Need to replace Video heads from JVC S-VCR

[huntr]

I have HR-S9800 which is my favorite VCR and just now there's several lines on screen when playing the tapes and have tried to clean using video head cleaning with no luck. So I think I need to have it replaced but before taking to the repair shop, is it possible for me to do the job? I think I can order the parts from JVC service. Have anybody does that job before with S-VCR which contain TBC?

Let me know before I do the act.

Thanks!

[bugster]

Please do not croos post, one topic is enough. Other topic closed.

/Moderator - bugster

[leebo]

No, you cannot do it yourself. It requires special tools and training.

And for the cost of bringing it in (probably close to $200US, or more), it's not worth fixing it. I'm pretty sure.

[Madz]

Not only that, the cost of the upper drum is probably pretty expensive, too.

[samijubal]

If the VCR is 10 or more years old it's probably not heads, older JVC VCRs use brass pins to hold the tape giudes in and plastic pins to hold the guide arms on the guides, both of which like to come loose resulting in the guides not locking into position and giving lines in the picture. I have fixed many JVCs with this problem. I've also seen the same problem when one of the guide loading gears wears out. The way to check is when the tape is playing gently push down on each tape guide roller one at a time, if the guide locks into place and the lines go away it is the brass pin. If the guide doesn't lock into place and is loose it is the plastic pin or the loading gear. Bad heads can give lines in the picture but they usually result in sparklies and ghosting in the picture. One set of heads almost always wears out before the other so if you are getting lines in both speeds it is probably not heads.

[leebo]

samijubal, what do you mean, "both speeds"? SP and EP recordings?

I have an older JVC (7800, I think) that seems to record fine but plays back with a thin, sparkely line in the pic. It's been a long while since I've plugged it in, but I think the line stays in the same spot in the pic.

I haven't tested if it's there at both record speeds though.

It developed the problem at about 3 or 4 years of age. Massave head cleaning did not fix it.

[samijubal]

Yes, SP and EP is what I meant. You would have to put very heavy use on a VCR to have the heads go bad in 3 or 4 years, I don't think I have ever seen heads go bad in that amount of time. If it is 10 years or older it is usually that the brass pins that hold the guides in have come loose and the guides are not locking into position. Once in awhile the set screw that holds the guide roller in place will come loose allowing the roller to turn knocking out the alignment.

[leebo]

OK, but about the line in the picture. On my deck, it's not a tracking problem. I'm sure about that. it looks more like a dropout that keeps comming and going, but always in the same spot, but it lasts longer than a typical dropout. A dropout usually just flashes on screen for a second. This might appear longer than that.

Is what you're talking about (the lines) more like dropouts?

[samijubal]

The lines can vary from one to many depending on where the guides are, how far off they are from where they should be. They usually look sort of like the search lines when picture searching on a 2-head VCR in SP. If there is only a small part of the picture that is affected, it could be a loose set screw on one of the guide rollers. See if either of the rollers turn easily by hand. Don't try too hard since turning will knock out alignment, they shouldn't turn easily. If they don't turn then try pushing down gently on the top of the rollers while in play mode. They should be locked into place and should not move.

[leebo]

On this deck I'm talking about one, thin scan line. It's never more than that. It looks nothing like "scanning" noise.

[samijubal]

Is it at the top of the picture or the bottom? If it is the top then check the left guide and roller, if it is at the bottom check the right guide and roller. If it was heads the entire screen would have problems.

[leebo]

Thanks. It'll be a week or so b4 I can look into it, but you've given me new hope.

[huntr]

I took out the case and cleaned the videohead using lint-free cloth soaked with pure isopropyl alcohol. I slowly rubbed around the head using back and forth motion, not up and down. After that I let it sit for few minutes to dry and then tested the video which improved a little bit but still several lines appear which I suspect brass pins that samijubal suggested can contribute the problem. Can you tell me exactly where it is located? I have JVC HR-S9800 which contain TBC and I'm not sure if the design is same as other normal VCR?

[leebo]

Do NOT use a lint free cloth and alcohol!!!
There are special,inexpensive (under $10) tools available for head cleaning. Video heads are not audio heads. You will kill your VCR!

[huntr]

Got the idea from JVC service center. 100% pure IPA will not leave any water in contact with electric and its most common for cleaning inside macjines. I noticed slightly improvement after I did the cleaning so apparently it did not die. Don't know where you got that idea?

[samijubal]

If it's one of the VCRs I'm talking about the tape guide tracks should be open. If there is metal under where the guides slide back and forth then it is a newer VCR and doesn't have the pin problems. Be very careful cleaning heads, they can be damaged easily. If it is an older VCR check to see if the tape guides lock into position by lightly pushing on the top of each guide roller when in play mode. The guides should not move. The guides are what align the tape around the drum, so it's critical that they lock into position and have no play.