Nice. I had recently done such a service on my SL-2710. My problem was that it was stopping randomly during play. Take-up was fine, so what was going on was that there was a fine layer of dirt on the photosensors accumulated over such a long period of time, so I cleaned those as well as the optical tone rings on the underside of the supply and takeup reels. Then I went ahead and lightly oiled the reel and idler bearings.
Useful comment! I have an SL-T50ME which has the same chassis as yours and sometimes stops randomly in play or FF/REW. Gonna try cleaning those photo sensors. :)
Being under the reel tables they should not get dust on them, but if used on an environment where smoking occurs tar can accumulate on them. Just think of what it does to lungs.
@@12voltvids I don't know the history of the machine I fixed; I bought it used years ago and it was in excellent condition, complete with the box, remote and lanyard, and is a PX model sold by a military exchange like the one from my childhood as evidenced by a power supply rated for multiple voltages and 50/60 Hz as well as the box being nondescript and only bearing the model number and the serial number stickers rather than the Sony Betamax graphics. There didn't appear to be any evidence of exposure to tobacco smoke, either, as there was no discoloration nor odor to suggest it. It had only just recently developed that problem, but it doesn't do it anymore after the clean and lube. And if dirt wasn't the problem, it couldn't have hurt to clean the sensors and tone rings anyway since it's all accessible in the process of oiling the bearings on the reel table.
I really like the idea of the reel mechanics on a plate, pity other vcr manufacturers didnt pick up on the idea. Ive had plastic decks with pins that break off, having to drill the crap deck in the machine and make a custom pin to fit really tight can be fun. It has to always fit in a tiny space without coming into contact with close parts. A removable plate would have been loverly :-D
Wow. Mine was doing exactly this, stopping during playback, and upon close inspection on the takeup reel there was just a tiny piece of paper on the gear wheel causing it to hop and stop. Taking it off it plays smoothly but the rewind is still slow, so I still have to do the lubrication.
I learn more every day. They always told me that Beta was the better machine, but I never found that, there were things that irritated me about them and they just didn't gel well with me. I ended up with VHS and although they had their problems proved to be better with me. I had a few VHS machines, the Sanyo (can't remember the model) was the best i had, it was not supposed to edit videos, but it did a fair job of doing just that. Other recorders were fair to not so good. The worst was a Sharp I borrowed with a vied to buy one, but NO! The worst one I had was a top loader VHS, it had Ferguson (Thorn/EMI) badge but I think was either JVC or Sony, I bought it second hand as they were still very expensive then ans was an ExRental and not very old. I put it back to get fixed after a month as sound bars and picture break up started. I got it back and had to argue to get an extension on the 3 month warranty they gave as it was now out. I got it after a fight, but after a while picture break up started again, but the warranty was out, I did call the shop and after an argument I took it back, but it did it again, so this time I took the top off and adjusted it myself without a scope (though I did have a scope at the time, but no manual). I did get a far better picture than it ever had just by adjusting the guide rollers, cleaning the head (I was told to use a cotton but by a tech, but I used a bit of paper and the crap that came off the head!) cleaned the rest with Iso' and put it back together again. It worked fine after that, but if I taped something for someone else they had trouble getting their machine to track, but that was not an issue for me as it was recorded for myself, strange though, when I got other machines I found the tracking was not a problem for the machines I bought using tapes I had recorded with the first machine. I don't know why others couldn't track the picture if the new machines I bought could? Anyway, I am enjoying your videos and being disabled now I find it relaxing that I can watch you repairing things. It was a hobby of mine, but when things got to the point where it was several expensive chips controlling everything I gave it up and only look at something these days that I own and consider it a lost cause anyway. It is sometimes surprising how some things will come back to life while other things are just not worth fixing or parts are not to be got. It appears they stop making parts when the production run stops these days. I just don't have the patience these day to work on anything, but the will is slowly returning. EDIT: Thanks to your videos.
Thank your for your insight. I'm trying to troubleshoot the slack take up reel on a Sanyo 3900-II. Different design than this, but wanted to know what you recommend for rubber wheel rejuvenation, or is it just the belt?
Interesting chassis, don't think I've seen that one yet. I look forward to seeing it play; and maybe do some edits so we can see (or at least hear) those solenoids do their thing. Does this use time code or control track (or guard band counting) to pre-roll to time the edit punch in?
It used control track. Remember this is a consumer machine. Accuracy was 3 frames. Watch them working, when this machine was working here: ua-cam.com/video/klnjt_evmss/v-deo.html
i have a sony betamax with the 711b chassis i repaired mine and i have a spare chassis for parts these start to show alot of age related issues but nothing that cant be fixed usually
The SL-HF1000 mounted the 711B2 Chassis. In some case in the reel assy the pendulum gear fail, and need replaced. If the reel motor bearing is worn, and the magnet, touch the 3 phase coil, you repair with drop a 3mm steel ball inside the hole shaft, of the reel motor to make working again freely.
So I have an SL-HF400 with some sentimental value that isn’t working. When I insert a tape, it threads the tape and then shuts down. When I power it back up, none of the transport buttons do anything. The reel drive motor/pendulum still works, but I can’t tell if the head drum motor Hall-effect IC is bad, since the transport won’t respond. I took off the front plate and found that it had a damaged circuit board near the channel buttons on the opposite side (not a biiiig deal, but still disappointing), but the rest of it looks just fine to my eyes. Is it salvageable, or am I better off buying a second and scavenging this one for parts? Or just a “new” Beta entirely? I’ve got a few old tapes that I’d love to watch in all their SuperBeta HiFi glory, and also use it for a few video projects with some unopened blanks. Any ideas?
And if it is unsalvageable, what IS a decent reliable Beta deck? Most of the front loading Sony’s seem to either be similarly screwed or command ridiculous prices with no guarantee of reliability, but it seems like the top-loaders are easier to work on and have that 70’s hifi aesthetic that I love, and a friend of mine has a front-loading Sanyo in need of repair that he’d be willing to give me.
@@12voltvids When you said "common problem," it's not rated #1 most-reliable out there. Sanyo and Toshiba Beta beat Sony easily. Consumer Reports also rated Sony Beta second least-reliable VCR after Fisher from the old 1980s book.
@@waltchan that was because of the shitty sl2000, 2500 and 2700 which used the direct drive motors and were absolute shit. The 5000 series with the plastic rewind hub and the shitty Sanyo capacitors was another fail. Trust me i remember those only too well. I worked for Sony in 83/84 and I can't count the number of sl5000 that I did the rewind kit and capacitors on brand new units. After they started failing in numbers Sony Canada pulled them from stores and warehouses and sent every unit in for the capacitor kit upgrade so they wouldn't fail. Sony usa from what i remember did not. I probably recapped 2000 units during my time at Sony. Those direct drive machines were known for snapping tape. Panasonic also had a direct drive machines with direct drive tape hubs. Pv 1730 if i remember I had one. Might still have it. It was a real piece of shit too and it likes to break tapes on rewind. Put in anything but standard length, t60, t120 you are asking for trouble. The t160 t180 and t200 forget it. Rewind one of those and cry as it would destroy the tape. Found that one out personally.
@@12voltvids Very nice info... Thanks. I forwarded your message to Studio Sound Electronics owner, former VCR belt kit online retailer So, nothing bad to say about Toshiba, right?
@@waltchan they had even bigger drum wearing issues and the heads were soft. Used to see lots of Toshiba beta and nec. They were all junked back in the 80s and customer bought Sony for their beta collection.
Nice. I had recently done such a service on my SL-2710. My problem was that it was stopping randomly during play. Take-up was fine, so what was going on was that there was a fine layer of dirt on the photosensors accumulated over such a long period of time, so I cleaned those as well as the optical tone rings on the underside of the supply and takeup reels. Then I went ahead and lightly oiled the reel and idler bearings.
Useful comment! I have an SL-T50ME which has the same chassis as yours and sometimes stops randomly in play or FF/REW. Gonna try cleaning those photo sensors. :)
Being under the reel tables they should not get dust on them, but if used on an environment where smoking occurs tar can accumulate on them. Just think of what it does to lungs.
@@12voltvids I don't know the history of the machine I fixed; I bought it used years ago and it was in excellent condition, complete with the box, remote and lanyard, and is a PX model sold by a military exchange like the one from my childhood as evidenced by a power supply rated for multiple voltages and 50/60 Hz as well as the box being nondescript and only bearing the model number and the serial number stickers rather than the Sony Betamax graphics. There didn't appear to be any evidence of exposure to tobacco smoke, either, as there was no discoloration nor odor to suggest it. It had only just recently developed that problem, but it doesn't do it anymore after the clean and lube.
And if dirt wasn't the problem, it couldn't have hurt to clean the sensors and tone rings anyway since it's all accessible in the process of oiling the bearings on the reel table.
I really like the idea of the reel mechanics on a plate, pity other vcr manufacturers didnt pick up on the idea.
Ive had plastic decks with pins that break off, having to drill the crap deck in the machine and make a custom pin to fit really tight can be fun.
It has to always fit in a tiny space without coming into contact with close parts.
A removable plate would have been loverly :-D
VCR repair is becoming a lost art
Great! I enjoy watching these.
Wow. Mine was doing exactly this, stopping during playback, and upon close inspection on the takeup reel there was just a tiny piece of paper on the gear wheel causing it to hop and stop. Taking it off it plays smoothly but the rewind is still slow, so I still have to do the lubrication.
I learn more every day. They always told me that Beta was the better machine, but I never found that, there were things that irritated me about them and they just didn't gel well with me. I ended up with VHS and although they had their problems proved to be better with me. I had a few VHS machines, the Sanyo (can't remember the model) was the best i had, it was not supposed to edit videos, but it did a fair job of doing just that. Other recorders were fair to not so good. The worst was a Sharp I borrowed with a vied to buy one, but NO! The worst one I had was a top loader VHS, it had Ferguson (Thorn/EMI) badge but I think was either JVC or Sony, I bought it second hand as they were still very expensive then ans was an ExRental and not very old. I put it back to get fixed after a month as sound bars and picture break up started. I got it back and had to argue to get an extension on the 3 month warranty they gave as it was now out. I got it after a fight, but after a while picture break up started again, but the warranty was out, I did call the shop and after an argument I took it back, but it did it again, so this time I took the top off and adjusted it myself without a scope (though I did have a scope at the time, but no manual). I did get a far better picture than it ever had just by adjusting the guide rollers, cleaning the head (I was told to use a cotton but by a tech, but I used a bit of paper and the crap that came off the head!) cleaned the rest with Iso' and put it back together again. It worked fine after that, but if I taped something for someone else they had trouble getting their machine to track, but that was not an issue for me as it was recorded for myself, strange though, when I got other machines I found the tracking was not a problem for the machines I bought using tapes I had recorded with the first machine. I don't know why others couldn't track the picture if the new machines I bought could? Anyway, I am enjoying your videos and being disabled now I find it relaxing that I can watch you repairing things. It was a hobby of mine, but when things got to the point where it was several expensive chips controlling everything I gave it up and only look at something these days that I own and consider it a lost cause anyway. It is sometimes surprising how some things will come back to life while other things are just not worth fixing or parts are not to be got. It appears they stop making parts when the production run stops these days. I just don't have the patience these day to work on anything, but the will is slowly returning. EDIT: Thanks to your videos.
Thank your for your insight. I'm trying to troubleshoot the slack take up reel on a Sanyo 3900-II. Different design than this, but wanted to know what you recommend for rubber wheel rejuvenation, or is it just the belt?
Interesting chassis, don't think I've seen that one yet. I look forward to seeing it play; and maybe do some edits so we can see (or at least hear) those solenoids do their thing. Does this use time code or control track (or guard band counting) to pre-roll to time the edit punch in?
It used control track. Remember this is a consumer machine. Accuracy was 3 frames.
Watch them working, when this machine was working here:
ua-cam.com/video/klnjt_evmss/v-deo.html
Excellent work, even I learned something and I'm a Beta nut.
i have a sony betamax with the 711b chassis i repaired mine and i have a spare chassis for parts these start to show alot of age related issues but nothing that cant be fixed usually
The SL-HF1000 mounted the 711B2 Chassis.
In some case in the reel assy the pendulum gear fail, and need replaced.
If the reel motor bearing is worn, and the magnet, touch the 3 phase coil, you repair with drop
a 3mm steel ball inside the hole shaft, of the reel motor to make working again freely.
Lots of tricks to get the motor running. I used to use the ball bearing out of a medium bic pen.
@12voltvids can replace only bearing from another 711 chassis like sl-2300 that has a similar reel motor?
So I have an SL-HF400 with some sentimental value that isn’t working. When I insert a tape, it threads the tape and then shuts down. When I power it back up, none of the transport buttons do anything. The reel drive motor/pendulum still works, but I can’t tell if the head drum motor Hall-effect IC is bad, since the transport won’t respond. I took off the front plate and found that it had a damaged circuit board near the channel buttons on the opposite side (not a biiiig deal, but still disappointing), but the rest of it looks just fine to my eyes. Is it salvageable, or am I better off buying a second and scavenging this one for parts? Or just a “new” Beta entirely? I’ve got a few old tapes that I’d love to watch in all their SuperBeta HiFi glory, and also use it for a few video projects with some unopened blanks. Any ideas?
And if it is unsalvageable, what IS a decent reliable Beta deck? Most of the front loading Sony’s seem to either be similarly screwed or command ridiculous prices with no guarantee of reliability, but it seems like the top-loaders are easier to work on and have that 70’s hifi aesthetic that I love, and a friend of mine has a front-loading Sanyo in need of repair that he’d be willing to give me.
Wecanged our mind on this Beta now ?
Sir, you have another
reel to reel tape deck
to repair.
Beta lives! Nice :)
Good
For the high price you paid for a new Sony Beta from new, the VCRs ended up with worse reliability than Toshiba.
Actually they didn't. Beta machines from the 80s still working like a champ.
@@12voltvids When you said "common problem," it's not rated #1 most-reliable out there. Sanyo and Toshiba Beta beat Sony easily. Consumer Reports also rated Sony Beta second least-reliable VCR after Fisher from the old 1980s book.
@@waltchan that was because of the shitty sl2000, 2500 and 2700 which used the direct drive motors and were absolute shit. The 5000 series with the plastic rewind hub and the shitty Sanyo capacitors was another fail. Trust me i remember those only too well. I worked for Sony in 83/84 and I can't count the number of sl5000 that I did the rewind kit and capacitors on brand new units. After they started failing in numbers Sony Canada pulled them from stores and warehouses and sent every unit in for the capacitor kit upgrade so they wouldn't fail. Sony usa from what i remember did not. I probably recapped 2000 units during my time at Sony. Those direct drive machines were known for snapping tape. Panasonic also had a direct drive machines with direct drive tape hubs. Pv 1730 if i remember I had one. Might still have it. It was a real piece of shit too and it likes to break tapes on rewind. Put in anything but standard length, t60, t120 you are asking for trouble. The t160 t180 and t200 forget it. Rewind one of those and cry as it would destroy the tape. Found that one out personally.
@@12voltvids Very nice info... Thanks. I forwarded your message to Studio Sound Electronics owner, former VCR belt kit online retailer So, nothing bad to say about Toshiba, right?
@@waltchan they had even bigger drum wearing issues and the heads were soft. Used to see lots of Toshiba beta and nec. They were all junked back in the 80s and customer bought Sony for their beta collection.
Hi