1978 RCA VBT200

[@tgant2000]

When I went into TV repair there were still a lot of these things in use and we got quite a few in for repair. Some of these were made by Mitsubishi - mostly the Quasar and Motorola units. Most of the rest were made under contract by Matsushita, a lot of RCA units being among them. There was one early model - don't remember which - that had a small light bulb and light sensor assembly in the transport area: when the tape was taken up to play it would interrupt the beam of light and tell the unit that it was playing. One of the most common repairs when it would malfunction and the bulb burn out - and the one we had to explain the most to confused owners - was why their VCR was fixed by us simply replacing a light bulb. VCRs like this was where a particular term for an unusually un-tech-savvy person originated: a "Twelve O'clock Flasher". If a person was a twelve o'clock flasher, it meant that they were so afraid of technology or inept in its use that every appliance clock in their house was always flashing "12:00"...

[@vintagevideobasement]

Hahaha! Yep, the bulb was out on this one.

[@tgant2000]

@@vintagevideobasement Yep! saw that after I went back and viewed the whole video . Ahhh, the memories! Used to keep a stock of those things because it was such a common problem. Great video! I still have a lot of my old stuff - old tubes in tube caddies, etc. One of the hazards of being an old-style electronics nerd -

[@josehugobarrerasanchez8350]

EXCELENTE REPARACION, estas televisiones valen ORO 👏👏👍😃

[@3Cr15w311]

Early VHS machines before 1987 or so usually didn't automatically pull the tape out of the cassette until play was pressed. Almost overnight in 1987 every machine would start threading the tape upon insertion and would play a tape automatically if the record prevention tab wasn't there. I noticed that old machine had SP (2 hour) and LP (4 hour) speeds so it predates the terrible EP (SLP) 6 hour speed. In the 80s, many people had those old top-loader RCA units and they weren't hi-fi but the machines lasted a long time and had a good picture if you used good name-brand tapes and used SP. When you think about the complexity of these old machines it is a miracle they were so reliable for a few years even with a lot of use.

[@nashe782]

it was only happens in sony betamax reel takeup guide always loaded on head ,,, even in rew or fwd position's

[@nashe782]

due to tape safety, it was only happened betamax ,

[@jerrycvek6098]

Hi there, I know this old VCR very well. first off the Video Head in them first VCRs all ways ran when you turn them on & that was normal for them to do that. As far as your problem is with the Video wobble while in play, That is do to the Video Head Motor spinning a little bit to slow or maybe a little bit to Fast. There is an ajustment for that. On the smaller Board where the Motor adjustments are, Try standing the VCR on the side & have it play a good Tape in SP. Look for the adjustment called cyclender free Run, Turn that slowly & that should get your Video to be stable. I worked on fixing & restoring them old Top Load VCRs a lot in the mid & late 1980s & 1990s. I can all so convert them old 4 hour VCRs to work & play SLP Tapes on the 6 hour speed. I found out how to do that back in October of 1985. I then put the SLP or EP speeds in lots of other old VCRs like that. I would in stall a togo switch in the back of the VCR & add a 100K pot in with a 10K resistor & with the togo switch on, LP would become SLP the slow speed. Then with the Togo off the VCR would be normal like it was. I use to run a VCR repair shop from 1987 to 2003. at times People would give Me them old 4 hour VCRs for free as the newer ones were much smaller. I only just have 1 old RCA VBT 200 just like the one you have on this youtube channel. feel free to email Me if you wish at [e-mail]. I am sure your Video Head Motor is fine & the little ajustment pots get dirty from sitting & its more then likly off a bit & the Head has to be spinning at 1800 RPM & if not you get video shifting on your TV screen. if the Video Motor is way off the 1800 RPM you will not get any picture & just Horazontel Bars. Them first VCRs were made in 1977 in to 1978 & then by 1979 they made all most the same VCR only on the newer units the video Head did not run until you press play. Hope i can help you out there. Jerry

[@elminero49]

Swedish Erotica videos on VHS are a good motivation to get this machine up and running.

[@erin19030]

I was in the front line on this machine in 1976 before they came to market. My job was teach how they worked snd how to service them. Blank VHS cartridges were $25 each. Rentals were $100 for two nights. The 1st machines were mainly mechanical. Weight was about 30 pounds. Head replacement were $400 and heads failed prematurely.

[@DylanLeMaster-w1g]

Hello, just curious where you source the replacement tape sensing lamp from. I have a model that's just like yours. And the bulb is burnt out and broke. Thank you.

[@m1kuhatsune]

thank you for recommending this video

[@dhpbear2]

It looks like wow and flutter in the capstan motor, not the video head!

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

Check the cylinder free run adjustment for the drum servo (PCB at the bottom). I don't think it's a bearing problem.

[@michaelmitchell8218]

Check capacitor on the drum servo they go bad and cause many problems. The vcr needs a full service and components checked on the pcb, etc. bet it needs realigning, etc.

[@nashe782]

as same as national 8600 , 8610 , 8620 pal mostly repaired by me

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

I have a National NV-8600. I modified mine for still frame in pause instead of a black screen.

[@lukasgayer5393]

Drum servo problem,not the bearings. You really shouldn't start messing with the heads before ruling everything else out.