Edit to last post;

The sound does come through intermittently at the correct speed. Does the motor speed determine the speed of the audio also? I'm not too familiar with the workings of this model.

Cheers

Rich

Yet another edit to the last post.

The problem was that the video head itself was defective! I replaced it with the one from my other, later VTC9300PN and it's all working ok now.

Very strange as the VCR is unbelievably like new inside and out. Not even a speck of dust inside when I took the top and bottom panels off, and all the metal inside still shines like factory fresh.

I have noticed that the picture wobbles slightly from side to side when playing a tape back, my other vtc9300 does this too, so I don't know if it's normal with this model or if there is an adjustment to be made?

I'm now on the lookout for a new or good replacement video head disk for it, so if anyone has one for sale or knows where I could get one it'll be much appreciated.

Sorry for the ramble. Haha.

Cheers

Rich.

Hey Everyone. Fancy finding this sort of thing. I recently got ahold of a small pile of U-matic tapes and a player in a warehouse clearance. I'd love to find out what's on the tapes. However, The player I acquired is the BVU-150, and all the tapes are the "large size" format, (such as the 3M UCA-10) that the BVU-150 can't deal with. I haven't tested said device, as I have nothing to test it with, although I do have the carrying bag and strap for it. I will admit, I don't know if the BVU-150 works. But it does open and close. There is no battery in it.

I am in Detroit, USA.

If someone would be interested in perhaps trading that BVU-150 for a player that can handle those tapes (and is of similar performance, preferably) , I'd be interested.

Thank you!

PS: In the same set I ended up with a pile of Betacam SP tapes and bought a UVW-1600 off Ebay to play them, and it worked a treat. Really interesting stuff. I'll probably rip them and put them on Youtube at some point.

Dogapult:

Welcome to the site.

If you look to the top left you will see two other forums Betacam and U-matic.

You query should go there .

I'm sure you'll find the answer you are looking for there.

Good luck..........

Hi..

I'm looking for some advice with a Sony SL-HF950.

I acquired this recently after it had been stored away in an attic.

The unit powers up and everything appears to work as it should. However, when playing tapes there is sound and a picture for maybe 2-3 seconds and then the screen goes black and the sound stops. The picture that is displayed looks OK other than some horizontal lines across the bottom of the screen. The sound is excellent.

The tape is still running even with apparently no output. If I hit pause or use FF or RW in playback the picture comes back....

If I put the machine into test mode the test card appears with the tone.

This issue is the same whether using BNC out, aerial or SCART.

Would anyone be able to offer any advice or suggestions as to what this issue may be?

Kind Regards.

Neil

Hi all,

I'm looking for a complete, working servo board for a Sony SL-C6 mk1 please. It's the big board that's on the underside of the VCR.

The previous owner was a bit of a 'twiddler' and all of the RV's have been messed with. I don't have a scope to set it all back up again.

Many thanks,

Rich.

Neil,

Given these symptoms, you will probably have to clean/renew/replace the pinch roller. Or at least it should be the first item to check before going any further.

Quite probably your tape counter gets stuck while playing a tape and you have no image.

Regards,

Gabriel

Hi Gabriel,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and reply.

You're right, the tape counter doesn't function when the tape is running,.

I'll open the unit and have a good look at that pinch roller, I'll post my findings later.

Kind Regards.

Neil

Hi beta fans been restoring a sony sl-c5ub looking for a a.c.e head audio head as the sound is muffled thanks

Hi all.

Does anybody know if there is a pot for adjusting the audio output volume on a C7 please? The output on mine is rather quiet.

Thanks in advance

Rich.

I am waiting for my SONY SL-HF860D to be delivered in the UK and have realised after paying for it that it is most likely a USA model for 120Volt supply. Do any of you know how I might use it on the UK 240 V AC at 50 Hz voltage or if it has a switchmode power supply that will allow for this UK voltage? The rear panel states AC 120V 60Hz 45W and nothing else. Any help on using it as is, or modifying it will be gratefully appreciated. I realise I can purchase an external step down transformer but am avoiding this. Thanks in advance

I have the same vcr. It is indeed an NTSC 120v vcr. I use a good quality step down transformer for it. Also a PAL to NTSC converter to record from freeview etc.

Thanks for the reply. I bought the SL-HF860D from a UK seller who did not mention in the auction that it was an NTSC only model requiring a step down transformer, nor that it cannot record PAL signals via the COMPOSITE input as your post suggests. I got excited and did no research on it being a USA only model. Please confirm that the SL-HF860D cannot record PAL signals via COMPOSITE as I had not realised that was a further restriction. Lastly, do you rate the SL-HF860D or should I have invested in a UK SL-HF950? I paid £225 for it btw. Thanks again

It definitely can't record PAL signals, hence why I use a cheap and cheerful PAL to NTSC adapter. I've got a large quantity of NTSC pre recorded tapes and the performance of the vcr is ok, superBeta isn't as good as on a PAL machine. The 950 is vastly superior. I also have an SL-HFT7 superBeta theatre ntsc vcr which is a much better performing machine compared to the other one.

Neil,

Regarding your SLHF950 picture dropping out issue and loss of tape counter/time run function. You are basically not getting the track pulse due to tape misalignment with the audio head.

Preview/review mode gives you picture despite there being no tracking pulse.

Gabriel is probably right with his capstan roller comment. I doubt you can still get new spares these days.

I have found they can be restored as follows which is quoted on my betaheaven.com website.

The beta machine capstan rollers can become worn, dirty and uneven over time and with use. They are difficult to source and expensive when you do find them.

For a demonstration on how to refurbish a capstan roller using a grinding wheel in a Dremel super tool (or similar) see the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adYr2B0z--c

This will work unless the rubber on the capstan roller has cracked or perished or the support bearings have failed."

regards Noel

Neil:

Regarding your issues with your Sony 950 Superbeta.

Can I also ask that you check the following...........For no playback picture with the tape counter stuck, check for CTL (control track) pulses at Pin 15 of IC302 on the SS50 (Servo) board. If these are missing, check under the SS50 board for a modification diode added between D311 Cathode and Q305 Collector (REG 5V) which may have gone leaky.

I have had one of these machines with EXACTLY that issue and feel that could be what's wrong with yours.

(that issue is listed in the technical area page for this model on this site).

As for pinch rollers 'I've seen many that are shiny with tape oxide but on the Sony's the usual problem is the rubber goes hard. If that is the case then replacement is the only viable option. If you get flex by pressing your thumbnail into the rubber then it should be OK.

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

Hello fellow Beta Geeks,

The load gear breaking on Sony front load machines such as SLC30, 34, 35 & SLF30, 60 mono machines and SLHF100 and 150 machine is now very common.

The black gears of the shaft shrink over time, split and eventually spin on the shaft and or break apart.

This results in tapes jammed in machines, at which stage many machines get packed away or get a free trip to landfill.

I developed the fix shown at At http://www.palsite.com/100tech.html

The gears have 10 teeth and are 6mm diameter and 7mm in length. The steel drive shaft has a nurled end roughly 2.5mm diameter.

THERE APPEARS TO BE A MUCH EASIER SOLUTION

I now see that white plastic gears (for RC toy cars) are available quite cheaply on ebay that have a 2.5mm hole and 5.7mm in diameter and 4.7mm in length.

In practice diameter is sufficient and the reduced length does not really matter, just use super glue (or other suitable glue) to glue them to the shaft and protrude the shaft 1 mm or so past the end.

See https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/50PCS-10-Teeth-2-5mm-Hole-Diameter-Plastic-Gear-Wheel-for-RC-Toy-Car/332284917749?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D60046%26meid%3D38598f684b5c4e7b9fcb0c7eb6483fa0%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D391851978473%26itm%3D332284917749%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

If you don't need 50 then look for a smaller quantity but the price does not seem to change much.

Happy repairs!

regards Noel Higgins (Betaheaven.com)

Hello all,

I have two ntsc superBeta hifi vcrs that are capable of playing back B1 speed recordings. I don't have any B1 speed recordings to see what the quality is like though. Has anyone in the UK facilities to make a B1 speed superBeta (hi-band) hifi recording for me to test out my vcrs full potential please? I can supply a brand new cassette and pay for your time etc....

Cheers

Rich.

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could help me price up an old Betamax tape, which is in excellent condition:

Marvels ‘The Mighty Thor’ (1982)

I can’t find a single copy online - any help is greatly appreciated!

Hi Robert:

If you go to this site http://www.pre-cert.co.uk/forum/index.php I'm sure someone there will be able to help.

Good luck.....................Kevin