Sony SLVR1000 Broken Blue Gear Repair

[@wingspandigital316]

Thanks so much for your detailed videos. I watch them like a good movie. I came across a Sony SLV-696HF with a bad blue gear (imagine that). I bit the bullet and dove in to replace it with a new one. I followed your instructions and loaded a tape. Both guides swung up correctly but the transport was dead. No play, rr, ff. When I hit the eject button the cassette unloaded but left all of the threaded tape behind. Based on your videos I suspected the mode switch so I removed it, cleaned it thoroughly with Deoxit, replaced it and checked all of the timing. As soon as I turned it on the guides came up only halfway in their travel and stopped. The machine wouldn't load a tape or anything else. I concluded that I blew the timing in the mode switch area. I removed the switch, re-timed it and tried it again. Same results. I did this 3 more times with no change. Fortunately I have R1000 parts machine and swapped the mode switches. When I swapped them I didn't clean the replaced one. Put everything back together and the machine worked perfectly. Have you ever had an instance where cleaning the mode switch destroys it? I was very careful and gently used cotton swabs for cleaning. If you have any ideas on what happened I would love to know. Thanks again for such great videos.

[@12voltvids]

Bend the spring contacts down slightly so they make good contact.

[@drteeth7054]

Your manual dexterity is amazing as is the encyclopaedic knowledge of the stuff that you service. I work with my hands doing very intricate work and love watching somebody as skilled as yourself.

[@SonnyKavanagh]

have had several vcr that needed this repair and i have another Sony to do again same problem, thank you for doing this repair excellent work.

[@skycarl]

Thanks again Dave for sharing insights to stuff most of us don't get a chance to see or work on.

[@wdavem]

I wanted a machine like that back in the day and they have a good picture. But now that i've had to work on them I'm not a huge huge fan. The loading mechanisms can't take their own torque if there is a jam without causing serious damage. If you miss-time them, they are likely to shred gears or break other parts. A few years ago I miss timed the gear driving the vertical screw that moves the pinch roller and it tore up that gear on the first try. It still was working but this wasn't my machine, this happened to me at work so I was very embarrassed (I'd fixed these before more then a few times and should easily have known better)... so I turned up the next day with an un-damaged replacement gear from one of my machines. The problem had originally been lack of good grease and a cassette with a tape jam. After all that had happened to it, there were several gears that had slipped so I had to take about half of the mechanism apart and re-time many gears based on the timing of a good working machine I had on the bench next to it. I hadn't had to do it that way before so it took me many hours of manually cranking the mechanism to make sure nothing was going to crash into anything else but I got it done right and it's still working.

[@clydesight]

I am always impressed with your skills, and thanks to watching your videos I am amazed at the engineering and genius that goes into designing and making workable VCRs. The tech is so awesome! Yet a little blue gear can take it all down! Irony? Hmmm....... Thanks for sharing what you could of Jean Michael Jarre. I found the Jean Michel Jarre Houston concert right here on KZbin!

[@killmore75]

I stitched the gear with thin resistor wire and it has been working better than new for over 25 years : )

[@ivanpedrero1455]

Thank you very much!! This video was very helpful!! Using your guidelines I was able to repair a Sony SLV-X50. And yes... it was the blue gear.... unfortunately I didn't have a spare so I have to settle putting it together with glue. Now it's working fine. I think I was able to extend the life of the VCR, but I don't know how long it will last. Best regards from Chile.

[@12voltvids]

The blue gear is available mail order from kpcomponents.co in Canada.

[@ivanpedrero1455]

@@12voltvids Thank you very much!! I will contact them. Best regards from Chile.

[@12voltvids]

@@ivanpedrero1455 the part is cheap only about 5 dollars

[@alphabeets]

Nice work, Dave. I’ve also found that the capstan shaft pivot grease can get gummy and cause the shaft to seize up. Working some oil onto the shaft will fix that.

[@12voltvids]

I have covered the p6 guide on several past videos.

[@emtrok]

A billion thanks for your video. Tanks to you I’ve repaired my video and recovered my family tapes. Best regards fron Spain!!!

[@TheVCRKing]

Thanks to this and your other Sony VCR repair videos, I now know how to replace the blue gear on these Sony VCRs. I did it with mine and it works perfectly. :)

[@rwdplz1]

Just ran into a NEW problem fixing one of these: The post the white gear spins on next to the blue gear, actually is now removable. I kept putting the white gear back in, and the catch for the split washer was too deep, I thought the gear was caught on something.

[@fwgmills]

KHOU-TV and Chip Moody. I really miss him. Best newscaster I ever watched.

[@dhpbear2]

I'm curious. Will your replacement break also? Maybe those blue gears are made of inferior plastic?

[@dunebasher1971]

Typically, the original gears lasted 10-15 years of frequent use before breaking. The replacement gears could easily outlast the VCRs.

[@MrApril1977]

Hello, I really like the old VCR's. kind regards, Ronny

[@VintageElectronicsGeek]

I own one of these, bought it at a flea market a few years back...mine don't physical load the tape once pushed in the door/basket, sits there...I haven't tore it apart yet...could it be this blue gear aswell or other ?? Thanks! ~Jack, VEG

[@morrisonAV]

Have that same, exact model with extremely low hours on it. It started wrinkling the edge of the tape where the control track is laid down. Is there a good place to start looking so I can fix this thing and get it up and running again?

[@jomjom1207]

Rendez Vous Houston was one of my favourite concerts growing up. I had that show on VHS and original cassette back in the day. Im still looking for a 80s pressing of the cd thats in good shape.

[@clydesight]

I found the concert on KZbin. Apparently a VHS copy though.

[@jebeq2007]

I just picked up one of these VCR's and unfortunately it only plays black and white vertical lines and you can sort of make out what the picture is. I was wondering if there is some sort of adjustment that can be done to fix it? I did remove the top after one of the tapes got stuck and refuses to eject. I also cleaned the heads with isopropyl alcohol but it didn't help. I just wonder if it's worth repairing this machine. It does seem to be a nice VCR.

[@mrmagnetoscope]

Sony, why did you make this VCR so that you have to lift the chassis out to access the bottom side?

[@racebike6160]

Excellent how to repair video !! I have a Sony SLV-721HF Deck and have recently experienced a failure in the tape loading mechanism exactly as shown in your video. Your video will certainly be helpful in my attempt to repair my unit. Just one small request...could you provide the name and part number of the blue "tape loading gear " that you replaced. ? Also, a source ( web address or ph number) to buy this part would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your time and effort in providing these videos . Bryan

[@12voltvids]

kpcomponents.co Sony part number 3-736-147-01. 604 597 6578

[@mikeb8638]

Yes Festival '86 I was there as a teen went with the parents it was packed , I thought he was Vangelis and thinking will he be playing Blade Runner Blues ?

[@dogtree70]

Hey 12 volt vids i used this to repair my slv-585hf. Now it will not return all the tape back in tape before eject. Im new to this and wondering what to check to try and resolve. Thanks

[@expgretaillegacy]

How do you fix one that doesn't have any sound through tapes or any inputs?

[@YYZ-SRQ]

Great detail and information. I put mine back together it loads, plays and fast forward, however it seems that the reverse and high speed rewind is not working now. Any suggestions? I checked all my electrical connections and does not appear that I missed any to be plugged in and all aligned, I did not however do anything with the mode switch. Stumped, any suggestions? Unit is an SLV-750HF

[@12voltvids]

That's the rotation sensor. I but the on screen tape position indicator is also blank. Will likely be the supply side rotation sensor is failing as if it was the take up side you would press play and it would shut down after a few seconds. I think I will put up a Sony VHS and create a few faults involving those sensors to show the symptom. Might even do it this week when I am off. I don't normally stage faults but a number of people ask about specific symptoms so if i can create a fault to showcase a specific fault and the cure why not, right?

[@Oldgamingfart]

A very nicely built machine, and probably cost the same as a small car back in its day! At first glance, you'd be forgiven for thinking that was a Panasonic mechanism, although I'm not entirely sure if Sony ever 'bought-in' OEM mechanisms like some of the other major manufacturers did (e.g. Philips). Interestingly, in Europe at least, I recall Philips and Panasonic had a joint-venture in the nineties, so it wasn't too uncommon to find a Philips VCR featuring a Panasonic mechanism, or Panasonic TV with a Philips CRT, etc..

[@crashbandicoot4everr]

Some of the mid 80s Philips vhs decks used the Panasonic D chassis, like the NV-370, 850 etc. In the early 90s they invented the "Charlie" chassis which used a U-loading mechanism like Betamax.

[@Oldgamingfart]

@@crashbandicoot4everr That's right, I have a few Philips machines that use Panasonic's G-Deck mechanism. They do have subtle differences which mean you can't always get away with using corresponding Panasonic equivalent parts when servicing, and yes they are a nightmare to get the mechanical timing right! Learned both the hard way! >.

[@sehnzeleid]

See a lot of Sonys from this era at thrifts that have the blue gear issue. Nice to know these gears are still available. In the future I imagine some maniac 3D printing them.

[@dmitripetrov5536]

Very helpful and informative video, I have exactly same vcr it plays and records LP and EP well but SP is bad and a lot of tracking lines , most likely SP head is damaged. Can find head of these machines? or can interchangeable with other brands like Panasonic?

[@bigbro5793]

what a nice condition of this one! and with record level and svideo. back in the day I'd give anything for that.

[@12voltvids]

And this is the reason people ship these units across the country to get them repaired.

[@alphabeets]

Are you ok leaving the auto head cleaner mechanism as is? Lots of folks recommend to remove it.

[@quesocat42069]

Thanks for your videos! I was able to get enough info from watching a couple of your videos on Sony vcrs to fix my SLV-595HF and get all the gears clocked correctly. I've unfortunately found stripped teeth on the red gear, I was able to flip it over and it's working but there's not much engagement between it and the white gear that moves that arm. Do you happen to know anywhere that stocks that red gear or what the part number would be?

[@12voltvids]

I likely have the gears

[@johnaclark1]

Thanks to this video I got the nerve to tear into my Sony SLV-798HF that doesn't always like to eject the tape. I found a cracked/split worm gear where it presses on to the loader motor and have found & ordered a replacement. My question is what kind of grease is best to use on the replacement gear and where can I get it? I see tons of opinions all over the Internet but no real consensus.

[@12voltvids]

I use molykote grease. It is available on ebay.

[@johnaclark1]

@@12voltvids Super, thanks! Is the EM-30L the right stuff?

[@eudesfernandes4774]

I bought one of these machines that don't show the picture of the VHS tape on the screen, but shows the image generate by the own VCR. It could be this loading gear? I don't have the machine in hands yet to analize the problem. If is that this gear, do you still have them available? Sorry for the poor english, I'm from Brazil.

[@victorcoss2600]

Hopefully the replacement gears are better quality and stronger so they don't break.

[@Bluethunderboom]

Is the Head Cleaning Device is wearing off to the point it needs to remove permanently without any further contamination to the head drum?

[@12voltvids]

The head cleaning wheel needs to come off on all these units. Every one I have repaired has been returned minus that part as all they are good for is making the head dirty.

[@johnaclark1]

Fantastic video! I've got a Sony SLV-798 that works fine except it doesn't like to eject the tape. It starts to eject by popping the tape up slightly but then it drops it back down. Sometimes if you tap the tape while it's trying to eject then it will eject it out completely. The SLV-798 isn't on the list of compatible models for that gear. Is that a symptom of that, or similar, gear failing?

[@12voltvids]

No not the blue gear. That controls the supply side loading gear only.

[@johnaclark1]

@@12voltvids Thanks! I had it apart once and didn't see anything out of place but didn't go in too deep. After watching this video and another one you have about how to time all the gears, along with superb explanations of how it all works, I feel better about going deeper and disassembling it a bit now. Any suggestion on what to look at first?

[@NunYa953]

I've got one right now that has vertical lines in the picture. More noticeable on certain colors like red. Would this be in the preamp you think? Capacitors?

[@zx8401ztv]

Looks like a very capable machine, shame they made a mistake with that weak blue gear. I mostly repaired earlier basic vhs machines. Orion made some basic full height ones that lasted really well. The ferguson videostar front loaders always gave a watchable picture. A long time ago...

[@12voltvids]

Well tons of them failed. I have a couple of sony VHS machines that need the gear replaced.

[@zx8401ztv]

That's a shame, the missing part of the cog/wheel made it weak. Does that section of the cog have to be missing?, a brace plate or similar could help.

[@12voltvids]

Yes there is a reason it is a half gear. It needs clearence for other mechanical parts.

[@zx8401ztv]

Dam, oh well it looks like you have a supply of blue cogs so you can fix machines. i dont know what sony were thinking.

[@12voltvids]

To be fair, I doubt that Sony made the cogs. They would have had them made for them and the reason the mail is they are under spring tension at all times, but the #1 cause of these gears breaking was the use of wet type head cleaning cassettes. They jammed, and stressed the gears. Many, many of the machines that came in for repair had an allsop VHS head cleaning cassette jammed inside. Probably 7 of of 10 machines that went through the shop.

[@shaun9107]

These 3 head players have the best sound quality for REC - PLAYBACK for music . They have sound head for each channel unlike the latest DIGITAL crap that only use one head for all now . Hi Fi stereo VHS is as good as OPEN REEL , try it .

[@tomdewey9907]

It's too bad Sony didn't do an engineering update to that sector gear (like making it out of brass and it would last a lifetime). I can't imagine how many of those units repairs shop made over the years replacing them... :(

[@louisho3355]

My Sony VCR the "stereo" on the display doesnt illuminate. It only turns on when it stops. I recorded a tape and use another VCR for playback. Only mono, no stereo. Playback tapes recorded by other VCR, also the same. I cleaned the heads but no help. What else I can do? Thank you 🙏

[@12voltvids]

Soundd like a failure in the hifi audio circuit.

[@louisho3355]

@@12voltvids oh no... Thanks...

[@louisho3355]

@@12voltvids will that circuit board easy to be removed? I dont know how to repair and thinking to send it over. But I dont think send the whole machine will be feasible because I am in Hong Kong. Too far away🤦🏻‍♂

[@12voltvids]

You will need to scope the AFM RF test point and see if the hifi heads are putting out a signal and that the envelope is good. Alignment issues will cause noise / no hifi even though the picture is good because the track is deep layer recorded and is a very narrow track. Most circuits will mute the signal and switch to mono rather than playing the hifi track with all the noise from miss tracking.

[@louisho3355]

12voltvids 😭 seems not easy to have it fixed then. Thank you

[@infinitecanadian]

...aaaand just in time for me to tuck into before going to bed. For my use, would you be able to please tell me what the parts distributor's company name is?

[@infinitecanadian]

@@Mad_Tribal Thank you!

[@knottreel]

I used to repair a lot of Sony VCRs when I worked for a Rent to Own store. You haven't had real live experience until you've had to remove a roach infestation before repairs.

[@clydesight]

I find similar issues in vintage reel to reel and cassette recorders!

[@12voltvids]

Thats nothing. Used to have a slob that had his VCR beside his bed, on a milk crate,so he would be able to watch his tapes and control the machine (this was before remote control vcrs, a top loader RCA VCT201. He had a little TV on a table above the VCR, right next to his bed, and would lie in bed and watch TV all day long. The guy was a minimum of 500LBS. To put this in perspective, watch an episode of Hawaii 50. The 2 big guys that run the shrimp truck. That was about the size of this man. He also had a big black dog that was probably 225 lbs that shed like crazy and would lye down beside the bed. He would sit on his bed eating bacon, sausage and whatever other heart clogging food he could stuff down his throat.. He was also a boozer, and would have his rum and coke or vodka and orange juice sitting next to the table that was over the VCR. On several occasions, the full glass of juice / pop infused booze took a tumble and ended up inside the VCR. I actually learned how to fix VHS machines taking that machine apart and cleaning dog hair, bacon bits, moldy food, sticky gunge, you name it out of that machine. That was one for the rubber gloves for sure. The average repair bill on this machine which came in about every 3 months was 300.00 to clean it up. This was back in the early 80's when a VCR cost was over 2000.00 so 300 to fix it was a bargain for this slob. You might winder what happened to him. Well he had a massive heart attack, at only something like 49 when he expired. All that Kentucky fried chicken, pizza, bacon and eggs did the man in.

[@wdavem]

Yeah roaches are really really bad. I hate them because they are so fast and you have to stomp the damn things so hard they make a mess, or else they are everywhere. And they stink too. I had someone bring over a street score amp with roaches for me to look at and I told them to bring it in a plastic bag. I opened the bag in the back yard and there was this strong ammonia - like smell... but not like capacitors! The amp turned out to be someone's bodge/hack job from hell with lots missing, but I found the roach nest in the power supply and quickly bagged the whole thing as they started to scatter. I told my friend to take it away! Best not to do these things even near one's house. To be fair to my friend, the amp WAS a really really nice one at one time.

[@waltschannel7465]

Nice repair! I'm soooo jealous of your local parts distributor! 😂

[@AThreeDogNight]

Another good repair on the infamous Blue Gear HUH, LOL? Must have been a money maker, & it still is. Thanks Dave.

[@kpcomponentsinc.8368]

Sony blue gear Product Link: kpcomponents.co/products/sony-3-736-147-01-gear-replacement . Product video link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i52biHpnm7yKq5o&ab_channel=KPComponents%2CInc.

[@videogamepolak0]

will this replacement part work on a sl-750hf model vcr as well?

[@bassambassam4782]

Thank you for this video

[@gavincurtis]

Built down to a cost. The money was in the electronics on this one I bet. Regardless, you dove into that pile of timed gears like a champ.

[@12voltvids]

This is one of the best svhs machines you can buy.

[@stevenhoelderich9490]

Is there anything , that you can't fix?

[@shaun9107]

Do we have to be Patreon to order parts from you ?

[@vanshikamixingcenter605]

I need str 1806 is it available plz reply for vcr Panasonic j1 supply p

[@12voltvids]

No idea and I don't even try to source these days. When those parts fail the unit is beyond repair in my eyes.

[@catsbyondrepair]

The gear of death 💀

[@12voltvids]

We look at it this way. Money maker.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

Looks complicated to me. I know, practice, practice, practice. Tape mechanisms are more complicated than disc mechanisms. (Unless it's a changer, then it can be more complex.)

[@MarkoStankovic08051979]

Hello frieand, where are you from. I have simillar problem broken Blue Gear. I can not find here in Serbia. Can i order from you that part?

[@12voltvids]

I'm in Canada. Part is available by mail from kpcomponents.co

[@MarkoStankovic08051979]

Thank you, can you tell me correct number of blue gear,what to look for@@12voltvids

[@MarkoStankovic08051979]

i found it , tnx and all the best.@@12voltvids

[@عليعبدالله-ح2ي7ل]

I love Sony vcr

[@bigdog8882]

Nice!

[@jamesdemuro5923]

So many sony vcrs are scraped for this blue gear and power supply issues

[@12voltvids]

Many more are scrapped because people don't use VCRs anymore. I have a slvr1000 for sale now. Let's see how long it takes to sell.

[@rmx77]

that was 1986 from one of the news bumpers.

[@12voltvids]

Yes I saw that.

[@tomdewey9907]

I think the correct term is the tape transport unit, not the chassis.

[@111chicane]

Last time I went to Jean-Michel Jarre's concert was in 2011. I fell asleep in the middle and woke up an hour later, it was that boring. And I wanted to go to his concert since I was a kid.

[@12voltvids]

Funny I used to listen to his stuff when I wanted to go to sleep. I listened to his stuff as a kid. Thought all those synthesizers were cool sounding. Thats probably why I never watched this concert after recording it all those years ago. Last great show I saw was Return to Forever. Chick Corea, Lenny White, Al DiMeola, Stanley Clark. It was over the top. Listened to them as a kid too, and when they came to Vancouver on their reunion show I had to be there.

[@lox_5017]

You have to be mechanically incline in order to do this kind of repair work.

[@ratos74]

blue and white cogs are not aligned properly

[@12voltvids]

Yes they are.

[@UnrealVideoDuke]

How the @#$% does someone message this guy to see if it is feasable to send him a radio to be worked on??? Where to send the radio and a approximate quote for repair.

[@ronniezzzz]

think it was in 86

[@erikj.2066]

Yep 37:17 I'd say confirms it.

[@johnaclark1]

I've searched through your videos but haven't seen any on the other style of Sony VCR tape mechanisms. The one I have is an SLV798HF but the SLV998, SLVN50, SLV662, SLV795, SLVSX70 and a few others all have very similar tape mechanisms. I think I've figured mine out but your teardown, explanation and common problem videos are second to none. Do you have any videos on this style of Sony VCR? I found this one on another channel but as a typical US public school graduate I don't speak French! It's also just focusing on the power supply. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5fPmWergd98jpY

[@williamsquires3070]

Of course, if they still made these things today, the blue gear would cost $100 a pop in quantities of 1000 or more, and would be held on by a special 5-sided screw (torque-to-spec, one-use only) for which the only screwdriver to remove it is only available to authorized Sony repair shops. And if you dare use a plain old philips-head screw to replace it, the software will brick the unit, and void the warranty. 🤬 Finally, to make a bad situation worse, you need a special piece of Windows 98 software to reprogram the MCU with the secret code printed on the package the replacement screw comes in. And - you guessed it - you can only obtain the software through the authorized Sony repair shops! Fortunately, this unit was made before all the manufacturers jumped in the ”proprietary hardware/software” bandwagon. Cautionary tale? Yes. Moral? Support “right-to-repair” legislation! 👍

[@wdavem]

Here Here!!

[@TheBudgie29]

I have a Windows 98 Disc still In the Box. I was wounding If It would work on Modern Computer. Lol

[@mohamedlobana6484]

mors boko ok twist est