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    I was gifted a Sony EVO-250, and there appears to be some playback issues. This is the tape playing back on my TV, though my Onkyo receiver over composite. Do the heads need to be cleaned? I haven't touched them in any way.
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  2. Dinosaur Supervisor KarMa's Avatar
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    Why not just pop a cleaning tape in there for 10 seconds to find out?
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    Maybe. Looks more like some digital circuitry has gone bonkers.
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  4. Originally Posted by KarMa View Post
    Why not just pop a cleaning tape in there for 10 seconds to find out?
    I don't have a cleaning tape
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  5. Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Originally Posted by KarMa View Post
    Why not just pop a cleaning tape in there for 10 seconds to find out?
    I don't have a cleaning tape

    Buy one then
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  6. Originally Posted by hdfills View Post
    Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Originally Posted by KarMa View Post
    Why not just pop a cleaning tape in there for 10 seconds to find out?
    I don't have a cleaning tape

    Buy one then
    Couldn't I use the chamois swabs/Maxwell VP-200 cleaning fluid instead? I heard the tapes just spread the dust around
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  7. Dinosaur Supervisor KarMa's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Couldn't I use the chamois swabs/Maxwell VP-200 cleaning fluid instead?
    Certainly can.
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  8. Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Originally Posted by hdfills View Post
    Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Originally Posted by KarMa View Post
    Why not just pop a cleaning tape in there for 10 seconds to find out?
    I don't have a cleaning tape

    Buy one then
    Couldn't I use the chamois swabs/Maxwell VP-200 cleaning fluid instead? I heard the tapes just spread the dust around
    there is also that option
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  9. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Cleaning tapes are worthless.

    I doubt it's a cleanliness issue, so don't get your hopes up too much.

    Cleaning heads rarely fixes issues. That's a near-myth due to being too often suggested online, to fix whatever ails a camera/VCR. A true repairman often consider that dumb advice, not much different from "take an Aspirin" anytime you feel bad, regardless of what the symptoms suggest.

    Proper troubleshooting usually starts with a service manual, not knee-jerk cleanings.
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  10. Dinosaur Supervisor KarMa's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by lordsmurf View Post
    Cleaning tapes are worthless.
    Certainly not. When it comes to OP's problem it probably is since it does not look like a dirty head. But if it were a dirty head, I've seen them work. Should also point out that Sony 8mm cleaning tapes are not like VHS cleaning tapes.
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  11. Originally Posted by lordsmurf View Post
    Cleaning tapes are worthless.

    I doubt it's a cleanliness issue, so don't get your hopes up too much.

    Cleaning heads rarely fixes issues. That's a near-myth due to being too often suggested online, to fix whatever ails a camera/VCR. A true repairman often consider that dumb advice, not much different from "take an Aspirin" anytime you feel bad, regardless of what the symptoms suggest.

    Proper troubleshooting usually starts with a service manual, not knee-jerk cleanings.
    The menus will work. I'll try seeing if I can get one of the inputs to work. Really suck if it's not an issue with the heads.
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  12. Originally Posted by KarMa View Post
    When it comes to OP's problem it probably is since it does not look like a dirty head. But if it were a dirty head, I've seen them work. Should also point out that Sony 8mm cleaning tapes are not like VHS cleaning tapes.


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    One of the video heads is working and the other is not. It could be broken or the amplifier could be out. Here is the separated output of both heads.

    Image
    [Attachment 47966 - Click to enlarge]
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  14. Originally Posted by JVRaines View Post
    One of the video heads is working and the other is not. It could be broken or the amplifier could be out. Here is the separated output of both heads.

    Image
    [Attachment 47966 - Click to enlarge]
    Could it be dirty?
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    There's only one way to find out.
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  16. Originally Posted by JVRaines View Post
    There's only one way to find out.
    Alright, I'll order the chamois/cleaning fluid from Amazon.
    Swabs: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047YB3JW/
    Fluid: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778YHHSC
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  17. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by Vitality View Post
    Could it be dirty?
    It could be. I could also win the lottery tomorrow. But that error, on that format (analog), it's not likely mere dirt. Head dirt in analog doesn't present that way that I've ever seen.
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