I had a few 8mm cameras returned after repair complaining they wouldn't play back old recordings. On Sony mechanisms the guides would sometimes part company with the loading ring and be rattling around inside.
also re the alignment tool... considering it looks like just a flathead with the center cut out of it, a security bit set (those little rubber boxes with two dozen different bits) probably works too, because they have multiple sizes of these "flathead with center cut away" bits in them. Apart from that, these sets are pretty handy to have when tinkering with things anyway
I researched and found the very latest model of the old Sony decks that has everything I needed is the Sony DCR-TRV460. So hopefully they have newer SMD caps with the most life left in them. They can be purchased cheap on Ebay. There must be an “E” model as well for Europe.
Hi, Colin. I have also come across many camcorders that have had sloppy guide travels. I don't think the sloppy bit should be a concern because more likely the guide posts may need to be replaced. There normally should be a tiny Allen key screw on the holder blocks of the guide posts that secures the guides into their holder blocks which tends to become loose. I think you might have been adjusting the guides without loosening that tiny screw which now has lost it's tension to hold the guides into their place securely. The guide posts should feel tight and locked into position when the Allen key screw is tightened up after the RF alignment is complete.
Maybe rob the mechanism out of a less desirable (mono, not digital8 etc) sony 8mm camcorder (or one otherwise broken, like leaky SMD caps having destroyed the board) to transplant into the TRV120E...? so long as it's a B mech
I know someone whose Hi8 camcorder was misaligned after it fell down. It then had a color disturbance due to crosstalk from the neighboring track. The camcorder is an ideal way to test which TBC (DVD Recorder in EE Mode) can process the worst color signal.
That explains everything, I have encoutered such tapes before where the bottom would be distorted in such a way. Meanwhile, you have experience with Sony EV-S9000E, correct? Is there a way to disable the display of SP/LP/Stereo whenever it changes on the tape? I had one recorded in mixed mode and the SP/LP would flash for a brief moment, I can splice these segments from D8 transfer, but there is discolouration on the right side as is the case with digitising with D8 cams. Also, I have a pdf that lists the features of most D8 camcorders, not only analog playback, but also the A/D throughput, which is very useful.
@@video99couk The submodel is VC, maybe there's something preventing it frmo working, but when I press Edit it only displays the message that I need to connect LANC and set LANC mode to S.
The service manual refers to another manual for the deck itself - this is the "B mechanism" and you can find the manual for that online easily; it has the steps for disassembly and reassembly.
yup. punched "sony B mechanism" into google and the second result was good ol' elektrotanya coming to the rescue again. I should really donate to them at some point. they've saved my ass sooo many times with obscure SMs
@@video99couk I guess I got lucky. I probably bought them in “as is, for parts only” condition and was able to get them going. Often the heads are just dirty or the pinch roller has come off.
@@video99coukwhen I search I look for ones that seem to be in physical very good condition. It can mean that the user bought it and didn’t use it much. Certainly ones that physically are beat to hell should be avoided.
I have half a dozen of these Sony Digital8/analog PB camcorders. In the past I've repaired them, even swapped a head drum on one (the head switching point was a little out of spec though, and probably needs some crazy "jig" to adjust - I've never looked into it - it's "useable" still) I wouldn't do anything that requires disassembly these days though. Spending 2 or 3 hours messing around with this stuff isn't "economically viable" - better to spend that time chipping away at the never-ending backlog of tapes and just buy another camcorder on eBay! I can make more $$ in 3 hours than these things sell for. I do kinda hate using fiddly little camcorders for V8/Hi8 tapes, bought a few Sony EVO series machines but they all had a trillion bad caps. Again, not economically worthwhile to spend my time on them, sadly. Also bought a couple of brand-new sealed-in-box TEAC V-800-G-F decks - had high hopes for these - gorgeous-looking machines, front mounted RF test points, etc. Just what I needed...but the picture quality absolutely SUCKS! Super-soft pics compared with the Sony camcorders. Literally only useful for rewinding tapes and the rare/occasional tape with PCM audio. Don't be tempted to buy one of these!!!! I wasted a few thousand dollars on mine 😭 The only repair I would do to a modern Sony is to add a dab of glue to the little white plastic "tube" that holds the pinch roller on its post. Seen sooooo many of these fall off and get jammed in the mech. Anyway....greetings from NYC, all the best! Neil
@@video99couk Hi Colin (it is Colin, right?! apologies if not!). I really hate waste, and repairing things has always been my first plan of attack, but faced with a constant backlog of work, the economics of repairing camcorders just doesn't work anymore (for me)! I could literally be digitizing a dozen or more DV tapes, or whatever, in the time taken to work on a camcorder. They're not "cheap" here, about $250 for a good example - I always try to find one that's boxed with all its accessories - but it still makes far more sense to spend my time getting actual jobs out of the door. I don't mind working on full size VTRs etc, but I'd never strip a camcorder down to it's mechanism ever again, unless it's the only option!! My patience with tiny mechanisms isn't what it once was 😂 I hate to scrap the Sony EVO decks, too, but my god, they are crammed with surface mount caps, would take many, many hours to fix, and probably wouldn't end up giving any better results than a "modern" Digital8 camcorder. The TEAC decks seemed like a dream come true, absolutely brand new, until I saw the horrible soft video. God knows why they look so poor - they weren't cheap machines! All four that I tried are the same, so it doesn't seem to be a fault - just a crap design!! Anyhow, keep the videos coming, please! Have a good weekend 😊
@@CanizaM Nice idea, but most of the work I do is archive footage for TV documentaries etc. I gotta keep an eye on things! Even when it's just someone's "home movie" stuff, and I have 4 or 5 tapes running, they're rarely all the same length, so every 10 mins or so a tape needs swapping out. Several minutes getting the next tape ready, making all the necessary adjustments, then within a few minutes another tape has finished and needs swapping out ...or a deck needs a head cleaning...or the phone is ringing...or a client's ringing the doorbell! It's pretty hectic! 😂 I haven't totally given up on repairs, just find them not worth the time & effort for camcorders.
I had a few 8mm cameras returned after repair complaining they wouldn't play back old recordings. On Sony mechanisms the guides would sometimes part company with the loading ring and be rattling around inside.
also re the alignment tool... considering it looks like just a flathead with the center cut out of it, a security bit set (those little rubber boxes with two dozen different bits) probably works too, because they have multiple sizes of these "flathead with center cut away" bits in them. Apart from that, these sets are pretty handy to have when tinkering with things anyway
I think I know why people are having trouble finding those alignment tools for a cheap price.
You keep buying them. 🤣
Yes, that might be the problem!
I researched and found the very latest model of the old Sony decks that has everything I needed is the Sony DCR-TRV460. So hopefully they have newer SMD caps with the most life left in them. They can be purchased cheap on Ebay. There must be an “E” model as well for Europe.
I've never had any electronic faults (inc. bad caps) on any of the "modern" Sony Digital 8 camcorders. You should be fine 🙂
Hi, Colin. I have also come across many camcorders that have had sloppy guide travels. I don't think the sloppy bit should be a concern because more likely the guide posts may need to be replaced. There normally should be a tiny Allen key screw on the holder blocks of the guide posts that secures the guides into their holder blocks which tends to become loose. I think you might have been adjusting the guides without loosening that tiny screw which now has lost it's tension to hold the guides into their place securely. The guide posts should feel tight and locked into position when the Allen key screw is tightened up after the RF alignment is complete.
Maybe rob the mechanism out of a less desirable (mono, not digital8 etc) sony 8mm camcorder (or one otherwise broken, like leaky SMD caps having destroyed the board) to transplant into the TRV120E...? so long as it's a B mech
I know someone whose Hi8 camcorder was misaligned after it fell down. It then had a color disturbance due to crosstalk from the neighboring track. The camcorder is an ideal way to test which TBC (DVD Recorder in EE Mode) can process the worst color signal.
Thank you Colin nice to see older equipment being repaired and use rather than being tossed in the rubbish bin. Cheers
I sold hundreds of those cameras
Great time to be into electronics
That explains everything, I have encoutered such tapes before where the bottom would be distorted in such a way.
Meanwhile, you have experience with Sony EV-S9000E, correct? Is there a way to disable the display of SP/LP/Stereo whenever it changes on the tape? I had one recorded in mixed mode and the SP/LP would flash for a brief moment, I can splice these segments from D8 transfer, but there is discolouration on the right side as is the case with digitising with D8 cams.
Also, I have a pdf that lists the features of most D8 camcorders, not only analog playback, but also the A/D throughput, which is very useful.
Switch EVS9000E to EDIT mode to suppress the SL/LP/Stereo on-screen.
@@video99couk The submodel is VC, maybe there's something preventing it frmo working, but when I press Edit it only displays the message that I need to connect LANC and set LANC mode to S.
Why didn't I discover this channel earlier? Very interesting clips. They now have the subscription. Many greetings from Germany.
Enjoy the back catalogue of a few hundred videos!
The service manual refers to another manual for the deck itself - this is the "B mechanism" and you can find the manual for that online easily; it has the steps for disassembly and reassembly.
yup. punched "sony B mechanism" into google and the second result was good ol' elektrotanya coming to the rescue again. I should really donate to them at some point. they've saved my ass sooo many times with obscure SMs
I always wondered why the tape guides are sometimes misaligned! I always assumed some guy went in there with his screwdriver 30 years ago :D
Camcorders are also misaligned if you drop them😉
Worst case is just buy another DCR-TRV120e. They are cheap and plentiful and it is not worth spending a lot of time trying to fix them.
Alas they are not cheap. Not at all!
@@video99couk I guess I got lucky. I probably bought them in “as is, for parts only” condition and was able to get them going. Often the heads are just dirty or the pinch roller has come off.
I really love your videos.
@@video99coukwhen I search I look for ones that seem to be in physical very good condition. It can mean that the user bought it and didn’t use it much. Certainly ones that physically are beat to hell should be avoided.
I have half a dozen of these Sony Digital8/analog PB camcorders. In the past I've repaired them, even swapped a head drum on one (the head switching point was a little out of spec though, and probably needs some crazy "jig" to adjust - I've never looked into it - it's "useable" still) I wouldn't do anything that requires disassembly these days though. Spending 2 or 3 hours messing around with this stuff isn't "economically viable" - better to spend that time chipping away at the never-ending backlog of tapes and just buy another camcorder on eBay! I can make more $$ in 3 hours than these things sell for. I do kinda hate using fiddly little camcorders for V8/Hi8 tapes, bought a few Sony EVO series machines but they all had a trillion bad caps. Again, not economically worthwhile to spend my time on them, sadly.
Also bought a couple of brand-new sealed-in-box TEAC V-800-G-F decks - had high hopes for these - gorgeous-looking machines, front mounted RF test points, etc. Just what I needed...but the picture quality absolutely SUCKS! Super-soft pics compared with the Sony camcorders. Literally only useful for rewinding tapes and the rare/occasional tape with PCM audio. Don't be tempted to buy one of these!!!! I wasted a few thousand dollars on mine 😭
The only repair I would do to a modern Sony is to add a dab of glue to the little white plastic "tube" that holds the pinch roller on its post. Seen sooooo many of these fall off and get jammed in the mech.
Anyway....greetings from NYC, all the best! Neil
Here in the UK, these camcorders fetch good money on eBay. I will do some repairs, such as the flexi-cable problem from the top control panel.
@@video99couk Hi Colin (it is Colin, right?! apologies if not!). I really hate waste, and repairing things has always been my first plan of attack, but faced with a constant backlog of work, the economics of repairing camcorders just doesn't work anymore (for me)! I could literally be digitizing a dozen or more DV tapes, or whatever, in the time taken to work on a camcorder. They're not "cheap" here, about $250 for a good example - I always try to find one that's boxed with all its accessories - but it still makes far more sense to spend my time getting actual jobs out of the door. I don't mind working on full size VTRs etc, but I'd never strip a camcorder down to it's mechanism ever again, unless it's the only option!! My patience with tiny mechanisms isn't what it once was 😂 I hate to scrap the Sony EVO decks, too, but my god, they are crammed with surface mount caps, would take many, many hours to fix, and probably wouldn't end up giving any better results than a "modern" Digital8 camcorder. The TEAC decks seemed like a dream come true, absolutely brand new, until I saw the horrible soft video. God knows why they look so poor - they weren't cheap machines! All four that I tried are the same, so it doesn't seem to be a fault - just a crap design!! Anyhow, keep the videos coming, please! Have a good weekend 😊
You could use the time waiting for tapes to play through the digitiser to work on the machines.
@@CanizaM Nice idea, but most of the work I do is archive footage for TV documentaries etc. I gotta keep an eye on things! Even when it's just someone's "home movie" stuff, and I have 4 or 5 tapes running, they're rarely all the same length, so every 10 mins or so a tape needs swapping out. Several minutes getting the next tape ready, making all the necessary adjustments, then within a few minutes another tape has finished and needs swapping out ...or a deck needs a head cleaning...or the phone is ringing...or a client's ringing the doorbell! It's pretty hectic! 😂 I haven't totally given up on repairs, just find them not worth the time & effort for camcorders.
Worst case is just buy another DCR-TRV120e. They are cheap and plentiful and it is not worth spending a lot of time trying to fix them.