that had black and white playback and tuned out to be a crystal that was faulty. Took some finding too.

You won't cure that with any of the settings or switches on the front.

I do have the service manual for this model but not in PDF.

I could scan a few pages and send them to you if you like.

What areas did you require as these later manuals were not as detailed as say the VTC 5000 and 6500 ones were which is a shame.

Noel:

Things are not too bad in the area of Suffolk where I live and as well as my normal job outside (which has'nt been affected ) I am still repairing and servicing beta and VHS with the odd V2000,Umatic and Betacam for others.

learning new things as I go.

So this 'lock down' hasn't really affected me at all. My family are also not too affected either which is a relief.

I hope others who post here and their families hav'nt been badly affected either?

..........................Kevin

Kevin, Noel,

Thanks a lot both of you for offering me the scans for Sanyo M40. Incidentally, I was finally able to find some schematics which, with some patience will show me a clue. At least, now I know the test points locations and their related signals. My guess points out towards some chroma modulation subcircuit in the record signal path as it -seems to- be stucked at a particular frequency (grey). But this could be due to one million reasons. This beaty will need some hours of testing, oscilloscope and care.

Side note about Sanyos: I was recently working on a VTC-M20 from a customer and I was amazed the good picture this machine was giving just by cleaning the tape path and adjusting a bit the dropout compensator after changing all the belts. Even with factory capacitors the image was superb. I didn't remember these M series were so good.

Talking about the lockdown: here in Spain we are facing serious problems. We are suposed to be quarantined at home during one full month. You can only go out for some very specific reasons and the police are continuously controlling people's moves. Sad but necessary. This is a good time for reading and pleasing activities at home. Not many testing tools at home so I will only spend some time with basic checks.

All my best wishes for all you and your families. Please take lots of care and, as always, stay tuned.

Gabriel

K lambert

With a tape in play mode, I have turned the RV002 potentiometer in both directions of rotation, on the one hand, the tape increases in tension, turning the potentiometer in another direction, the tape loses tension.

But unfortunately the image on the TV screen is still black.

The counter does not work in play mode, and in Rec mode it does not work.

The rest of the functions are correct, just like previous weeks.

Weber1600:

You really need the back /forward tape tension cassette to get that setting perfect. Only THEN will you know for sure if that is causing your current issues.

The Sony breed are very particular with these settings, especially on the C9.

..Kevin

Kevin and Webber,

Some information which may help.

My tape cassette with the back tension meter in it cant be read while in the SLC9 but back tension for the SLF1 is the same high 45gm versus 35gm for normal machines so I developed other ways to set it.

I have noticed that the back tension setting on the SLC9 whilst critical, can best be judged by its effect on wow and flutter and also the frequency response and level of the sound.

I have test tapes with both a full swept audio frequency response which I can observe on a CRO and also section with just 1kHz tone.

(On an SLC9 I use the 1kHz tones to determine correct azimuth alignment by checking the phase of the tone in each channel is the same and also that their levels are similar.)

With swept frequencies or the 1kHz tone - If you have too little back tension the high frequencies drop off first, then the overall level.

With the 1kHz tone - If you start to get the tension too high you get increased wow and flutter. Far too much tension causes picture issues as well as the tape tends to pull off its correct path on the guides whilst going diagonally around the video heads.

Good luck?

regards Noel

Hi Noel.

Good info.

The back tension for the C9 is 45-48gm .I try to set the ones I work on to the lower spec. For obvious reasons(head life).

If no tape guage then that is a unique way to see.

I also didn't find the cassette tray obscured everything on the Slc0003 gauge just some.

The SLHF950 is 40 -48gm.

The rest seem to be 31 - 35gm.

..Kevin

Kevin,

I agree about head wear but 35gm is a safe setting for normal Sony mono machines ( SLC30, 34, 35 etc) and I find most need to be adjusted up to 35 from about 25 to 30gm as the spring has lost tension over time.

The tape tension gauge I am using is an aftermarket one. I do have a SONY set of gauges but have not used those because mine measures forward and back tension at the same time.

Given that the linear stereo machines ar only using a third of the tape surface that a mono machine uses I think the tension has to be optimum. Definitely higher.

You can also notice tape wear(condition) by a drop of in sound in the right channel (I think it was) from tape damage or stretching as that track sits at the edge of the tape.

regards Noel