1978 RCA Selectavision VCT200 top loading vcr to going into play

[andy]

Is the tape end sensor light on? If the bulb blows, it won't work at all.

[pac.attack76]

No, the gear underneath split in half so it won't load plus the dew indicator led is on now so it won't do anything.

[pac.attack76]

I need another one badly but not sure where to turn. Can 3d printing really make another one?

[pac.attack76]

Where's the dew sensor located on this thing?

[pac.attack76]

I've looked all over this thing and I still cannot locate the dew sensor. Does anyone know where it is. I've worked on other units with these and they were usually on top near the heads.

[djfivos]

My Sanyo Beta machines have the dew sensor on the top of the drum. I don't think that's the case with this one. I'll have to look on the inside on my NV-8600...

[pac.attack76]

Originally Posted by djfivos

My Sanyo Beta machines have the dew sensor on the top of the drum. I don't think that's the case with this one. I'll have to look on the inside on my NV-8600...

Ok, let me know.

[pac.attack76]

Still need the location of the dew sensor before I can work on this. Gonna try something different with the broken gear.

[djfivos]

Hi. I took apart my NV-8600 to replace the capstan belt and the pinch roller but I couldn't find where that dew sensor is. As for the loading arms, I suspect that you messed up the alignment of the bottom gears. In which direction does the capstan motor turn when you go to fast forward? It should turn clockwise.

[pac.attack76]

Don't know now that the dew light is on. It won't let me do anything.

[djfivos]

The service manual says that the dew sensor connects to the front PCB (power supply and system control) on pin 3 of the connector P63. Not sure if the same applies to the VCT200. If you need the schematic let me know.

[pac.attack76]

Yeah, I'm sure that'll help.

[djfivos]

Here you go.
https://ufile.io/z19jk

It isn't the full manual as I still can't find it, but it covers the mechanical parts and basic circuit schemas.

[dishdude]

Dew sensor was usually mounted in plain view near the tape transport - I've never seen one too far from the heads.

[stragulus]

The broken gear *can* be jury-rigged into submission if you want to, at least well enough to get the mechanism to work so you can troubleshoot the rest of it. There's no gluing it, the problem is the shaft hole that's gotten hollowed out over time, which makes the shaft crack the gear. I rigged it by mounting a metal plate from an old PSU on top of it with a shaft hole drilled out that does not have this wiggle room. It took a dremel with some metal cutting discs and fine drill bits. Mounting it is done using kevlar wire and some holes drilled in both gear & metal. Probably should have used some proper fine metal wire, would have been easier to get it to tension, but hey, this works.



The dew sensor.. can probably just disconnect it or bridge it.