Sony SLHF300 HF400, HF600, HF900, HF1000 Betamax Will Not Load Tape

[@KylesDigitalLab]

I managed to pick up an SL-HF300 for $60 on eBay including shipping due to the seller being in the same state as me. I did a video on mine but there's not much to see about it because it worked without any problem. Amazing how reliable this old Beta machines are.

[@12voltvids]

Well tuck this one away because that plastic tab will break, its a matter of when.

[@CaptainDaddy33]

HF650 here. Dude thank you. Sincerely made my day

[@xchri5x]

Holy shit you are a lifesaver! I just bought a Sony Betamax sl-20 at an antique market and it was having the same issues. When you noticed that tiny spring was off I went and checked mine and sure enough, it had the same problem. Popped that sucker back on, popped a tape in and it works! I haven’t hooked it up to a tv yet and troubleshooted any other potential issues but just to be able to play a tape is a win for me.

[@12voltvids]

Sure is.

[@jamesowen9678]

Found your video and looked on my slhf 900 and the spring post was broken. Put the spring in the hole and walaa now the unit works. Thanks for the video! 5:10

[@12voltvids]

Glad I could help

[@speed_rider362]

4:53 a nice ghostwalk. I almost have not noticed it.

[@Watcher3223]

They can have their quirks but, in all, I like the 711 chassis. Never owned an SL-HF300, though I've fixed a couple before. But I have owned an SL-HF400. For those wondering, the HF400 is basically the same as the HF300, but with SuperBeta and MTS reception capability (stereo TV).

[@12voltvids]

Identical chassis, just superbeta. I have an slhf400 myself, and 2 slhf1000 and a sl5200

[@Watcher3223]

@@12voltvids Exactly. Used the same 711B2 chassis, but added SuperBeta and MTS reception capability. I used to own one. Wound up selling it. My working machines are an SL-2400, SL-2710, SL-HF550, SL-HF750, SL-HF900, 2x SL-HFR70, a Zenith VR8900W, and a Toshiba V-S44C. I certainly need another Beta like an Eskimo needs a freezer.

[@JoWiFo]

Very helpful, thank you. On my side, the sensor still has the spring attached to the plastic part BUT the sensor just doesn't move at all. So it's always on the 'loaded' position. Do you have an idea what can cause that?

[@DannySWu]

I have two Beta 450 and 3030, they worked fine 2 years ago but now they both won't load - tape simply does not go down as if there were no power, what causes the problem and where is the stopper to force down in place? I bought the 3030 brand new in 2012 so wear out is not an issue. Any suggestion?

[@zx8401ztv]

The supply spool seemed to be jerking when it was playing, lighting effect with the camera?

[@orihalcon8693]

Awesome video as always! Was doing this repair and happened to also have the jog wheel disconnected on an HF900 and when I went to test it, it blew the 3.15A fuse basically immediately after powerup. Are there any common causes for fuses blowing on these? Of note, it didn't pop the fuse before I was in there (retiming the loading mechanism and also had the bottom over off), so I'm thinking it ether tried to spin something up that hadn't been in use yet with the mechanism misaligned or there might have been a temporary short somewhere due to having the bottom plate off during the testing? Reason I ask is that none of your betamax videos seem to show things that cause popped fuses, so wondering if you've seen that before?

[@12voltvids]

Yes i know exactly what happened. You shorted something to ground and the fuse did it's job. Now go back and open everything you opened before and make sure there are no pinched wires or a longer screw was placed in the wrong spot that is touching a power point on another board. That's my bet because that happened to me many years ago when i was working in the tv shop. As they say shit happens.

[@rwdplz1]

I have two of these, in black and silver. Same problem, different solution, both of mine had broken loading gears.

[@dalemettee1147]

Boy for every tough job, you get lucky and have one of these simple fixes. Other than the sensor board hitting the spring, I think that tis problem is solved. Maybe cleaning the heads and guides, this job is ready to button up.

[@bill53072]

Great video! My issue on a SL-HF900 is cassette is becoming weak to eject. The timing/loading belt is very worn out. Any place to get a new one?

[@12voltvids]

I probably have one.

[@Johnh-r2x]

similar problem but the spring is fine?

[@DKN808]

Can I send you my SL-HF1000…same exact issue but the spring that is pointed out is intact. Was working fine for months, did a move and I guess something happened while boxed up. At my wits end. In YVR.

[@12voltvids]

Sure I can look at it.

[@dege13]

I have an HF500 where the tape will not go down. You push the tape in, but the motors never start to take in down. Any ideas? I made sure the switch on the side that gets pressed by the gear is clean and reading 0ohm while pushing the switch. What should happen next and what could prevent it? I'd appreciate any help!

[@12voltvids]

Does the solenoid clunk when you turn the power on and off?

[@jeremybunce]

My second machine fixed (mostly) bc of that spring! Any tips for a sticky door? Otherwise I got another functional machine! Thanks!

[@12voltvids]

You will have to inspect and see what it is catching on. Nothing comes to mind.

[@jeremybunce]

Yo what a life saver. I see my spring is off too! Now to try and reattach

[@12voltvids]

Super common fault.

[@jeremybunce]

@@12voltvids got it attached! Thanks so much for this video! Just picked up my first player for dirt cheap SLHFR70 and now I’m playing tapes!

[@brianchenworth5511]

Sony sl5400 slowly loads tape but once play is pressed it starts then stops immediately....any ideas?

[@12voltvids]

Belts

[@brianchenworth5511]

@@12voltvids do you have a video on the sl5400 belt replacement? It is tough to get to them!

[@zen_den1]

A lot of those plastic parts that are difficult to find can be 3-d printed

[@12voltvids]

Don't have a 3d printer no plans to buy one. Have tried 3d printed parts before and they didn't hold up.

[@robinsonsoto8471]

Was Beta format better than VCR.

[@12voltvids]

Beta always had a better picture than VHS due to the larger scanner drum diameter. Larger drum means faster head to tape speed. Higher writing speed means more information can be written.

[@tacofortgens3471]

@12voltvids ecer seen a video 2000 machine? I believe it was Ohikups's answer to vhs, , you could turn the tape like regular music cassette tapes

[@tacofortgens3471]

@@12voltvids en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_2000

[@KylesDigitalLab]

@@12voltvids Also, Beta used a color carrier frequency of 688kHz instead of 627kHz on VHS, so the color reproduction was slightly better than VHS. Beta was also better with HiFi sound as there was enough bandwidth to record the AfM sound using 2 heads, VHS had to use 4 heads for HiFi.

[@12voltvids]

@@KylesDigitalLab The reason that VHS used 629 khz was more for legal reasons. When Sony, Matsushita, Toshiba, Sanyo and JVC were all co-devoloping the home VCR Sony set the standard to the same as 3/4"Umatic, 688Khz. and devoloped the scanner size accordingly. They worked on both the M and U threading mechanisms. Sony recommended that everyone adopt their Beta system over the other proposed systems. Sanyo also had their own system that was very similar to Beta that they ended up marketing briefly as Vcord. It used a beta type U load, but the tape looked more like an 8 track and the tape wound the oposite way more like Umatic with take up on left. The decision was made to go with a single standard, Betamax. Toshiba, NEC and Sanyo signed on. Panasonic and JVC also gave the Beta system the nod. Unbeknownst to Sony and the others JVC and tehor parent company Matsushita decided to go with the M loading system most likely because they did not want to license it from Sony who had devoloped it along with Umatic. The made the scanner slightly smaller and changed the chroma record frequency as well as changed the azimuth of the heads by 1 degree each. Enough that it would not infringe on Sony's patents. Then JVC took credit for the theft of the century and handed out basically free licences to everyone and his brother that wanted to build a factory to make VHS.

[@Jammerk40]

Great fix!

[@MarcelVanHoekElvis]

Great good job👍🙂

[@Gypsycat19]

I picked up 3 working good condition sony betamax hf3000 from japan recently to use in Australia cheaper than a hifi PAL unit (PAL betas are over priced and lack features) and 3rd of the price of a hf1000 which i don't understand why they are so expensive for the same machine only difference i see is the back in Japanese

[@12voltvids]

100 volt. Running at 120 will burn them our fast so you need a transformer to drop the voltage.