VCR service experts? my MITSUBISHI HS-U70 is on the fritz...

[Master Tasuke]

so, i have my prized 1988 MITSU HS-U70 S-VHS stored away in my closet
for several years now, and i pull it out for a little exercise... and i get this crap;

well, everything about this VCR works good as new... EXCEPT FOR THE VIDEO. sound is rick solid and stable, everything checks perfectly otherwise.

i even cleaned the head/tape path... the proper way, carefully, both with a WET-TYPE ALLSOP cassette and manually by hand with a microfiber cloth
doused in 91% isopropyl. slow, careful HORZONTAL movements.

so, can anyone give me ideas on what could be wrong? something electronic? because this deck otherwise sure seems UTTERLY PERFECT mechanically...

 

[laatsch55]

People pay big money for effects like that....

 

[orange]

I told him to check the TV setup and coaxial first. I'm not an expert, but mine feeds a 31 year old 17" Trinitron.

 

[Master Tasuke]

in any case, i have it running via COMPOSITE/L-R STEREO RCA to my LCD HDTV. i never use the RFs, too low-grade.
all tapes passed though this deck produce the same result, they are good, healthy tapes too, i verified this with my good main-use VCR,
the JVC HR-S8000U S-VHS.

that first tape above was TOP GUN recoded on S-VHS from LASERDISC. this one is Anime, MACROSS II, on pre-recorded media. same results,
perfect sound, not so perfect picture;

 

[Lazarus Short]

Looks like a tracking problem. Have you tried adjusting that, or is tracking on your deck auto-adjust?

There are two things you can do to make your VCR machine go bad:

1. Use it too much.

2. Use it not at all.

 

[Master Tasuke]

indeed. hopefully it's nothing more than a cap issue in the PSU, as i i have had some suggestions of.
this deck is damn near factory fresh physically, and has had very few hours of use at that.

to be honest, this VCR became an instant classic for me, when, back in 2005, i went to an annual electric co-op cookout
that had a kids corner with a mobile A/V cart set up with a late 80's 20-some-in. MITSUBISHI CRT,
a PlayStation 2 running DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION into it, and an HS-U70, the most beautiful VCR i had ever seen to that day.

they allowed me to take some quick pics, with the cheapie snapshot digicam i had on me at the time.
i drooled over the resulting pics for what felt like years, until i came across the gunmetal-faced copy i now own back around 2008 or so;

 

[orange]

Now check the connections once more...and YOU have the REMOTE CONTROL....

 

[orange]

MACROVISION?

OR should you try an

NTSC TV?

Try another set, I don't see where you've made the substitution yet.

 

[derek92994]

Give the video head drum a good clean. Using a cloth can be bad as the fibers can get lodged in the heads which are in the head cylinder drum and can be very hard to get out without damaging the head.

The method I use is to get a clean sheet of a4 paper and tear it in half, fold it a few times so its around 10cm by 10cm long and a smooth surface (no bumps), get a bottle of iso alcohol and dab onto the paper, then gently push it against the head drum rotate it with your hand. You may see some dark residue come off the head, repeat the process with a clean piece of paper until it is cleanThis generally works for me every time. I used to use cotton tips but like I said it would lodge fibers into the heads and cause more damage.

If you want photos I can provide these. Good luck.

 

[derek92994]

Also make sure the pinch roller is clean, alcohol works for this as well. If it is smooth and shiny with tape oxide it will cause the tape to drift causing damage to the tape and wont allow the control head to regulate speed properly. The roller should have a little 'grip' or rubbery feel to it once cleaned.