Both VCR's no picture, only sound after playing a VHS-C tape

[videotardis]

Played a VHS-C tape (with an adapter) in one of my VCR's and it didn't appear to have anything on it.

Played another one and there was sound but no picture. Tried another VCR and the same issue occurred.

When I tried other commercial VHS tapes, to see if it was just the VHS-C tapes that had the problem, the same issue is occurring.

Not had any issues with either VCR until now. When fast forwarding, picture is very clear (despite the lines that occur when fast-forwarding of course).

What has happened here? If it was just one VCR, I'd assume dirty video heads, but both VCR's seems odd to me. I've tried cleaning tapes in both but to no avail.

Advice needed please greatly!

[Bernix]

Hi,
silly question, are battery in adapter o.k. ?
try replace them. Didnt know that adapter needs battery until now.
But for sure problem is in adapter. Can you try different one?

Bernix

[videotardis]

Thanks for the reply, good answer, but yes. The issue is occurring with normal VHS tapes too

[Bernix]

Then I dont know where can be problem. Cassettes are o.k. both VCR have same issue really dont know where it can be. If you have only one VCR i bet the problem is inside of it. But you tested it in second with same result, so it is really weird.
Cant be the problem in pal content played in ntsc adapter or other way, that somehow change the internal settings of VCR's ? Do you have black video or noise or stripes... When playing cassettes ?

Bernix

[Bernix]

Hi,
and if you are connected through scart, check if it is firmly connected on TV side. I assume your connect it properly on VCR.

Bernix

[hech54]

Personally I always presume a PAL/NTSC issue with vhs tape problems.
Although almost all European VHS machines can easily play(make viewable) NTSC tapes....only being viewable
while fast-forwarding is often a symptom of a PAL tape being played in an NTSC machine.....never heard of it
permanently breaking or altering the settings of a machine though.

[october262]

Is your TV & vcr set to the right channel ?? TV
May need to be set to video 1 mode.

[videotardis]

Wow thanks for all the replies so far!

Yep very odd indeed isn't it?! Noise and stripes occurring during playback. Decided to run a commercial VHS tape movie to see if it would clear, under the assumption that perhaps the heads might be clogged up. Perhaps the VHS-C tape was sheding it's magnetised oxide inside the VCR's? Some visuals have started to come back now, through the noise and stripes, you can see the movie a little and some colour.

All connected up fine and on the right channels.

Interesting idea about NTSC/PAL.... used the VHS-C adapter many times before in both these machines. Both machines are PAL too. And the all tapes are PAL as well.

[raffriff42]

Perhaps the VHS-C tape was sheding it's magnetised oxide inside the VCR's?

Bingo.

[Bernix]

Hi,
but then why when ff the picture is clear? Can you tested on different TV?

Bernix

[JVRaines]

Perhaps the VHS-C tape was sheding it's magnetised oxide inside the VCR's?

Bingo.

You have badly shedding VHS-C tapes and your cleaning cassette is ineffective. Open up the decks and clean the heads the right way. (Lots of info around here on how to do that.)

[videotardis]

Ok thanks all, looks like cleaning the heads then. I'll do that asap. I tried another VCR, with another VHS-C tape and the same thing has occurred! So that's 3 VCRs down now..... could the VHS-C adapter be affected or even the actual issue instead of the tapes? Could it have collected oxide inside it or something?

[JVRaines]

I suppose. Why don't you open up the adapter and look?

[videotardis]

How can you tell if a tape is shedding oxide? Is there another way, rather than simply putting into a machine and seeing the after affects?!

[JVRaines]

Aside from seeing obvious flakes inside the cassette, you'd need a microscope. You can run audiotape through a cloth to check for shedding, but videotape is too delicate to do that by hand.

[videotardis]

An update... I've manually cleaned one of the VCR heads and success! Hopefully will work on the others now too. Disaster on opening up the VHS-C adapter thought to clean, springs and internal parts went everywhere!! So a link to a video or image of how to put this back together would be very useful indeed please anyone! And thank you for all the above advice everyone, really great

[turk690]

..... could the VHS-C adapter be affected or even the actual issue instead of the tapes? Could it have collected oxide inside it or something?

When one of the two heads in a VHS player gets clogged, the picture is usually muted during normal play. FF and REW play only use one head so a picture can come up then. VHS tapes shed off the physical things they come in contact with on play back, and the deposits on these surfaces get transferred later to other surfaces in the deck loop, ad infinitum. Apart from the fragile heads, the pinch roller and capstan and guide pins galore in and out of the VHS-C adaptor can accumulate gunk. I would take a q-tip to the rubber of the pinch roller; a clean one will not discolor the q-tip. A really gunked-up one will look shiny and brownish and may require scraping with a plastic knife.

[JVRaines]

Disaster on opening up the VHS-C adapter thought to clean, springs and internal parts went everywhere!! So a link to a video or image of how to put this back together would be very useful indeed please anyone!

Which one is it?

[Media SOlutions]

I have the same problem with a camera recorded VHS tape in EP, tried it on 3 different VCR's and none will play the VHS video audio only. NOW the same VCRs will not play the video of any VHS, only the audio. Wet cleaned heads no change, the problem persists. Anyone have a cure / work around?

VCR list are Sony, Sony and a Toshiba

[JVRaines]

If you only used a cleaning cassette, you will need to clean the heads manually. I use 99% isopropyl alcohol and chamois swabs. Do not use cotton. Really bad clogs may require xylene or acetone, both of which must be kept away from plastic and rubber parts. Use a very light touch and move the swab back-and-forth, never up-and-down. While you're at it, clean the rest of the tape path with swabs (cotton is okay here) and alcohol. Give the works a shot of canned air before and after to blow out any lint and debris.

If that doesn't work, then something has gone out of alignment.

[Media SOlutions]

Out of alignment on all three within 5 minutes of each other after attempting to play the same tape? Hmmmm One update I rewound a different tape numerous times attempting to polish the video head, after 2 full rewinds a tape actually played with video but with noise bars. So I think the original problematic tape had something on it, I will open up the VCR and clean the head.

Thanks for the info