Bought another JVC HR-D470U..
 

Bought another JVC HR-D470U side loader. Bought it as dead / won't power on. Got into it and found a shorted cap and open resistor in the power supply. Replaced those and it's alive! I didn't think it would actually play without at least cleaning or replacing the belts and maybe lubing the mechanism. It actually plays pretty well. It doesn't struggle at all loading / unloading or changing modes. The VFD has some problems. Some segments are not lit up. I will have to look at that later on.

How about some pictures. Pictures really make the thread interesting. Besides, many of us have probably never seen a side loader.

I have the Zenith version of this (or one of the Zenith versions) the VR-2300 and it had VFD issues as well. It was dim, and the VU meters only displayed when the clock was flashing 12:00, between the flashes, on dim mode.

One mine there's a regulator board that provides -30v to the VFD, and two capacitors were bad - a 22uf and 47uf. I'm assuming things in the D470 will be slightly different, but probably a similar issue.

At one time MCM had kits to fix VCR VFD's in stock for $7 or so. Might can find them on Ebay.

Those old side loading VCRs are pretty neat. Got the lowest end Zenith version which is 4 head mono but on my Sony Trinitron from 85 it's fine as it's only mono seat. If I was you I would do probnot said and check for bad caps on the board for the VFD before you buy a kit as you caps are way cheaper especially if it's one or two that are bad.

This is from the auction site..

This is the one I bought new in 1987 after I repaired a tracking problem..

Wow, I don't think I've ever seen the JVC version of these side loaders. Huge VFD, tons of buttons and switches...love it!

I've got 4 of them now. 2 mostly working, 2 not working.

The JVC is the much better looking version than Zenith's 3 offerings. I would love to have one.

I looked at the faulty display hoping to find a high ESR cap or something obvious. I checked about 4 caps for ESR and they were OK. There is another PCB that 2 ribbon cables attach to. It also has 7 plugs going to it. It's a small PCB that also has the memory backup cap. Only the memory cap checked bad.
I had another same model VCR that has a very nice display but has no picture.
I swapped the front display PCB and it was nice and bright but still missing the same segments as the original display. I went ahead and swapped the small PCB and guess what. It all works now! Still need a memory backup cap but the whole thing works!
I hate troubleshooting like this but I was stuck. Now I need to go over the original PCB with a fine tooth comb. Ill bet it will be obvious when I find the problem.

Since you can't record of air anymore I would not replace the super cap as. I removed the super cap from my Zenith as they can leak and since I don't care if I have to reset the clock I left it out as doesn't hurt anything to leave it out. Also probnot made a video on his Zenith and he removed two super caps from his and left both of them out and one of them caps had started to leak.

I agree about the tuner part but I do like the clock to maintain time. Maybe using some extensions and remote mounting it would be a good idea. I think they usually last about 10 years for me.

The plot thickens...

I was looking at the failed circuit board. I noticed a diode (I think) that has been encased in a plastic insulator and soldered to the bottom side of the PCB. It runs from pin 5 of connector CN308 to pin 4 of connector CN302. It appears to have been hand soldered on. The schematic shows these 2 points connected. The original PCB trace has been cut. This looks like a factory modification. There is no continuity on diode test on my meter between the two points.
I looked at the board that is working and there is no diode and it has continuity between those 2 points.

I wish I had access to all service literature. I have the service manual, but I wonder of there are any service bulletins.

It may not be common to record off air anymore but it's completely doable. I think I have even done so within the last year when the memory on my HD recorder was full. Planning to dub a Betamax LV-1900 commercial off the internet to Betamax tape to play on my LV-1900 soon...I can do it, I have the technology!