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:

This adjustment is very sensitive. You cannot just turn it left or right quickly you have to do it about a millimetre at a time. The tape remaining indicator working correctly from STOP will also highlight if this is correct.

ONLY when it's around 48g-cm will it be spot on.

As for the 'no picture issue'. Have you looked at the soldered connection to the VIDEO IN/OUT BNC connectors?

They are notorious on Sony's for getting banged with leads attached resulting in broken connections to the board and affecting the associated area.

Also are the tapes you are playing undamaged along the edges?

....Kevin

Kevin,

Sorry for saying your name wrong down the page.

Webber,

The issue with your machine seems to be the tracking pulse. You really need to use a CRO in conjunction with the circuit diagram to find out what waveforms you are not getting.

You then need to work out if you have a tape/mechanical alignment issue OR an electrical issue OR dirty audio/tracking heads AND/OR dirty video heads.

Only the signal from a previously recorded tape on playback will tell you. Record issues you can fix ONLY when the playback alignment is right.

GABRIEL,

The relative speed between the pickup and supply reels is determined back through the reel PWM drivers. Tape position versus the starting point is noted by the timer counting tracking pulses.

The tension should not affect either as long as the tape is not slack and the tape is slack for long the machine shuts down. If the tape breaks it also shuts down.

The Sony SLC9 has some pretty slick circuitry. But I doubt that Kevin likes them yet over a Sanyo;-)

On most VCRs if you put the into cue or review modes (fast foward or reverse with the tape still around the heads you will get a picture even if there is no tracking pulse and this at least tells you something about the video heads and whether the picture is stable enough to show the drum circuitry is locked/working.

regards Noel

Kevin,

We must have posted at the same time. Good points you make.

regards Noel

Hi all,

Is there an adjustment pot inside a Sanyo VTC9300 to speed up the main motor please?

I've just acquired a hardly used one, with the original box, dust cover, pause button etc. I've changed all of the belts for a new set (only the one smallest belt was misshapen, the others seemed fine with no kinks after being stood idle for over 35 years) and I'm not getting any picture or sound output from it, just lots of static on the screen. The motor doesn't seem to be spinning as fast as my other vtc9300 if that make any sense(?) I've cleaned the heads and tape path but it's no different.

Thanks in advance,

Rich.

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