JVC HRD725 No Load No Play. Will it run?

[@GaryB007]

This model became one of my specialities in my early days as an engineer at JVC(UK) in the 80s. A few were used by recording studios and The BBC used the Hi-Fi audio capabilities of a number of them as backup recorders for their outside broadcasts. Before they would accept them, the rec/play audio levels had to be aligned to within 0.1dB and the tape paths had to be aligned precisely to ensure tape interchangeability. I got those jobs! I bought one at the staff price at the time, and I still have it. It cost me £581 in 1985! They retailed for around £750 back then.

[@craggercragger8989]

That is very cool.

[@Oldgamingfart]

They were very nice machines, indeed! Still fetch a fair bit on the second-hand market for those who know what they're looking at. The Ferguson Videostar version was the 3V43.

[@richarddavey9547]

@@Oldgamingfart I have the Ferguson version 3v43👍

[@GaryB007]

@@mikec9112 They use the control pulse recorded along the edge of the tape to determine the speed of the recording on the tape, so you may have a problem with the tape path, control head or following circuitry. If you have an oscilloscope, the first thing I'd do is to scope the control pulse.

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

@@mikec9112 Get a can of freezer spray and spray it around the bottom PCB where the servo and control track circuits are. If it goes bad after freezing, and then goes back to normal after warming up, then more than likely it's a capacitor-related problem. You can use a hair dryer to warm it up quicker.

[@djdrunkenmonkey2]

GREAT machine, these came badged up as ferguson videostar models in the uk aswell

[@thefakemaker]

Thank you very much for your videos. I've recently discovered your channel. My father was an electronic technician in Australia and seeing your workshop just takes me back to my childhood seeing my dad working in his. I've recently acquired a Philips VHS that I'm trying to repair. Alas its not a case of like father like son as its proven to be beyond my skills. Your videos are giving me some hope of figuring it out though.

[@12voltvids]

I learned the trade from my old neighbour when I was a kid who was the local TV radio repair man. My son however has no interest in electronics whatsoever.

[@waltchan]

It appears the loading motor was replaced in 1990, but I'm not sure if it is original. This was a 1984-1985 model. The HR-D725U was also the world's first and oldest Hi-Fi stereo VHS VCR.

[@zulumax1]

My JVC hifi from that era has a programmable song search. Skip up to 9 songs in FF or RWD like cassette decks did. Uses the standard audio head to listen for the quiet spaces between songs. Never seen another VCR with that feature. Does this one have that?

[@paulbarnett5056]

I have the Australian variant of this HRD725EA Probably sat unplugged for over 20 years, tested it out, and the two arms that lift the tape got seized in the up position, and won't go back down. Wish that there was a disassembly video.

[@tacofortgens3471]

Just record tge pro ess and take your time, judt doyble check alignment points

[@papagreg]

This JVC HR-D725 was built like a tank. There were other companies that produced the same model under their brand like Ferguson 3V43

[@ArchivoHumano]

I had one with a similar a chassis. I think these type of VCR have optical mode switches. Any way, mine was getting stocked in FF or REW functions. Greasing the worm gear fixed the problem.

[@12voltvids]

Yes optical detection. I showed it in the video when i took the bottom cover off.

[@jasejj]

Funny how the two most reliable VCR mechanisms of the 1980s came from Japanese companies generally regarded as sub-par (these JVCs, and the early 1980s Sanyo Beta machines).

[@12voltvids]

Your opinion. You didn't have to service them. When you fix VCRs for a living during the time frame you have a different opinion. The most reliable ones were the boat anchor Hitachi and Panasonic

[@jasejj]

@@12voltvids Sorry. This is the "opinion" of countless service techs I've spoken to in the UK, including a relative of mine who was in the trade at the time. The VTC5000 series from Sanyo were one of the simplest and most durable machines ever made, thousands are still in service (Colin from video99.co.uk still makes a good living out of them). And the JVC machines were sold by the container-load to rental companies in the UK, mostly under the Thorn/Ferguson brand. They were renowned for having a very long and reliable service life. It says a lot for the JVC gear that after Thorns had their successes with these machines, their rental competitors of the time (DER and Granada among others) actually started buying machines from Thorn (who had an R&D agreement with JVC for many years). The Sony, Philips and Panasonic machines were mostly dead inside 8 years. Hitachi weren't bad but they didn't sell well here due to being more expensive while having little to distinguish them from the competition.

[@12voltvids]

@@jasejj not from what we saw here. Hitachi made all the RCA machines after their initial run with Panasonic. Rental places here used tons of Hitachi and RCA. Other than the odd belt kit those units ran forever. We were a JVC dealer, and Panasonic, Sony and RCA for years. Did all the warranty work. Sony and jvc were good money makers. Sanyo were never big sellers so we didn't see that many but their beta were relatively reliable. Toshiba and NEC were horrible. Lots of bad capstan motors on Toshiba.

[@andynoon2584]

Nice job done as always. Shame more equipment isn't easier to work on.

[@D725U]

My Dad bought this model new in 1984 - it was the first Hi-Fi VHS model. He put tons of hours on it editing wedding videos and other special events. I also used it for recording shows and sports off of TV and dubbing tapes. Still have it along with two other machines that don't run at all (I even have the marketing kit that was used by dealers in stores). My Dad's currently has a problem when using rewind in shuttle-search mode; the picture tends to "pull" and the machine sounds like its eating the tape but it doesn't. There's a small idler tire and the rubber appears to be very smooth. Can't find a replacement for it anywhere

[@12voltvids]

O ring.

[@D725U]

@@12voltvids Is that part still available?

[@12voltvids]

@@D725U the OEM idler tires may very well be still available. You can download the iw cross reference page and print it out. Then place the old tire over top to figure out which one you need. Many are still available. If not an o-ring can probably be found. I do not have any source other than kpelectronics

[@D725U]

@@12voltvids What's the IW cross reference page? The closest I got to finding replacement parts for this particular JVC was through a company called Studio Sound Electronics. They had a kit listed as the MBK-41PT that included belts, and a pinch roller. Unfortunately it didn't include the small rubber tire/O-ring I was looking for and I was advised that the only other option was to replace the entire idler assembly. Of course that part is no longer available. KP seems to list nothing for the D725U

[@12voltvids]

@@D725U iw stands for idler wheel. The "tire". Been many years since I last ordered one but i had a paper card that had pictures of all the different tires. You just placed your original over top and matched the size. That gave you the idler wheel number to order. I believe it was PRB that sold them. (projector recorder belt). Don't even know if they are still around.

[@alorda26]

Hi, I have a question that I want to tell you, what is the solution for a VHS that does not rewind. Could it be the motors? All the best.

[@richarddavey9547]

I have the Ferguson videostar version 3V43 real nice machine.

[@zx8401ztv]

I've had to remove that evil glue from ham radios, one had it all through the synth boards and it caused hell :-( Some hams can't repair there own sets so i did for them. Not a bad machine for it's age, not a cheap one eather. Some machines had a strip spring on the cassette loader that pushed on the inside of the top case, but not all.

[@stpworld]

Hello if you still need the video head ive confirmed it works the camera is no use for me. It stops playing after one tape but the hesd is fine sound snd picturr are great.

[@alanwong3980]

Hi Dave, I have a question: my betamax edv-5000 stopped load tape. Could you advise where should I look?

[@12voltvids]

Check the switch on the side of the cassette loader.

[@djordjelukovac8041]

Good machine . Saba brand had the same mechanism.

[@Jammerk40]

Wow a lot of circuit boards back in those old machines! They went cheap on the newer ones!

[@12voltvids]

Well not everyone wanted to pay 2000 for a VCR.

[@Jammerk40]

@@12voltvids True!

[@zulumax1]

Same era as the three HR-D470U VCR's that I have from 1988. I did notice the date code on that one on the motor Nov 1989. I will have to see if there is any of that nasty glue inside them. Never did see a purpose to mix the hifi track with the mono sound track, but I did like the ability to switch to mono if the hifi track was buzzy or cutting in and out. Some units had a stereo standard sound track, but I think they did away with that when hifi high quality sound came to be.

[@GaryB007]

If you want to know their month & year of production, let me know the serial numbers and I can tell you.

[@waltchan]

Original loading motor failed in 1990, and it was replaced with Nov 1989 date. This VCR was a 1984-1985 model.

[@zulumax1]

@@waltchan Thank you, that was right in the middle of the Sony Beta Hi-Fi vs VHS Hi-Fi wars. Lots of the same features of the HR-D470U decks that I have. I do have a video of them here on KZbin, just search the model number. Sure looks like the basic design is similar, even has the finger grips on the sides near the bottom, who else did that? Mine loads the tape end first and has a song finder feature. I had a Sony TC-399 reel to reel and the Hi-Fi VHS would walk all over that and my Tandberg TCD-440A cassette deck even with a DBX noise reduction 222 unit. Bought mine brand new at a store called "Silo" in 1988 for making long mix tapes from CD.

[@zulumax1]

@@waltchan The audio "mix" feature, mine has that, but never found a purpose for it. Do you know?

[@dlarge6502]

The purpose of the audio mixing was to allow you to record a voiceover track. Minidv can do a similar thing. Then you can mix in the voiceover track with the stereo audio.

[@brucestevens5318]

Is this one for sale?

[@veb92168]

Cool old vcr!

[@chezsnailez]

If that date code is correct, that loading motor was assembled two days before the Berlin Wall fell!

[@GaryB007]

The JVC factory in Berlin used to have a section of Berlin Wall in the car park after it came down. I visited it several times.

[@waltchan]

Loading motor is not original, and was replaced in early-1990.

[@12voltvids]

Don't know the history of this one. Loading motors were not common failures though.

[@D725U]

@@waltchan Yep. These were built from 1984 to 1986 if I recall correctly

[@thisnthat3530]

You shouldn't need a screwdriver to prop the board open. The two white plastic hinges lock in the open position holding the board up by themselves.

[@resynthesizer4565]

They break ;0

[@EastAngliaUK]

nice player

[@jamesmccrackyn3547]

RUN IT!

[@fadhlematrook1248]

I HAVE SAME THIS VCR BUT FROM FUNAI COMPANY

[@metingokbulut837]

⭐️💯🇹🇷👍I have around 100 betamax and vhs devices in my warehouse. I have around 10,000 betamax and vhs tapes. If anyone is interested, I can sell them.

[@Capturing-Memories]

I reported a spam link to a pornographic website, I get those all the time on my channel, report them as you see them to keep this place safe.

[@12voltvids]

These users are banned.

[@metingokbulut837]

⭐️💯🇹🇷👍Depomda yaklaşık 100 betamax ve vhs cihazım var. Yaklaşık 10.000 betamax ve vhs kasetim var. İlgilenen varsa, bunları satabilirim.

[@vindaloo63]

Grease in a syringe, just saying 😉

[@12voltvids]

Don't have any.