Panasonic SV3500 DAT Transport cleaning procedure

How to access the heads on a Panasonic SV-2500 DAT machine for manual cleaning.

[@barrylubotta3196]

I have an SV 3500 and found this video helpful but either my 3500 is different from his or something else is wrong. There were a lot of wires on top of the transport system that i didn't see in this video, in fact he just skims over the removal of the transport. In my case it was impossible to move the transport out of the way as he did. My head preamp did move easily like his did, in fact it didn't move at all .I got in there with my stubby fingers but it wasn't simple as the transport was not nearly as easy to access as his. I then put it back together and something went wrong that was my fault, the door didn't close properly. I'm trying to fix that but there was a buzzy sound for a second so possible that I blew something. I did get a chance to listen to a tape first however, and the distortion I had heard before was still there. Tried another DAT machine and it wasn't there so I'm assuming something is not right with this machine. Again, I appreciate that someone took the time to show owners how to clean the 3500 but I guess Panasonic built them differently at times as mine was made slightly changed from his and the cleaning was much more difficult. Oh well, thanks anyway for the effort.

[@12voltvids]

There is another video showing the head preamp and servo recap

[@shawnschroeder2]

Can you fix my 3700?...it's really clean and plays tapes without output -head spins transport functions but we have no signal on the meters or headphones

[@ferromiami]

Hi, there I have a SV-3800 it was play but cleaner lite was coming now it’s spins but no sound and meter lights don’t go on is that because I need to clean the heads ??

[@zx8401ztv]

Nice and clean, and the data error light has gone out now? The head drum looks so diddy, i bet it spins at a hell of a rate.

[@12voltvids]

+zx8401ztv spins at 2000 rpm. Just a little faster than a VCR. DV on the other hand the drum spins 9000 rpm!

[@12voltvids]

+zx8401ztv Yes, NTSC is 1800 RPMDAT uses 3 speeds. SP speed is 2000RPM, the LP speed record is running at 1000, but playback is read out at 2000, and the Hi bit raye is 4000 if memory serves me correctly.Digital8 cameras ran the drum at 4500, and recorded 2 frames of DV stream per track on 8mm, doe to the larger drum size, and the 210' tape wrap of 8mm.Yes 8mm is 210' not 180, because there was extra "overlapped" area for each track where digital audio and time codes could be written on that format. On the 8mm format, only about 7mm was used for video, and the extra length of each track on that last mm of tape width could be over written after recording for PCM audio dubbing and RC time code. Tha extra area was used in the digital 8 format to store picture. Digital 8 was actually a very cleaver format, and could have done well as an HD video medium, because of how much data they could put on those tapes.

[@zx8401ztv]

+12voltvids Dam, im glad i didnt venture past vhs videos lol :-D

[@valsammut3604]

nice video, I would like to clean my sony dat heads and rubber, one guy in a video used lighter fluid to clean his cassette heads, what is your opinion on that? he said a engineer recommended it, so what material can i use to clean heads and rubber, some suggest paper. no cotton right. thanks for your help.

[@svenschwingel8632]

Are those cleaning sticks really safe to use on a DAT head drum?

[@geojor]

good stuff, thanks ...

[@paoloillozerbinati7934]

hello i am looking for the corner straps for panasonic SV-3500 you something ! i can recommend something that can nadare well thanks Paolo

[@gctechs]

Did you repair the tape counter?

[@ByTurkoglu]

What do you use for manual cleaning sony is white name

[@12voltvids]

Those were vintage Sony head cleaning sticks that I stole from the Sony factory service center I worked at in the early 80's.They are deer skin chamos on a plastic stick, and were some of the best cleaners I have ever used. When I left sony I grabbed a few extra packs on my way out the door.

[@dreamscaped1]

Hi,I have seen you use paper soaked with 99% alcohol to clean the rotating head of a VCR. Can I use that method here? If not, what kind of swabs are best?Thanks,

[@12voltvids]

Tape transports that use metal tape (8mm, Hi8- DV and DAT) generally do not clean up well with alcohol. A dry cleaning tape will clean the heads but over use will wear the head faster

[@DRNEGOLICIS]

What problems should I expect from a sv-3700 used on eBay?

[@12voltvids]

Capacitors on the servo board. Watch my other video where I rebuild the servo board on this 3500

[@yrulooknatme]

hey remember the video you posted bout the light bulb for the tv. Is there a way to test them without a tv? I got a couple and don't know if they work. They are osram p-vip 100-1201.0 E23ah thanks.

[@12voltvids]

+yrulooknatme You need the correct ballast to strike these UHP TV lamps.They need a pulse of about 20,000 volts, and then once they strike, the voltage drops to about 40 volts to sustain the arc. High current, low voltage.

[@RagedContinuum]

some questions - can I use science paper wipes (kimwipes) instead? Is there any type of liquid that can be used, like alcohol ?

[@12voltvids]

Yes kimwipes can be used. Use 99% IPA