Early 1980s Hitachi Top-Load VCR Repair Attempt

[@Evansmustard]

Get out of school early due to snow and come home to a new bbishoppcm video. Today has been a good day.

[@dosdude1]

I've always wanted a classic VCR like that.

[@HazelTheHare]

I have a very very old front loafing one but it has the exact same problem as this one.

[@vwestlife]

This has what is known as varactor tuning. The stereo VCRs of the mid-'80s were the first to use real digital tuning, while the cheaper mono VCRs held onto varactor tuning until the late '80s. (My parents got a Goldstar VCR in late 1987 and it had varactor tuning).

[@supermasterPIK]

Can´t see...varactor was that tiny numbers in green? 1989 Samsung had a DTS (digital tuning from 2 to 69 and cable 1 to 32 and then 33 to 99)

[@supermasterPIK]

The varactor (never knew it was called that way) required precise adjust of channels with some thumbwheels and a special tool y remember.

[@forcedadventure]

BEAUTIFUL VIDEO !!! I JUST LOVE 80`s VHS VCR`s REVIEWS - THANKS !!!

[@ZudoBug2]

This brought back some memories, as my parents had a near-identical Hitachi VCR when I was a child (although it was a UK PAL model, without digital tuning). Picture quality was excellent. The cartoon videos on my KZbin channel were recorded with it in 1983.

[@Megalocade]

My first vcr was a top load, was a jvc but can't remember the model, inside was a work of art many many wires and if you removed the bottom compartment it reviled a maze of belts looked like spaghetti junction even the headdrum was belt drivin, amazing how they advanced over the years, really like vcrs, many happy time tinkering with them.

[@supermasterPIK]

Built like tanks. Metal and steel everywhere.

[@nathen4021]

Yes, they knew how to build electronic devices back than. Unlike the garbage we all had been so accustomed to buying these days (made in China). But Denon still is an outlier with quality.

[@redneckbryon]

Cool old find, going up we have a Panasonic Toploader VCR with the corded remote.

[@NJRoadfan]

All it needed was new rubber on the idler for the reels. Its a very common failure on late 70s-early 80s VCRs. By the mid-80s, most everyone switched to toothed gears there.

[@supermasterPIK]

But don´t toothed gears age and crack? my 2002 machine hasn´t failed on this part, but it seems to change to a smaller gear (FAster) when REW is pressed

[@1billthekid]

Got a VT-8040E Hitachi vcr that's near-identical to that one. I purchased it in late 1982. A few months ago i tried to use it, but she's dead Jim! The unit turns on, i insert a tape, but there's no mechanical action going on. It just sits there. Mind you, the belts have been replaced with new ones, but no move whatsoever. Wish i could get er running again..

[@Browningate]

Those annoying coaxial converters are required to hook up vintage Atari consoles. Interestingly, that VCR is actually kind of like the one in the opening title sequence from "The Goldbergs" (I think you'd actually like that series BBishop).

[@michelb4014]

I have a similar old Hitachi top loader VCR from the same period. I replaced all the belts and idler wheels tires by new ones, also a new pinch roller. It was working pretty well, but after few weeks it started to stop while playing. My conclusion was that my vcr has an issue with the motricity of the reel disk take-up, causing it to stop. And it begins to not play at all, like on your video. The reel disk take up doesn't turn, so after few seconds it stops. There is something i can't understand with the play idler part (beetween capstan and reel disk take-up). It seems the play idler doesn't come in contact like it should... I put adhesive ribbon on the reel disk take-up where it should be in contact with the play idler (to make it a little bit larger), and it works again.

[@THEtechknight]

The rim drive motor isnt turning when you are hitting play if you noticed. why? because the capstain rotation sense belt you explained earlier, isnt being picked up so it has to see this first. Otherwise, nothing works ahead.

[@beetlemotorgeist6205]

I have the samev VCR I just picked up last week and some of the springs have fallen out and I'm trying to figure out where they all go I think when you are at the end of the video you picked up that thing at the end idling arm or whatever and I saw a little spring in there maybe that's where the spring goes. I also found a little flap metal flap with a little stem in the middle and I can't figure out where it goes on this VCR. I'm getting close to putting all the things missing back in order. But when I turn the VCR on or plug it in the stop button is lit up is blinking constantly consistently. And that little light bulb where the tape goes in doesn't light up. So I'm trying to figure out those two problems also if anyone knows why those two things aren't working on the VCR please leave me a comment? I could use some help or pictures would be great I can't find the service mail either for this thing

[@gmcnewlook]

when was the last VHS VCR made? i have a samsung from from 2003 (ironically replacing a mid 90s craig branded vcr)

[@themaritimegirl]

According to Wikipedia, 2008. Combo VHS/DVD and VHS/Blu-Ray units are still made, though.

[@nathen4021]

The last VHS machine was made in China in 2016.

[@irtbmtind89]

This must of cost some serious money in 1981.

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

Do you still have that machine?

[@mraiwa1000]

Wow, I am shocked it even powered on! Must have been some vintage eletronics hater. I have a 1991 Zenith VCR that used to say error on the screen and it was locked up. Soon I got it runnin', bought it's remote on eBay and it's been doing great since then. Got it at a thrift store some time ago, just needs some grease now!

[@nathen4021]

By the early 1990's, VCR's started to be made in China for cheap and not serviceable. Just don't get overly trained by these greedy electronic manufacturers (Denon excluded, they still make good stuff).

[@james42519]

would think spatsbear or uxwbill might know how to fix. spatsbear collects them too i think. belts and wheels are not that hard to find from what i seen and cheap. have to know where online. think might have put something together wrong.

[@RetroGamerVX]

You've been watching too much eev blog, you've started calling everything a 'sucker' lol

[@blackterminal]

Why did you not do part 2 of your friends vcr you were repairing?

[@bbishoppcm]

I forget why, honestly.

[@blackterminal]

+BBISHOPPCM's World I have a Hitachi vcr that I had fixed just because. It failed again soon after. Had a national console tv that blew again right after repair. old electronics can be frustrating like that.

[@Fuzy2K]

25:36 -- So, like R.E.M.?

[@ashleycox432]

run that head motor with a high voltage power supply... that would be awesome.

[@brucapozzoli]

Arrumar que é bom nada

[@MattTheComputerGeek]

You have a better camera, you used it once, you should use it again, you videos are always to dark with this camera.

[@redneckbryon]

Cool old find, going up we have a Panasonic Toploader VCR with the corded remote.