My latest VHS Player Find

[centralradio]

Wow.Great catch there Levi.As I found my Toshiba DVR/DVD recorder at the goodwill here in town tonight 09/29/2016 .They had a load of DVD players there and not many VCRs.I think they had a 1990's Hitachi there and a couple of camcorders there which I will go down there and look at them later.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by centralradio

Wow.Great catch there Levi.As I found my Toshiba DVR/DVD recorder at the goodwill here in town tonight 09/29/2016 .They had a load of DVD players there and not many VCRs.I think they had a 1990's Hitachi there and a couple of camcorders there which I will go down there and look at them later.

Thanks, I actually saw it in the back when it was being processed by the people in the back (as you know I work at Goodwill so I get to see some of the goodies as they come in through the back, and the person doing the pricing was going to just toss it but I told her that its a high end VHS deck and that most people who still like to enjoy movies on VHS will enjoy this deck and told her to put $9.99 because of it being a higher end deck (of course I was thinking of myself when I saw it) but anyways it was the day before yesterday that it was priced and it was put out the day before yesterday and it was still there and I was able to get the machine for $5 (with employee discount) and like I said I was amazed that it still had its original manual and remote with it yet.

[Blast]

Nice find, Levi! According to my files I've never worked on that particular model number. But, it probably uses the same mechanism as that of other similar models. I just don't have a way to cross it.
There were pre-1985 models that had a little problem with the lube drying up. But, if yours is of that era and is working there is a good chance that the issue was addressed in the past and that it won't cause you any problem.

Brian

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Blast

Nice find, Levi! According to my files I've never worked on that particular model number. But, it probably uses the same mechanism as that of other similar models. I just don't have a way to cross it.
There were pre-1985 models that had a little problem with the lube drying up. But, if you're is of that era and is working there is a good chance that the issue was addressed in the past and that it won't cause you any problem.

Brian

According to the owners manual the unit I have is from 1987, so it probably never had the dried lube problem. Although it does seem to have an issue with the audio cutting in and out between Hi-Fi Stereo and Linear Stereo Audio when the VCR is set to output Hi-Fi Stereo audio, although I'm not sure if its an issue with dirty heads, faulty tape or what, because I haven't had a chance to try another Hi-Fi Stereo Tape in the VCR yet to see if it does it with other tapes or just the one tape or what.

[Blast]

Oh, yeah, that's newer than the lube problem era. Now you're into what I call the "Top 4" era: Power supply caps, mode switch, loose P2 and P3 tape guides and the tantelum cap on the back side of the capstan motor. Once those are addressed that machine is one to be reckoned with!
Specifically, cleaning and the proper alignment of P2 and P3 may help your switching problem.

What's the FCC ID number on the rear panel?

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Blast

Oh, yeah, that's newer than the lube problem era. Now you're into what I call the "Top 4" era: Power supply caps, mode switch, loose P2 and P3 tape guides and the tantelum cap on the back side of the capstan motor. Once those are addressed that machine is one to be reckoned with!
Specifically, cleaning and the proper alignment of P2 and P3 may help your switching problem.

What's the FCC ID number on the rear panel?

FCC ID: ASI9O2035 Hope this helps.

[centralradio]

The FCC ID tag should look like the one in the photo.This is used as a example.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by Captainclock

...it does seem to have an issue with the audio cutting in and out between Hi-Fi Stereo and Linear Stereo Audio when the VCR is set to output Hi-Fi Stereo audio, although I'm not sure if its an issue with dirty heads, faulty tape or what...

Since we were an authorized JVC service center, I worked on a few of those back in the day. I knew the unit as soon as I saw the model number. May be the hi-fi heads worn out, or a tape path alignment. IF the electronics are OK. This is where an oscilloscope connected to the head amp RF test points for the video and hi-fi would tell you a lot.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Ed in Tx

Since we were an authorized JVC service center, I worked on a few of those back in the day. I knew the unit as soon as I saw the model number. May be the hi-fi heads worn out, or a tape path alignment. IF the electronics are OK. This is where an oscilloscope connected to the head amp RF test points for the video and hi-fi would tell you a lot.

The Hi-Fi functions just fine yet, I tried another tape and it worked fine, I think that the Monty Python tape just must of had a bad audio track or something which might of been why that tape wasn't working right audio wise.
Other than that it, everything else is working fine on it.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Ed in Tx

Since we were an authorized JVC service center, I worked on a few of those back in the day. I knew the unit as soon as I saw the model number. May be the hi-fi heads worn out, or a tape path alignment. IF the electronics are OK. This is where an oscilloscope connected to the head amp RF test points for the video and hi-fi would tell you a lot.

I have an oscilloscope but have no idea how to use it.

Also what if the audio works fine on another tape that's the same vintage?
I'm wondering because I tried another all analog VHS Tape from 1988 that when I played it it had no problems playing Hi-Fi Audio without cutting back and forth between Hi-Fi and Linear Stereo audio like the Monty Python tape did.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by Captainclock

I have an oscilloscope but have no idea how to use it.

Also what if the audio works fine on another tape that's the same vintage?
I'm wondering because I tried another all analog VHS Tape from 1988 that when I played it it had no problems playing Hi-Fi Audio without cutting back and forth between Hi-Fi and Linear Stereo audio like the Monty Python tape did.

Someone needs to show you how to check tape path alignment with an o'scope. Very important test and observation when servicing VCRs.

One way to test if the hi-fi heads are worn or partially clogged, would be to record and playback. If one or both heads are not working properly recording and playback will bring out the problem. If it does that with solid hi-fi tracking and no audio noise the heads are probably fine. Seen many VCRs in the day that would play back hi-fi on good tapes but would have flutter noise or just not switch to hi-fi at all on self-recordings if the hi-fi heads were too worn.

The Monty Python tape could have been recorded a bit out of alignment or head switching point was off, or the tape is damaged, stretched or curled along an edge, don't know and can't tell without looking.