Sanyo VHR-495 VCR picture problems

[SCART]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and I'm not sure if this topic is correct. I'm having a problem with a Sanyo VHS video player, model VHR-495. The problem is that the image quality is very poor. There's a lot of noise and defects. I've replaced the head with a brand new one, but the problem persists. The original head was a 2N4P-R, which is apparently the same one used by many Sony players. However, the head I purchased is a 2N4P-Q, and I'm not sure if it's a different letter that implies any difference in its technical specifications. I've also tried adjusting the tracking with the carriage screws, cleaning all the heads, and adjusting the tracking with the +/- buttons, but the result is the same. I'd like to know if I need to calibrate something else or if there's something I've missed.

[johnmeyer]

It's too bad you did all that work on the VCR without first trying other things. In most cases, unless you are a trained technician, making adjustments only makes things worse.

The better approach, which you can still take, is to borrow another VCR for a day and play some of the same tapes. Many tapes have not been stored properly and can cause problems. You can also take a new tape, if you have one, and record 1-2 minutes of video using your Sanyo VHR-495 and then play that back. This does two things. First, it will let you know if your problem is the result of bad tape storage. The second thing it does is to tell you if you have an alignment or tracking problem. If your VCR is misaligned, you still may be able to get a good picture from video that was just recorded by your deck.

You definitely should not continue to make physical adjustments to your deck until you have done these things.

[themaster1]

My guess is the head drum is picking up static noise. Hard to tell w\o pictures before/ after. You can make a test by connecting a wire on the chassis and the drum's shaft. If picture improve you're on the right path

[SCART]

It's too bad you did all that work on the VCR without first trying other things. In most cases, unless you are a trained technician, making adjustments only makes things worse.

The better approach, which you can still take, is to borrow another VCR for a day and play some of the same tapes. Many tapes have not been stored properly and can cause problems. You can also take a new tape, if you have one, and record 1-2 minutes of video using your Sanyo VHR-495 and then play that back. This does two things. First, it will let you know if your problem is the result of bad tape storage. The second thing it does is to tell you if you have an alignment or tracking problem. If your VCR is misaligned, you still may be able to get a good picture from video that was just recorded by your deck.

You definitely should not continue to make physical adjustments to your deck until you have done these things.

Thank you so much for your reply. I've checked the tapes in another player and they're playing perfectly. I don't have a new tape right now. What other tests could I do? I'd also like to add that I had to replace the head because the flex cable on the bottom broke. I had to buy a secondhand motor and head assembly, but it was defective, and I could only use the bottom part. That's why I had to buy a new head.

[SCART]

My guess is the head drum is picking up static noise. Hard to tell w\o pictures before/ after. You can make a test by connecting a wire on the chassis and the drum's shaft. If picture improve you're on the right path

I completely disassembled the player to restore it and clean the motherboard, and now I'm testing it without the bottom plate or the cover, just the plastic structure that holds everything together. Could that affect it? I'll take some screenshots and post them.

[johnmeyer]

If you're worried about interference, the only place you are likely to have that problem when running electronics with the cover off is on things like tuners, which are usually shielded inside sheet metal that is soldered to the circuit board's ground plane. If you take that off, you'll likely get interference, but only on the signal coming into that section.

It would help to see what sort of interference you are seeing.

Since you have verified that the tapes are OK, the easiest thing would be to just buy another VCR. There appear to be plenty available in Spain:

eBay VHS Spain

[SCART]

I've been running several tests and discovered that the cylinder's internal coils are loose, as if they've lost the glue that holds them to the magnet. This causes them to touch each other when rotating. I've tried gluing them together and have reduced the amount of noise, but they still touch, and some noise lines are still visible. I've also tried separating the transformers with another washer, but the separation is too large, causing the image to jump.


[Attachment 86786 - Click to enlarge]

[themaster1]

>Have you lubed the shaft a little ? If the drum don't speed up to its expected rpm, no wonder you get noisy pics (or nothing).
>The shaft is very darkish .
>Wires can degrade over +20 years. become fragile/crack/break
>I doubt your problem is wires touch each other (but some glue can't hurt i guess). Each set of wires is related to a specific head as far as i know.

[SCART]

>Have you lubed the shaft a little ? If the drum don't speed up to its expected rpm, no wonder you get noisy pics (or nothing).
>The shaft is very darkish .
>Wires can degrade over +20 years. become fragile/crack/break
>I doubt your problem is wires touch each other (but some glue can't hurt i guess). Each set of wires is related to a specific head as far as i know.

Yes, I've lubricated the shaft. But when the cylinder turns, I feel a friction, as if something were touching it. What I don't know is if it's the wires or some glue residue. Should I sand the transformer a little?