VHS recorder issue, need help please ;-)

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laet63 Posted messages 228 Status Membre -  
 DAHY -
Hello,

I wanted to use my old VCR but... the problem is that I can't view a single tape :-( The VCR seems to be working as it plays the tape well, but on the TV, I can't get a clear image (I can make out elements from the films through the gray and black dots, but I can't get a single proper image.
Do you know what this could be coming from?

I'm not an expert in VCRs, but I know it had to be connected via SCART to the TV + connect one antenna cable from the VCR to the TV and another from the VCR to the home's/apartment's antenna socket. NOW, what I'm wondering... is that since antenna TV in buildings and houses no longer exists... could my problem come from that...

But what I'm also wondering... is why would we need to tune into channels to view something that is already on a tape.... I don't know if you see what I mean... but I'm really questioning this and it's frustrating that I can't find a solution to this problem :-(
I took apart the VCR, I cleaned it with special products... so I'm really out of options now...

Please help me :-(

Thank you in advance ;-)

Configuration: Windows 8 / Firefox 23.0

3 réponses

Anonymous user
 
For your issue, there are 2 possibilities
1-- the tape played is a PAL while the player is only SECAM, hence the pixelated black and white image and no sound
2-- the playback heads are dirty, they need to be cleaned

Cleaning is not difficult if you are meticulous and not "all thumbs" (LOL)
*open the beast
* put in a tape and play it, just to locate where the tape passes
* while the tape is passing, you should have spotted the drum (video playback) that spins and further to the right a block of metal from which a few wires come (audio playback) as well as the roller (pressure roller) made of black rubber, these are the 3 parts to clean well
* remove the tape and unplug from the power
* using a wipe (not soaked in product !!!) dampened with 90° alcohol, clean the drum in the direction of rotation, definitely not bottom to top, the block of metal and the rubber roller, repeat a second time if necessary
* let dry for 1/2 hour
* test to see if there is an improvement, if it is still bad, it means the playback head (drum) is dead
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laet63 Posted messages 228 Status Membre 32
 
Hi!
Thank you very much for your help and these detailed explanations ;-)
I did what you explained and I think the head is dead because despite cleaning, it’s still the same :-( it plays but the image is 99% made up of black and white dots, and there’s no sound.
So I’m going to go for another second-hand one :-(
0
scha
 
Thank you for this comment, but there is still no improvement, so I think the reading head is faulty.
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DAHY
 
Thank you for your comment!
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