Sony Beta EDV-9000 Tape Path Alignment

[theseeker2]

Anyone out there ever done a tape path alignment on a Sony Beta EDV-9000? I have no trouble at all doing an alignment on my JVC VHS VCR, but this Beta is so freaking complicated that I'm really not sure which screws to turn to adjust the top and bottom of the screen like I do on the VHS.

[dellsam34]

Check the service manual.

[theseeker2]

Thanks dellsam34. I seem to recall you doing a full refurb of a similar unit a while back.

I was able to dig out the service manual, and by looking at that and referring to a few YouTube videos, I was able to locate the tape guides that need to be adjusted, but unfortunately adjusting them didn't end up helping.

I'm now wondering if the problem might be the pinch roller. Tapes recorded at Beta I and II speed seem fine, but Beta III tapes are not tracking well at all.

Here's a brief sample capture:
beta_test_edit.avi

Also, see attached below for a short video of the pinch roller in action (it's kind of hiding in the middle of the frame a little over halfway down):

Any ideas?

[dellsam34]

From the video the tape looks like it's curling at the top edge, Are the guides resin seal still intact or broken?

[theseeker2]

What exactly is supposed to be resin sealed? Is this the guide in the VCR itself or in the tape? Sorry for my ignorance on this.

[dellsam34]

The blue paint on the screws.

[theseeker2]

I definitely see some blue paint. Does this picture of my VCR help?


[Attachment 85690 - Click to enlarge]

[dellsam34]

The picture doesn't tell anything, Make sure they are not loose.

[aramkolt]

I've refurbed 3 SL-HF900s and they use a similar mechanism. Alignment issues on those are not fun to chase down, so first off, I wish you luck. I probably wouldn't attempt adjusments without an oscilloscope hooked up to the RF test point to look at the RF envelope as very minor adjustments can cause big changes - good or bad.

The other thing that betamax machines can have is what 12voltvids on YouTube calls "stick-tion" where the tape kind of stutters along the top drum surface if it has been polished with time by miles of tape passing over it over time. The more playback hours a machine has, the more shine you'll get on the upper drum. You can probably see that if it is severe if the top drum surface appears "mirror-like" instead of a matte texture. It's possible that this shine could cause a problem like that. The top drum can be resurfaced by removing the top drum and rubbing with a paste of comet cleanser (12voltvids has several YouTube videos on this procedure), but there's always a chance of more alignment problems when you go to put the top drum back on, so I'd personally say try that as a last resort.

the other thing that often goes bad with these machines is their pinch rollers get stiff and there really aren't a good source of replacements available unfortunately. You could try to resurface yours, though I don't think there's a particularly agreed upon best method for that. Some say to use "Rubber Renew" others say use light abrasion.

[theseeker2]

Thanks all for the replies. Sounds like I'm in a world of hurt, lol.

I'm actually about to toss this thing in the trash, because now I have a much bigger issue.

I had the unit turned off but plugged in, and I went to remove the case and it must have caught on something on the board because I saw a spark and the unit powered off. I unplugged it, waited a bit, and plugged it back in, and it still powers up, but now the audio is constantly buzzing and the picture is extremely fuzzy.

Here's what it looks like now with a TBC:

[Attachment 85706 - Click to enlarge]

Here's what it looks like without a TBC (if you open the picture larger you can see the weird fuzzyness or pixelation):

[Attachment 85707 - Click to enlarge]

What now?

[theseeker2]

After further troubleshooting, the latest catastrophic problems were caused by a fault in the ATI USB 600 capture card itself. Which is good because Beta VCRs are much harder to replace than capture cards! I am sad that my ATI USB 600 has given up the ghost, and I'm surprised that a power surge from the Beta was the cause of it. I just got a GV-USB2 to replace it, and so far so good. I am still having some issues with my Beta III tapes with picture stability and brightness fluctuation, and I am curious to see if resurfacing the top drum that aramkolt mentioned might solve the problem. Before I turn to drastic measures, I'm going to try the tape in another known good Beta unit and see what happens.

Thanks again for your help!

[dellsam34]

Never troublshoot or repair a VCR using capture cards as a display or any modern display even if it has analog inputs, If you don't have access to a CRT TV get an old 4:3 LCD monitor/TV with analog inputs, Analog processing on those were still decent.

[theseeker2]

Never troublshoot or repair a VCR using capture cards as a display or any modern display even if it has analog inputs, If you don't have access to a CRT TV get an old 4:3 LCD monitor/TV with analog inputs, Analog processing on those were still decent.

Very good advice, thanks!

[timtape]

The tape may be sticking to a sticky pinch roller. The capstan shaft may also be covered in tape muck, creating tape speed issues as well as possibly tape damage. Miles of tape can run over these critical parts so they are bound to get dirty. With any VCR, proper cleaning of these
and other parts is Maintenance 101.

One of the best "Time Base Correctors" is a clean tape path.

Much of a good tech's work on VCR's is cleaning. If we cant do the work ourselves, and many cant, we pay a competent technician to do it for us.

[theseeker2]

How do you recommend cleaning both the pinch roller and the capstan shaft? I've cleaned them both pretty thoroughly with 91% isopropyl and q-tips, but would love to know of a better method if there is one.

[timtape]

The pinch roller may need replacing. As a tech I sometimes remove the pinch roller for cleaning. Sometimes I remove the capstan motor to clean and lube the capstan shaft. I've found Naptha more effective than IPA but more dangerous. Sometimes even oven cleaner gel which is also more dangerous. If in any doubt pay an expert to do this work. Back in the day there were many vcr techs in one city. People paid them to properly clean the tape path.

[theseeker2]

The pinch roller may need replacing. As a tech I sometimes remove the pinch roller for cleaning. Sometimes I remove the capstan motor to clean and lube the capstan shaft. I've found Naptha more effective than IPA but more dangerous. Sometimes even oven cleaner gel which is also more dangerous. If in any doubt pay an expert to do this work. Back in the day there were many vcr techs in one city. People paid them to properly clean the tape path.

I wish there was a VCR tech in my small city, but unfortunately there's not so I'm trying to learn how to do as much as I can on my own.

For the capstan shaft, do you usually clean with Naptha/IPA and then relube? If so, what do you use? Sewing machine oil?

[timtape]

It depends on how dirty the shaft or roller is. I generally use a small drop of quality sewing machine light oil on plain phosphor bronze bearings. Words can be inadequate.The best way is watching somebody doing the work or in say a good YT video where every step can be seen and explained.

[theseeker2]

It depends on how dirty the shaft or roller is. I generally use a small drop of quality sewing machine light oil on plain phosphor bronze bearings. Words can be inadequate.The best way is watching somebody doing the work or in say a good YT video where every step can be seen and explained.

I couldn't find any YouTube videos that specifically showed this procedure for VCR's, but I did find what I think is a pretty good YT video that shows lubricating a cassette tape capstan and I would guess it's fairly similar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0LM5aFX57U. Does the procedure in that video seem reasonable?

[timtape]

Yes that's basically right. But your Betamax bearing in the same place is actually the lower bearing. The deck also has an upper bearing accessible from the top side without the need to dismantle.

I read one comment under that YT video from a tech who suggested reoiling such bearings was unnecessary if it wasnt mentioned in the original manufacturer's Service Manual. The problem with this is that the expected service life of these machines may have been 7 or 10 years. So a new bearing prelubricated "for life" often had to last only 7 to 10 years. No new VCR's are available so used it must be. The used models may be 30 or more years old, way past the expected service life of the decks.

These old machines may still transfer one tape without failing but if these bearings are now dry it wont be long before the bearings fail. With parts and technicians hard to come by, prevention is so much better than cure.