How can I fix this VCR? Getting a bad picture

[JDarvall]

Everytime we play a tape in the VCR the pictures bad. Flicking type lines that run accross the screen that hurt your eyes.

Its definetly the player cause it happens with every tape we have. And the pictures just fine from normal reception.

I've run a tape cleaner through it and no improvement (That was a waste of money )

Yeh, I know,,,,,,'chuck it out and get a DVD '.....but, we've got all these tapes the kids like to watch.... etc. And I know there's a few clever blokes out there. Any ideas I could try for a quick fix ? ..... Or should I just chuck it out.

Things like. Can I pull the VCR apart and clean a head or something like to fix. I just know, there are many electrical appliances out there with common problems that are easily fixed if your in the know. I figured the same would be true with the VCR.

Appreciate any ideas.

Thanks.

[ozwinner]

The wood splitter has more than one use.

http://www.ames.com/images/%5Bchoosing%5D1189800_m.jpg

Al :D

[Eddie Jones]

Take the top off (the VCR). You will see a drum about 2" daiameter, on an angle. That carries the the read/write heads, which are very small thingoes set around the middle of the drum. There may be 2, 4 or more of them.

With a cotton tip (like what you squiz yer ears out with), or preferably the leather variety, sold by Tricky-Dicky and others, soak it in Isopropyl Alcohol (NOTHING ELSE! - Also from Dicky), carefully wipe each of the heads in turn - ONLY IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DRUM MOVEMENT! - then check with a tape. Also, wait a minute or two before loading a tape to let the alcohol evaporate.

This should do the trick. If not, into the repairers. They will do a better cleaning job than you can.

Best of luck. It's not too hard really.

Eddie

[Auld Bassoon]

As Eddie said about cleaning - but really it looks like a tracking error has crept in, which can happen over time. Is there a small screw visible from the outside of the VCR case on the rear panel (usually inset by a few mms) and marked "tracking"? - if so, try 1/8 of a turn either way with the machine off, and have a look to see if there's an improvement.

Other than that, it may be a case of read-wrire head replacement - but at the now so very low cost of VCRs it may just be cheaper and easier to get a new one...

[Ashore]

If the cleaning and alignment won't work , get a new one BUT don't buy a VCR get a combo VCR & DVD
Cause they don't make stand alone VCR"S anymore so a single unit it old stock & the cost of a combo is only $ 125 or so
Got A LG unit ( not 6 head stereo ) for around that price for the MIL, simple to use and works well
Rgds
Russell

[Caveman]

Like Eddie said - should hopefully just be in need of a better clean than the tape head cleaner can provide.
For some reason fax paper also cleans the head very well - just gently rub and one normally sees a lot of black deposits being wiped off.
HTH

[scooter]

Wot Eddie said re cleaning, the heads are fairly easily damaged if you are not careful, so IMO best to avoid cotton buds, in case one snags on the corner of one of the heads. The proper cleaning sticks have chamois leather instead, you can get them at electronic shops or hifi shops, I have made do with a small square of chamois held in those 4" forceps you see at the market, works well.

Best IMO to hold the alcohol soaked swab stationary and rotate the drum against it, this ensures that you do not subject the heads to any up-down stresses.

Good luck mate :)


Cheers..............Sean, clean, leathery, alcohol soaked head

[Gumby]

Has this just started to happened on this unit or has it always happened?

I had an older style Phillips TV which had wavey lines on the top of the screen when playing a video. It turned out that only one channel on the TV was compatible with the video signal. It was channel 1 from memory.

When i tuned that channel to the video, it was fine. All the others were a problem. It might not be your problem here but changing the channel is worth a try.

[China]

Don't use cotton buds my late brother use to have a tv vcr repair shop use a square of clean hankerchief material over the tip of your index finger, as per the other sugestions if it doesn't work throw it out it will cost much more to repair than replace

[Harry72]

China is right, replace it with a cheapy... find a way to connect to you computer and burn baby burn.

[JDarvall]

Thats just great guys. Thanks. I'll get some of that Alcohol from dicksmiths and see how I go.

Thanks Gumby for the check. Nice to cover all the bases. But, no, its just happened recently. :)

[black1]

The wood splitter has more than one use.

http://www.ames.com/images/%5Bchoosing%5D1189800_m.jpg

Al :D
i with you al.
1. use axe
2. go to hardly normal and buy dvd player
3. problem solved (havnt watched a video for 5 years):D :D
:cool: :cool:
oops didnt read all of your post sorry.
have done what was said on old vcr (cleaning) and it worked. dont forget oll the other rollers and pins in there:D

[JDarvall]

Ta black ! ..... Sounds like a lot of fun smashing it up the axe.

BUT....if I bought a DVD player, that means I'll be pressured to by new DVD's, which means more excuses to take trips to town shopping, which means walking around the shops all day with a screeming kid on my back, (who has this bloody annoying habbit of grabbing my hat and throwing it to the ground) trying to keep up with a shopaholic wife on some kind of mission, and energetic toddlers that seem to just 'disappear' all of a sudden......which ultimately means I gotta work more to pay for the purchases, which means less shed time, which means less one on one time with her, which means sexual frustation, which means having yelling matches over stupid things, which means........

AND ALL CAUSE I BOUGHT A DVD PLAYER !.......:o a bit of a winge, sorry. Everythings connected ! definetly....prefer to get sore eyes watching tomas the tank engine than go through all that ####....

[black1]

i had a THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE nut for a kid (still is although is now 8). he used to count thomas, james, gorden, duck, etc (cant rember what no train is which) up to ten, instead of useing numbers.
we had to buy kids dvds (have 4 kids) and still do, ya can useually get them at local vid store when they have a sale (sorrry i live in city). we are slowly getting what kid vids we had in dvd format.
i still have a vcr . it is the clock in the lounge room. i know its a pain but if ya get one of them combo thingys (dvd and VCR) ya can have the best of both worlds. :cool: :cool:
alterativly ya could always send ya war office shopping and you stay in the shed:cool::cool::cool:

[Iain]

If you really want to bugger the heads right up keep using that head cleaning tape, abrasive as buggery.
I use alcohol swabs from the chemist, the ones the Drs use before giving you an injection.
Come in a box of 100 and have a multitude of uses including cleaning printer cartridge jets.

[JDarvall]

Ta Ian.

Black, I think you might be right. Might have to buy a combo machine.

I got some of that alcohol and clean it out thoroughly. I was careful with the drum......but still no improvement on the bad picture. So, it must be something else I'm guessing...... So axe here I come.

[black1]

after a lot of plays the actual tape start to bugger up. so it might not be ya vcr but ya actual tape that you are watching.
but still get a combo ya wont be sorry with the quality of th picture. just treat the dvd disc better then ya do a cd and they will last forever.
next on the list to get is a wide screen tv. i get mine in july (thanks chrisco). cant wait.:cool: :cool:

[JDarvall]

yeh, I was thinking that about it being the tapes and not the VCR's. But it happens with every tape. So,,(shrug)

Sounds like your spoiling yourself with a wide screen TV. One of those flat ones I suppose....:)

[rrich]

I don't know how your VCRs play back. Ours offer video out (yellow plug), stereo audio (Red and white plugs) and modulated output (Using channel 3 or 4).

Your picture looks like your TV set is tuned ot channel 3 and the VCR is broadcasting on Channel 4.

[Iain]

Modulated outputs run across the entire RF sprectrum now, but that is a valid point, also if using modulated output check the flylead as these can cause some grief and are notorious for intermittent faults.

[black1]

Sounds like your spoiling yourself with a wide screen TV. One of those flat ones I suppose....:)

yup a 76cm sony wega flat screen.( the war office wouldnt go for a plasma) (bugger):cool: :cool:

[JDarvall]

I don't know how your VCRs play back. Ours offer video out (yellow plug), stereo audio (Red and white plugs) and modulated output (Using channel 3 or 4).

Your picture looks like your TV set is tuned ot channel 3 and the VCR is broadcasting on Channel 4.

Thanks Rich..... I might be missing something important.

My VCR has the yellow, red, and white plugs.....and an output line that I'm guessing sends the video image to the TV ( is that the modulated output your talking about ?)

And I still can't get past the question as to why, till recently, its been working just fine. Do they sometimes put themselves out of tune ? I can't see how the kids would have accidently changed it.

I did try manually re-tuning the picture on channel 4 to see if I could clear it up. But it was already at the best picture possible already.

I'll try it on channel 3 and see what happens. But, like Ian says if they run over all the channels why could it be different? I'll give it a go anyway. Thanks though. :)

[rrich]

"My VCR has the yellow, red, and white plugs.....and an output line that I'm guessing sends the video image to the TV ( is that the modulated output your talking about ?)" Yes

The TV signal comes into the VCR and is recorded and/or passed through. During this use, the tuner in the TV set can select from any of the channels available on the cable. The VCR can also select any of these channels also. In these uses, both the TV and VCR are passive devices in that they only READ the cable signal.

When you are playing a recorded tape, the VCR becomes an active device. The VCR is generating the signal that is being fed to the TV. The VCR can send the signal to the TV two ways, modulated to look like a TV channel or as a direct video and audio signal. If you have a video input on your TV set, the best quality picture from the VCR will be using the video Input. Some of the newer TV sets have 2 video inputs. The cables don't cost very much and greatly improve the picture. It's just a pain to have to tune the TV to the video input. These cables use the yellow, red and white out connectors. The cables can be purchased for less than $10 here.

If you are using the coax cable (Round cable, usually black and about 7 or 8mm in diameter.) from the VCR to the TV for watching, then the VCR is modulating the signal to the TV. (The VCR is acting as a TV broadcaster and uses channel 3 or 4. Those are the channel numbers that we use in the US, yours may be different.) Usually when the VCR is 'Broadcasting' during playback, the other channels on the cable are blocked from going through the VCR to the TV. When the VCR is in playback mode, the TV must be tuned to the channel that corresponds with the VCR's broadcasting channel.

Usually, in the VCR setup process, there is a place where the channel is defined. Some VCRs use a small slide switch to assign the channel for playback.

There is one other thing that I thought of. Most VCRs (here) have a VCR/TV button on the remote. The control indicators on the VCR usually indicate when the VCR is in VCR/TV mode. This mode forces the VCR into the broadcaster mode. USUALLY, when the VCR is in playback the VCR automatically enters this mode. If this is in the wrong position, the picture could be as you have shown us.

(This is difficult because I am unfamiliar with your TV standards. Although the picture symptom is very familiar.)

There is a possibility that the modulation chip in the VCR has failed. Although if failure was the cause I don't think that you would be seeing a picture as good as you are.

The causes could be something as simple as loss of power and therefore loss of configuration settings. Has the VCR been moved for dusting? Maybe the channel selection switch was bumped and changed. Has theTV tuner lost its configuration? (Also loss of power)

"And I still can't get past the question as to why, till recently, its been working just fine. Do they sometimes put themselves out of tune ? I can't see how the kids would have accidently changed it. "

If your kids are like mine, given a steel ball and a rubber mallet, the steel ball would be the loser every time.

Or maybe the kids trying to use a neighbors video game???

"I'll try it on channel 3 and see what happens. But, like Ian says if they run over all the channels why could it be different?"

Back when TV was in its infantcy, broadcasters could not use adjacent channels due to interference with each other. The VHF Channels 2,3,4 are in adjacent slots, as are 5 & 6, 7 through 13. I don't remember about the UHF channels 14 through 82. When cable came along,they started putting cable channels between 4 & 5 and 6 & 7. The cable has much better electronics and is capable of broadcasting in adjacent channels. Different channel numbers were assigned to the gaps in the regular TV band, but it doesn't matter because your TV set assigns the channel number to the broadcast frequency. On cable there are even channels 0 and 1. Thsi long winded explanation is why there is a channel 3/4 switch on the VCR. If you have a broadcast channel 4 (The norm here in the US) then the VCR uses channel 3 to prevent the local channel from interfering with the VCR. Of course the advance in VCR technology to shut off the signal coming in has reduced the need for the switch, but in most VCRs it is stillthere. (Something about the monkeys and fire hose joke or "We've always done it that way.")

[JDarvall]

Thanks very much Rich for finding the time to write out all that info for me. And clearly too. You've cleared up a lot of questions. Sounds like there might be some hope left for it after all if that chip hasn't failed. I'll have another go at it tomorrow and post my findings.

Thanks. Really good stuff.

[black1]

why dont ya try it an av slot. think mine is in av1, foxtel av2, dvd av3.

[JDarvall]

Ok rich, I gave it another go........thanks for this

, I'm not entirely up with the lingo, so I chuck up a couple of photos. Thats the only way I feel I can clearify what I'm saying....:o Tell me what you think.

I put a tape in and just played it, and tryed to clear the picture.

picture 1 - is the image I'm getting when the red, yellow, and white lines are connected to the AV1 of the TV, and with the coax lines pulled. With AV1 selected on the TV.......picture 2 shows the cords.

picture 3 - is the image I'm getting when the coax lines are connected and the red, yellow, and white lines are pulled, just going to the normal channel 4........picture 4 shows the cords

The amount of disturbance in the images of both these tests look identical. Which sort of tells me that the problem lies in the reading of the tape to begin with,,,,and nothing at all to do with wrong terminals etc...Which hints to me that its not an easy fix and therefore not worth fixing.....,,does that sort of make sense ? I'm bound to have missing something though. There'd be something that I don't know about inner workings of the machine.

I've tried re-tuning the TV to the image, with that bar line that appears on the screen.

I've tried different AV terminals on the TV. Same kind of picture.
I've cleaned it out twice. ????? UMMM....Could be fun belting it with an axe.:D

[journeyman Mick]

Jake,
try this (as shown me by a technician), has always worked to clean off the copious amounts of mould tapes up here collect. Open up machine and identify the head and the rest of the tape path. Take a business card (preferably without printing near the edges) and wet one edge with metho. Scrape/wipe this around the head. Wet the other edge and repeat wiping procedure. Wet another edge of the card and use to clean rollers and guides etc.

Mick

[JDarvall]

Jake,
try this (as shown me by a technician), has always worked to clean off the copious amounts of mould tapes up here collect. Open up machine and identify the head and the rest of the tape path. Take a business card (preferably without printing near the edges) and wet one edge with metho. Scrape/wipe this around the head. Wet the other edge and repeat wiping procedure. Wet another edge of the card and use to clean rollers and guides etc.

Mick

Thanks Mick. Sounds like a good tip. I'll remember that. Would have been easier than buying that Alcohol stuff and swabs.

But, I've already taken to the drum and all the little guides and posts with the Alcohol twice.....Its all shining like a mirror now. And I'm guessing it all wasn't particularily dirty to begin with, cause there wasn't even the slightest improvement in picture after cleaning it all up....but thats just a guess.

So, I'm thinking the problems someplace else. Like a part within the VCR thats failed and needs to be replaced......and thats just too much effort now days when you can buy a completely new player so cheap.

I'm trying to sift through Richs points.
- settings out (configurations)...but I've checked all that. Also I'm sure its not the TV cause I can put a clear picture straight on the TV using the same AV terminals with my cam corder.

???? In anycase, I've learn't a bit about VCR's....

[Eddie Jones]

Having had a look at the latest pictures you posted, that now definately looks to me like a tuning problem. It looks kinda like you get when the TV is tuned mid way between 2 channels. Are you sure nobody has played with the TV tuning?

Also, most VCR players have a "tune" or similarly named switch on the back. Usually produces 2 or more vertical blck & white bars as a test signal to tune the TV. If yours does, try it on. If you don't get a good, well defined pattern on the screen, it's probably your TV tuning, as the VCR tuning is - usually - not adjustable.

If your TV has a manual fine tuning, also try adjusting it while playing a tape.

[Iain]

Eddie, if he's using the AV input theres no need for the coax or tuning, except for recording functions, most TV's now have at least 3 AV inputs (I have seen up to 7) and our Panasonic has 4 plus games which is a front access AV connection.
A lot of later model VCR's utilise UHF connection which is channel 24 (give or take a couple) up to 80 (above 70 is reserved for MATV but OK for this application).
Looking at the pics it appears that Mr A T is using AV input and an RF loop for recording and I would suggest that the problem lies within the VCR and has nothing to do with tuning.

[black1]

The wood splitter has more than one use.

http://www.ames.com/images/%5Bchoosing%5D1189800_m.jpg

Al :D
have fun now wont ya:D :cool:

[JDarvall]

have fun now wont ya:D :cool:

:D Certainly will, thankyou very much Mr Black ....I thinking maybe something different....was going to use the axe, but then I'd just damage the edge,........haven't got a wood splitter, and using a sledge is a bit old.....

So, Maybe use a pick or a hoe ? ...... :confused: have to think about that. Its an important decision I think.

[scooter]

Use the Tin Lizzy, Jake, kind of "old" meets "nearly as old" ... ;) :p

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

To me it doesn't sound like tuning, it sounds like tracking. From memory, if 'twas a tuning problem, the whole screen'd be rolling not just a bar... which I reckon is just the frame synch bar anyway. 'Sides, given that the heads are clean, poor tracking's the next most common problem with VCR's

Does your VCR have an auto-tracking switch? If that's off, turn it on. If it's already on, turn it off (that's probably the circuitry that's gone on the fritz) and look for a manual tracking knob. Just a tweak in one direction or t'other should see it fixed.

Unfortunately, later model VCR's didn't have the manual option... and used SMT instead of socketed chips; once the auto-tracking goes, goodbye VCR. [shrug]

[journeyman Mick]

Jake,
okay, now you need some help with dispatching the malfunctioning VCR. I had a malfunctioning radio up on the roof one day, you'd tune it and then as you moved away the tuning would drift out. We were constantly mucking around with it trying to get it to give a half decent sound. I finally got sick of it and used the framing gun to drive a dozen or so 3" nails into it then I swung it over my head a few times before tossing it onto the junk pile down on the ground. The next morning we realised we were going to miss out on guru swami buggatherestofyouI'mallrightjackgee (remember him?) so we dragged it off the junk pile and plugged it in. Amazingly it worked and even more amazingly it stayed in tune better. Finally threw it out though when we finished that house :o

So Jake, take a handful of 3" nails and drive them into the VCR and then get on your roof and toss the thing onto the ground. You just never know, it might just fix it;)

Mick

[JDarvall]

Use the Tin Lizzy, Jake, kind of "old" meets "nearly as old" ... ;) :p

:D Good idea !... Wouldn't have been many VCR's crushed by a Model T....if only it was my idea, I'd do it :p ......besides me mate wouldn't trust me with it again. Had trouble stopping the thing last time and narrowly missed a fence :o ...Loves that car, he does. If I had hit that fence, he'd be locked up for murder.

[JDarvall]

Jake,

So Jake, take a handful of 3" nails and drive them into the VCR and then get on your roof and toss the thing onto the ground. You just never know, it might just fix it;)

Mick

:D :D ....well, I was taught its a sin to discount anothers experience...so ok, I'll do it. I'll wait patiently on the roof until some bloke I don't like walks by, and aim it his way. Give the bugga a scare.....

uno, to kill two birds with one stone. Scare an arrrrsehooooole and fix the VCR in one go.

I understand how throwing it to the ground may fix it. But how's belting 3 nails in it going to help ? YOU must be joking, cause that'll just wreck it.

[JDarvall]

Unfortunately, later model VCR's didn't have the manual option... and used SMT instead of socketed chips; once the auto-tracking goes, goodbye VCR. [shrug]

I can't find any switches or knobs on the VCR that allow me to tune. So, I'm guessing its a late model VCR.

All adjustment is done by a menu that pops up onto the screen that you adjust with the remote. They've got 'autotune' and 'manual tune' for both the TV and the VCR. Which I do for all the channels.

But for playing a tape, there seems to be no means of tuning the VCR to begin with ....(so does that mean its autotracking ? )

and autotune just finds all the channels for you and seems to work fine, cause when I fiddle with the manual tune I can't seem to improve the picture

I shouldn't bother thinking about it anyway, I'm going to toss it off the roof tomorrow....oh dear. :o

[scooter]

The autotracking on mine (panasonic I think) is overridden by pressing the up or down channel button on the unit when a tape is playing.


Cheers..............Sean

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Tracking, not tuning. Different things. :)

If you're familiar with old film projectors, think of it as getting the frame in synch with the shutter. Get it wrong and you get the "split screen" effect. On VCR's the picture looks OK but the synch bar may be visible, amongst other things.

If all adjustments are done on-screen, then 'tis probably a late-model job and the ol' "bang it until it's fixed, fix it until it breaks" option sounds as good as any. And a damned sight more enjoyable. :D

[JDarvall]

Tracking, not tuning. Different things. :)

If you're familiar with old film projectors,

:D

no, I'm not really familiar with anything Skew:D .... I know what you mean though.... basically the things cactus ! ...

[rrich]

I thought of something else to try. With a new tape, can you record something and then play it back? Does it look OK?

If the VCR does not play the recently recorded tape correctly it may just be the VCR is in it's final throws.

It may be best to just go buy a bew one. We had one with the remote dying. It was cheaper to go buy a whole new unit ($100) than to order a new remote control from the manufacturer ($110).

[JDarvall]

I thought of something else to try. With a new tape, can you record something and then play it back? Does it look OK?

If the VCR does not play the recently recorded tape correctly it may just be the VCR is in it's final throws.

It may be best to just go buy a bew one. We had one with the remote dying. It was cheaper to go buy a whole new unit ($100) than to order a new remote control from the manufacturer ($110).

Thanks Rich,,,,no, the picture when playing back on a new tape, after recording something is bad too,,,,, so its a bin job I think. :)

My mothers buying a new DVD player anyway, so I'm getting her VCR, so alls well now.

Thanks for your help.

[havenoideaatall]

I got a picture like that when the tape had been magnetised inadvertently in storage somewhere, a whole swag of tapes were like that.

Never bought a video since.