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Did anyone here ever fix VCRs? Not sure where to begin.

O

olePigeon

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I have a vintage RCA VKP-950. I got it cuz it was the same year model (and even bundled with) as my RCA Dimensia TV. Title for the auction said it was an easy fix, just needs new belts.

Well, I did that. Made a terrible grinding noise before and after replacement. I also installed a new idler and pinch roller as the rubber on those were also disintegrating. The belts had liquified already, so that was not a fun experience cleaning.

In short: it sounds like the left spindle is making horrible grinding noises when it attempts to thread, and then even worse noises when it attempts to retract the tape before ejecting (or when rewinding.) The right spindle barely moves at all when attempting to play, which is disappointing after I had put a brand new belt and idler in.

Because of how it's made, there is no way to easily get to anything. It's not like a modern VCR.

Here's a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0-bo35GMm4
 
Good luck. Years ago my friend gave me a problematic Panasonic vcr because I memtiioned I needed some sheet metal. I didm't cut it up, probably should have lol, and although I got significant use out of it, gears kept becoming dislodged. I think it was a flawed design, and there was just too much flexure in the gear assembly. I never analyzed the thing, I suppose something could have become compromised due.to rough handling. But there came a point where I was tired of "fixing" it and said sayonara.
 
I've repaired a few in my time (and given up on a few more) but I think it would be pretty challenging to troubleshoot mechanical issues via email...
 
Since it is successfully threading, unthreading and deslacking the tape it's adjusted properly but you audibly have an idler or gear that isn't seated properly and is rubbing against something. That's going to cause a lot of the noise and jittery action you are experiencing but as for the rest I would verify that the sleeve bearings and bushings have been reoiled and regreased.
I see it's a portable model. Are there any signs it was previously dropped? You might have a bent chassis.
 
Back in high school as part of my vocational training I worked in a TV shop and repaired tons of VCR at the time, moved on from there to working in TV and repairing lots of ¾ inch U-matics and the like.
Looking at the video it sounded to me like you have an issue with the cassette tray height, its not sitting down far enough and the small spring tips on the hubs are not engaging on the tape reels but are too low and are spinning on the bottoms of the reels. That’s just an assumption based on the noise and looking at the action of the reels.
Two things that will help you greatly, first find the cassette in switch on the tape carriage, you can force the switch closed and the tray will load. You will also have to build a little blinder for the IR LED located between the two tape hubs in front of the tape tray being that sends out IR light to the two photocells on each side of the chassis that detect the clear leader on the front and back of the tape. Without covering the LED the machine will automatically go into fast forward thinking its still on the tape leader.
With the cassette in switch bypassed and the tape end sensor covered you can run the machine in all its modes and at that time see if its binding or having issues with the idler assembly. When they are in the play mode all tape movement is controlled by the capstan and pinch roller. The supply reel just has back tension that’s a function of a band and a arm on the tape hub with the arm resting on the tape path right outside the cassette and the take up hub only has a small amount of pressure applied by the idler to just take up the tape but not enough to pull the tape thru the tape path by itself, when you put the system in pause the capstan is removed from the pinch roller and the tape stops moving. The pull of the take up reel should be enough to hold the tape to the head drum but not so much that it pulls the tape forward.
In fast forward and rewind the idler wheel between the two tap hubs is driven directly to the hubs for that function.
That VCR is a bit of a bear because the way they stuff everything in. It may benefit you to find a old top loader VHS and remove the cover and see how the load, unload and fast forward and rewind looks on a working system first.
 
In addition to what Qbus said it also sounds like the loading motor is shot. It's located underneath. You will have to probably swing the board out to find it.
I serviced these for 20 years starting in the late 70's.

Larry G
 
Me too..but for a few less years than that.

They normally have an optical sensor to detect the tape presence that, when covered, will let it go through a load cycle without a tape.
Keep it covered, and when uncovered it usually will unload again.

Used to make troubleshooting mechanical issues easier.
Don't forget to check for foreign objects as well, a common issue.

Mark.
 
I isolated the noise to the first motor/spindle with the break. I think I'll need to disassemble that area of the mechanism. The problem is that everything's sandwiched and layered, unlike the non-portable version.
 
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