Betamax Drum Repair SL HFR70 New Heads super Beta Hi Fi Ready November 2022

This one came to me with multiple issues. The main issue being scraping noises coming from the video drum and no video output. What starts out as a repair to the rotary transformer ends up being almost compete teardown of the drum, new replacement lower bearing, new replacement video head and upper drum disc.
The SL-HFR70 is excellent super Beta vcr. The last of the slimline Betas and the only slimline super Beta produced. Basically its the same machine as SL-HF550/505 but without the hi-fi stereo circuitry. Beta Hi-Fi Ready meaning it becomes Beta Hi-Fi stereo when connected up to the HFP100/200 Beta Hi-Fi processor. On its own the audio is linear mono.
In Japan they come in black and silver.

[@Vintaginside]

Excellent job! Thumbs up.

[@betamaxrebeloutpost8945]

Thank you!

[@MrBetaByte]

This is something I've been too nervous to try and with one of my machines I just live with the noisy head bearing but having seen this, I'm feeling a lot more confident! Where did you get the bearings from? Absolutely great to see a video on this being done and excellent work too. Thank you so so much for sharing - it's made my day!

[@betamaxrebeloutpost8945]

Well thanks! Glad this helps. Try Boca Bearings, they seem to have the right stuff. 606z and 696z EMQ. The best is Old stock made in Japan NSK, or NMB. very hard to find but the Sony SLV series is a good source for 696z, there are two in those VHS drums.

[@wendellporter4875]

i need to tear my hfr70 soon for that same issue i have a parts machine to pull a new video assembly from if the bearings are shot in mine

[@wendellporter4875]

and i finally got around to repairing and have a spare video drum