VCR Heads How to Clean Video Heads

[@joshuapowell1868]

Great video don't forget that mode switch everything is proven people don't keep that clean out every now and then it causes problem's in time

[@ryand76]

If I had a time machine I'd go back to the 80s and make crazy money after learning this 😆 I have 8 old VCRs to practice on right now! Thx for the video 👍👍👍

[@hanslumbridge5349]

thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise. You are helping me make people happy saving their home tapes!!

[@Rotterdam93]

Interesting video, vcr mechanic is very delicate

[@cranberriesgirlhype8292]

Great video. Easy to follow. I liked how real you were about everything. Thanks!

[@thomaseriksen6704]

@@henrykieran9617 scam both yall

[@wallychambe1587]

That is a very good professional VCR!

[@bailey125]

Thank you very much. I had no video output only audio. Followed this video and regained video, and audio quality was also improved.

[@RandallSchwed]

Not carbon it's ferrite.👍

[@TheRancher03]

In the video the pad has visible fiber strands on it and some appear to be 1/3" or more long. Wouldn't these strands cause problems if left behind.

[@iRepairElectronics]

No. once you have let the head dry , and once the heads start spinning, that would get flung off long before any tape comes near it.

[@KungFuMojo]

Two questions.... Does this advice apply to 8mm players as well? Also, can we use WD electronic contact cleaners?

[@laboratorioassembler]

Great video , i have the same vcr , i cleaned everything using your video as regernce... but my issue persit... seesm like auto-tracking noise but moving from top to center of screen every 7 seconds... this long time seems related to tape complete circle ... nothing else is doing 7 seconds periods... do you hany help / ideas about what can be ? Very thank you !

[@iRepairElectronics]

What you’re describing is certainly not a dirty head. Assuming of course you tried tracking, you could have a post guide alignment issue. I have not made a video on that, perhaps i will.

[@laboratorioassembler]

@@iRepairElectronics replacd almost all caps on servo board, removed and replaced audio head , non seems batter.. but audio signal on some VHS is very good..but on others has low volume and an Hiss on background... something related to Hi-fi / normal audio track?

[@8bit711]

Nice one Joe! Cheers.

[@DanielGonzalez-ce9er]

ive seen people use printer paper is that wromg?

[@tripyramidpictures9224]

I recently got a Sony VCR for free from somebody. It’s a Sony video cassette recorder SLV - 775HF. I put a tape in and it started to play a little bit but then it kept eating up the tape. Any recommendations on how to stop the tapes from eating? The VCR looks extremely well condition. I opened up the door and cleaned some of the parts that I could reach with a Q-tip. I may take the top off and try and clean it like you showed. Do you have any idea on why they take may be getting eaten up? Is there a particular area that the tape usually sticks to?

[@iRepairElectronics]

A lot of times the pinch roller assembly is out of sync or possibly broken or it could also be the take up real is not engaging and causing the tape to loop up inside the VCR

[@tripyramidpictures9224]

Thank you for the speedy reply! I cleaned it just like you did, and it works beautifully now.

[@Kit_Bear]

Spool brake has failed. and/or as I repair said.

[@ionescu-sile58]

Am trait sa o vad si pe asta : FRANA BOBINEI,sau poate nu este traducerea normala

[@tripyramidpictures9224]

@@ionescu-sile58 DONT UNDERSTAND A WORD YOU SAID!

[@Capturing-Memories]

The close up you showed is for two video heads separated by a large gap, The actual head gap cannot be seen with the naked eye.

[@SRH58]

will Lens Cleaning Pads that are pre moistened with Isopropyl alcohol be ok.?

[@iRepairElectronics]

yes those are fine

[@Alchemy_OG]

I have this old Sony VCR that I just took it out and tried to start it. Both the yellow and white wires are fine. For a few minutes it actually was running great, both video and audio were fine. But now the audio is there but no video at all. I even checked the video head and it looked pretty clean to me. Any other suggestions for the video issue?

[@iRepairElectronics]

All it takes to clog a head is a small coating of dirt, possibly grease. It can get transferred to a tape from a vcr that has a dirty environment. Anyways, it sounds like dirty heads 0ne other thing to try is the tracking. If the tracking is off enough it could show you mostly snow ❄️

[@Alchemy_OG]

@@iRepairElectronics thx for the reply. I went ahead and tried to clean the video head but theres a minor change, it actually shows the video but in black and white and going up and down so not that clear video. Audio is still fine and working perfectly. I think its the video head which is the issue as I tried changing the audio and video wires too. Oh and theres a coating of dirt around it which is barely visible.

[@iRepairElectronics]

@@Alchemy_OG Sounds like this machine has other problems. B&W usually not a video head issue.

[@Alchemy_OG]

@@iRepairElectronics ok Update: the roller which has the sponge to clean the head was all mushy and worn out. I removed that whole sponge and now it’s nothing on the roller. The tapes are working perfectly fine now :D but now my main concern is if the roller is empty, i’ll have to keep cleaning it again and again. Thx for your help!

[@iRepairElectronics]

@@Alchemy_OG they’ve made very many VCRs back to the day that never had such a roller assembly it was probably contributing more by adding to the problem. Machine will probably be just fine without it.

[@garypaul1033]

Anyone have a suggestion as to the best type of lube to use on the pinch roller assembly brass bushing where it mounts onto the metal pole? I know it is only a very tiny amount & only after it is properly cleaned, but what type of lubricant is recommended for this bushing? Would a half drop (or less) of Super Lube 51004 Synthetic Oil with PTFE be fine?

[@china-trip]

Wow... !!! My best friend, You Great Good... !!! I wish you every day of your development. Best Relaxing +thumb up3!

[@morrriiisss]

Thanks!!!

[@lukedavis436]

Well i learned something today!...the drum isnt the head!

[@billyharris9530]

I just want to know what is the heads

[@bluesroc]

i Repair Electronics ------------------------------------------- I have three VCRs Mchine does not work 1] I need to learn how to clean the Machines 2] The ones that works and the ones that doesn't work Use the parts to make a tape cleaniinng Machine 3] need to now how to use the motor. how to power the motor -speed control forward and rewinding stop - and the tape counter i Repair Electronics can you help me Alan

[@williamreichold1545]

Hello, I have a D-VHS JVC 30000 have been using for years now, but I noticed some tapes were not playing well, the picture was fragmented so took it upstairs to clean the heads, I had done this before years ago with a piece of paper and rubbing alcohol and it worked last time I did that so felt confident doing it again. Earlier today I used a cloth similar to what you`re showing. Isopropyl microfiber lense cleaning cloth for Eye Glasses. I could not find a bottle of rubbing alcohol. First time I cleaned, I did it gently and more towards the top on the drum. I had thought the Drum WAS the head. I put it all back together and went to play a tape that previously would not play and it was playing perfectly, so I was all happy. I then popped in another tape that also would not play previous and nope, it was all fragmented and breaking up. So I put the 1st tape back in and sigh, it was the same. So I went back to cleaning again but watched where the tape was actually making contact and realized it was more towards the bottom ( Where the heads actually are) only I could feel a bit of friction and noticed part of the cloth was tearing away which I figured was not good since this is why they tell people not to use cotton swabs/Qtips. So I hooked it all back up and the 1st tape still would not play so I figured I must have damaged the heads. I then took it to garage and blew out with compressed air in case any small fibres had worked its way into somewhere they shoudnt be and still not working. So I was ready to give up and look for another unit, but fast forwarded to about half way through the tape and then put it on fast play where its like 3-5x the speed but you can follow the picture along and the picture was clear. I assumed because the heads are moving faster this is why you can see the picture okay, but also assumed once I pushed play that it would not work again, but it actually was working again. I rewound the tape all the way and started from the beginning and its working perfectly? Did I get lucky here? Any idea how it corrected itself? Is it a case of maybe the heads have been used so much already they might be wearing out? These DVHS machines are a bit pricey these days so just buying another is not something could easily consider right now.

[@iRepairElectronics]

so i would never recommend removing the head drum to clean the heads. you can also use a chamois cloth with the alcohol. i think you are luck to have a picture at this point. One thing thats wierd on JVC machine that happened to me in the past was a bad capacitor on the PG shifter part of the circuit. Now DO NOT go hunting this down unless the following symptom occurs. When you insert a tape it may play fine, eject the tape and re-insert it, then you get noise on top or bottom, re-insert again and the noise is either less or more severe. That was the cap in the PG shifter problem. if i ever find a JVC with that problem ill make a video on it. but is was only a few in a series of VHS machines made in the 90's. i have no idea if your DVHS is the same circuitry . my guess is probably NOT.

[@williamreichold1545]

@@iRepairElectronics Thank you. After I posted this comment I was able to do a test recording of HD Material through my Tuner and firewire and it recorded and played back perfectly so I`m not messing with it anymore. Going to throw out the Motley Crue DVHS tape that is corroded and hopefully will be trouble free from now on, at least I know where the heads actually are now and if I do attempt cleaning in the future will do the paper method again.