I have the same machine here, it is a Sony betamax machine i got years ago with about 75 tapes, not sure if still works as have not used it in a while, but every thing is still there, may try it some time, i been using DVD and DVR more now to watch movies and VHs as i have alot of movies and tapes. I'm more into older classic movies though, like what we had as kids.
So much info, nothing speaks like experience! Always wondered about head replacement and how it would be done. Now, can head replacement be done on the 4mm dat units ?
Hi 12voltvids! I just watched your Sony Betamax Video Head Replacement from 2014. I have 3 beta video machines (not Betamax) and one Sony Handicam. NONE of them will play tapes. Nothing else is wrong with them. What I get when I play a tape, is a snowy screen. I can't believe they all need head replacements. I have cleaned the heads on each one and still gets snow. It's like the tracking is wacked on the all. Again, can't believe that is the same issue with each one. Any suggestions?
Hey i see you're still replying after all these years, thank you very much! Love the extra info from the comment section. On a related note, i want to put the head of a SL-HF860 in a SL-HF500 machine, is this possible due to compatibility? Is the process for doing this similar to the one on the video? The head is not completly shot but just in case
Sony had i think 3 different head drum designs. The original was a 3 piece where the disk in the center spun. This was used in all early machines up to the 710 chassis which was the sl5xxx series. The SL 2xxx series used the second type that had the 2 half's with the slot where the head protrudes. This was also used in the slhfxxx series but if i remember some of the latest last ones used a different drum. If the head disk fits it should work. There were slight differences. They were available as a 2 head, 3 head and 4 head config A 3 head can be used on a 2 head and a 2 head on a 3 head drum but slo-mo and freeze won't work. 4 head can be used on the 6 head drum (i have put an slhf900 drum in an slhf1000 and everything works except for video insert editing as the 1000 had flying erase heads)
Can you please explain why is it that a video head gradually deteriorates? From what I understand, it is nothing but a coil on graphite or something else. So unless the coil is damaged, it should play the same picture at all times and when the coil is damaged, the picture should stop. I would therefore expect it to be the same at all time (assuming it is clean) until one day it completely stops working. What causes it to be a gradual process?
The video head is a coil wound around a ferrite core. The ferrite core has a gap that is measured in microns. This is spinning and scanning the tape at 1800 rpm. After about 1000 hours the friction between the head and tape wears the head and the gap starts to get larger. It can now no longer respond to the same frequencies to record and play. As the gap widens it loses high frequency response. White peek is recorded lower in frequency blacks higher and the sync highest. When the high frequency drops sync gets distorted as does the darker areas of the picture resulting is tearing and noise. Fun fact a VCR with Warren heads will play recordings made on other machines fairly well and when you make a recording on a VCR with a warrant heads that tape will play fairly well on a machine with good heads however if you make a recording and attempt to play it on the same machine look at a very bad unwatchable picture. That's the fastest way to tell if your heads are worn. If the VCR will play an old recording or a recording made on a different machine but not a recent recording they had to shot. You can verify this using a scope I'm looking at the RF output because it will be very low. Typically time lapse VCRs that were used for security use and we're running 24 hours a day I would change the head about every 9 months to one year of use and they were completely shot by this point
Great job! I have several beta decks that need new heads. I've replaced them in the past, but I can't seem to locate replacement heads anymore. Will you please post your source for replacement head assemblies? I have a SL-HF360 (part number 846Z02) in dire need of a new head assembly.
Hello again 12voltvid, After my second purchase off ebay, i finally got a used SL-2700 with a good video head. I have replaced the old one with the new one , and the video itself looks pretty darn clear, except there are a lot of interferences, rolling, and scratchiness (if that is a word). I'm guessing the tape/ tape path is way out of alignment. No one in these parts that I know of that can trouble shoot this for me, so i'm asking you if there is a standard procedure for "tuning" the machine. Any chance I could send you a video of what my screen looks like if that would help. I know there are many adjustable screws, etc inside the machine, but I can't find the secret. Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work, Bob
The big problem with the SL2700, SL2500 and SL2000 was the direct drive mechanism. I know, it sounds like a better system, but on those machines the extra tension when rewinding and ff caused the tape to polish the upper drum surface to a mirror like appearance and this is bad. The tape sticks to it and it causes many playback problems that appears like tracking issues. Take a look at the upper drum. It should be a dull aluminum texture. It is shiny, even just on part of it, it need to come off, and be given the comet procedure.
I also have a Toshiba V-M41 Beta that failed at the same time as the Sony. It plays the tape fine but there is no picture or audio with static on the screen. Tracking doesn't change anything.
Hi there, I am wondering if you have spare Betamax machine exactly the same as the one in this video? As I am looking for a loading mech to fix my Sony betamax
The older SL 5000 series, as well as the 6000, 7000 and 8000 series used a 3 piece drum. The heads were on the center portion disk that spun. A special micrometer and jig was required to replace the head disk on these machines as you had to get the eccentricity correct or the picture would shake violently side to side. The jig initially cost the authorized servicers (you had to be trained by Sony to even be able to buy on) was close to 600.00 for the kit, which included a few different base assemblies for attaching it to the various machines, and set of dihedral adjustment screws. These were wedge shaped screws that were placed down in the head disk and used to align one of the heads so it exactly tracked the factory alignment tape, which was also required. It had the indian head test pattern recorded, but the head switching point was advanced to it occurred during the frame instead of the normal place, which is 6 lines before vertical sync. So they would advance it to 30 or so lines so you could see it in the picture, and there would be a 'Y" split on the vertical lines. Dihedral adjustment was done to minimize the "Y" so it looked closer to an "I" and was a time consuming procedure as the dihedral screw was put down until tension was felt, and then 1/4 turn, and then remove it again for the test as leaving it down in the head would change the balance of the disk. A good Betamax tech could change the head, and do full alignment in an hour. I remember one of my co-workers taking all day and then giving up. Ended up on my bench and I had it done in under an hour.
12voltvids The sl2000 has 3 heads on a spinning centerdisc, the drum is stationary like in this video. So, you still have to align them with specialized tools and proper training?
Nik Neuy The SL2000 is the portable unit, that I did a service video for and is a 2 head machine. You are probably thinking the SL-HF2000 which was a 3 head (good slo mo and freeze frame) Regardless both use the 2 piece drum like in this video, and no specialized tools are required to replace it. They are prealigned, and the drum motor is a nice tight fit to the head disk. If you saw one of the older 3 piece head drums you would know what I mean. Loosen the screws and the disk can move freely around the motor spindle.
when i had vcr's and got a head clog i used to leave a brand new blank playing through and that always cleared the fault but usuallly when that tape was taped on it was full of bad dropouts but at that time memorex would send a replacement under the guarantee for replacing faulty tapes if you returned the tape to them
Scotch actually made a special cleaning tape which was just a regular VHS tape that had not been polished, so the surface was slightly more rough. They recorded a message on the tape. It said, when you can read this message, your video heads are clean. Eject the tape now, do not rewind untill the end is reached. It was good for perhaps 5 passes. Worked well. For that matter all the certified dry cleaning tapes worked this way. They were just regular video tape without the final polishing and the oxide was not as fine. That worked to scrub out the debris from the tape. Back side of of your fingernail also works well. It is just the right hardness to clear the clog without damaging. We did that on the air many times on umatic. If a head clogged while on the air the operator would just stick his finger in, and clean the head. If you do this where the tape is mashed between your nail and the head it will scratch the head, if you can access the drum where there is not tape around it, the dirt will come off and stick to your nail. Saw that done many times when I worked briefly at the local TV station.
I have a trouble with my SL-HFR30 Sony Betamax, can play very well my tapes, and do normally the fast forward or rewind, but, I want to record anything in any tape, always the VCR ejects the tape, the tapes are new, can you help me?
I know exactly what your problem is. There is a lockout switch that is activated by the cassette. On the bottom of the deck under the front loader there is a metal pin that sticks up. Normally the pin is pushed down by the cassette. This pin activates the record prevent switch. When the tape pushes the pin down it activates the switch. If you break the record tab off on the bottom of the tape the record prevent switch doesn't activate, and the system control is set to eject the tape if you press the record button on a tape that has the record prevent tab broken. Now asasuming that the tab is not broken off on the bottom of the tape it is 1 of 3 things. Either the switch is defective, the wire to the switch is broken, or the cassette is not dropping all the way down on the side that the tab is on. That lock out tab is on the right side of the cassette looking from the top down, just behind the flap that opens. If you turn a tape over it will be on the left edge just behind the hinge for the tape flap. If it is a hole, then the tab is broken, and you need to cover it up with some scotch tape. If the tab is present, it will be most likely one of the 3 things I mentioned.
Im working on a Magnavox VCR/DVD recorder combo. I have no video at all using the Composite but audio is fine. When I swith to component or HDMI I have snow and audio but. All outputs are fine when using the DVD side. Is this bad heads in your opinion?
That's one great camera! I was wondering if you might be amenable to uploading a wiring schematic of your ESR meter on your website, even if it is for Patrons only? Doubtless after watching your videos people are going to want to build them, and I, for one, would be willing to become a Patron for that!
Hi, I'm from Mexico City, I have a beta sony 1988 SL HF860D and when I play it does not turn the head. Why can it be? I saw your video and I lubricate it as you say but it does not turn. Can you help me please?
When they worked they were ok, but as far as reliability goes sanyo and Sony had them beat. Sanyo beta machines were exceptionally reliable. Go figure they unloaded the tape like VHS to Ff and rewind. Less stress on mechanism and a very simple loading mech.
Yes, I bought the SL-P7000 player working and S-570, but I got a 5600 that don´t power up. I know mechanism works perfectly (stopped working after long storage). Can I remove the PSU from one machine and install it on another? Thanks
Hi, you really do great videos, really thanks for that, but i have couple questions, every head has two little heads or inductors (it's the same thing for hifi units like the sl-hf860d or the sl-hf840d?) and do you know where is located the audio heads?
+hector gonzalez Beta HiFi use the same heads to record the HIFI audio as the video.Unlike VHS HIFI they do not need separate heads. Because the head drum on a beta machine is larger there is more bandwidth, enough to place the 4 FM carriers used for the sound between the down converted 688KHz chroma, and the FM Lumanence signal.(they are in the 1.5-1.7mhz spectrum)On VHS because the drum is smaller, the relative head to tape speed is less, so there is less bandwidth. Not enough room to place additional FM carriers, so for VHS they used separate heads that were cut at a totally different angle, this allowed a deep layer recording of the FM audio signals, and then the video was recorded over top. The video signal would erase a portion of the audio that was already there, but because the angle, or azimuth was so different from the video signal, enough of it remained to be recovered. It was a totally inferior and complex way to do it compared to the simple Beta solution, but that was the only technical way they could make it work. Beta was better in every way except for the most important one, the cash register.
+12voltvids thank you for your quickly response, well maybe that's why some people of this technology still retain his Betamax, It was a shame that this technology disappear.
+hector gonzalez Betamax was a great format. I have several Betamax machines myself including 2 SLHF1000, an SLHF900, SL5200 (that was the first HIFI VCR ever made), 2 SL2000 portable, an SL3000, and a few vintage SL8200 and SL7200 boat anchors. This one I fixed in this video had been given to me, I put it up on Ebay, and it fetched me 400.00! These units are like gold, because they are getting hard to find, and if someone has a collection of old tapes they need to transfer they start looking for working machines. The tape transfer businesses out there that still do Beta typically charge a fair bit by the hour. I know in my tape transfer business I charge a flat fare for VHS, but for the specialty formats, Betamax, 3/4" S-VHS it is charged out per hour, so if someone has a bunch of tapes it gets real expensive real quick. So used machines go pretty quick and for top dollar. I placed this one up on Ebay with a reserve as I didn't want to give it away. First bid was over the reserve, and 25 bids later it was at 400 and it went State side. Cost the buyer another 60.00 shipping because these units are heavy. I was given a mint condition SL2000 portable with tuner and camera. Once I overhaul that, it will also be auctioned off to a collector. My old 2000 is beat up, but the one I just received (broken of course) looks like it just came out of the box.
I have a Sony SuperBeta SL-100. Just recently got it from ebay. At first it worked fine, then every time I turned it on I had to spin the head up to get it going, and now the head won't spin at all. If I try to spin it, it will just go back to its original position. It seems like the head motor is holding the head still instead of spinning it.The head spins freely when not trying to play, record, fast forward, etc.
+Jack K Clean the glue off the hall sensor on the stator. That yellow glue turns brown and becomes conductive.The head drum is a 3 phase motor, and the hall sensor tells the chip what phase the motor is so it can advance the rotation of the magnetic field to move the motor.How it works, is the motor drive IC creates a rotating magnetic field by switching the 6 coils on and off. The coils are cross wired, one will be north, and the one opposite south. No feedback from hall sensor, no rotation, the motor will lock exactly like you describe.If you watch that 3 hour sony beta training seminar I uploaded, the instructor talks about this problem.
+Jack K Look at this video:ruclips.net/video/vt2MO1ScbPMT/видео.htmlhis one had a drum motor problem, I am sure it was the hall sensor, and I show it at about the 4:30 point. On this one, I had a spare coil assembly so I swapped it, but I am sure it was just the hall sensor that was bad.
Due to the higher frequencies that svhs uses it is possible that the head could be worn, but it more likely a problem in the svhs signal processing, capacitors in the comb filter are very common. The svhs signal takes a different path through the circuitry than vhs.
+Donald Ellett It think it would be tough to find a Betamax head these days as it has been about 20 years since they went out of production. I keep old machines for parts recycling. I lace a storage locker full of old junk.
You might still be able to order new replacement Sony Betamax heads from ASTI Magnetics. If this particular unit is a 2 head model, it should use ASTI part number 416. ASTI part number 430 would be for many Sony 3 head models such as the SL-HF550. Your SL-5200 would use ASTI part number 404. Unfortunately, we're SOL when it comes to models like the SL-HF750, SL-HF1000, and any ED-Beta deck. ASTI also appears to have part numbers for video head disc assemblies for Toshiba and Sanyo models, though they don't have anything with more than two heads for models from those makes. You'll have to call ASTI to check for availability and pricing: 1-800-654-2202 Extension 107 You must be registered as an ASTI Customer to purchase parts direct from them.
Really? Where? I have literally hundreds of hi-8 tapes I have no idea what to do with. They all have raw footage of peoples weddings I shot over the past 30 years. Have a huge box, one of these days they will meet Mr Bulk eraser and then go in the garbage. Too bad, there is hundreds of dollars in tapes that are basically worthless now.. I have hundreds of SVHS and Beta tapes that will also suffer the same fate I am afraid.
Betamax Flippy Not a bad idea. I would give away most of these tapes, as I will never use them. They have all been used once. I used to shoot lots of event videos, peoples weddings and other for hire stuff. I would shoot the tape, dump it for editing an dthen put the tape in a box. Many of the camera tapes were reused a few times, but the masted edited tapes I kept so if the client ever came back for another copy I would still have it. Over the years I shot literally hundreds of weddings, and every one of them from 1984 right up to when I quit the business in 2006 is on either a beta, S-VHS, Hi-8 or digital 8 format for the master edited tape. Many of these couples have probably long split. I should just bulk erase them and get rid of them. I have several large boxes full of tapes I need to get rid of.
+KnightField if you had a betamax and valuable tapes on the beta format that you wanted to preserve then you would. I sold this machine you see here on ebay, it went for 475.00 us! I still get betamax tapes to archive to Digital. I get $20 per hour to archive beta and 3/4" because there are so few people with beta and UMatic machines that work. Most people tossed them out long ago and then they stumble across their wedding or their old videos of their kids when they were young. I am busier now in the video archive business than I ever have been. I usually have 2 or 3 DVD recorders running at once in my studio. On average I burn 50 to 100 dvd a week! So yes people do try to fix an old machine. 1, so they can transfer their tapes, or 2, so they can sell it as a working machine, because to a collector beta machines are like gold. Kinda shot your dumb ass comment down in flames didn't I!
You'd be surprised. Here in the UK they are still in demand. I refurbish these too, as many are archiving to digital. Sadly most are in desperate need of a good service and some love especially after 30 odd years.
+חנן נחמני I do have a couple of spares that are repaired, they are NTSC machines. I would consider selling one if the price was right. I know how rare they are these days, so I wouldn't be giving any Betamax units away.
thanks for sharing your knowledge and a big AMEN to saving those tapes for posterity
Great video.I have the sony SL-HF950.If he brakes down i can watch one of your videos to look for the problem.Thank you for sharing your expertise.
I have the same machine here, it is a Sony betamax machine i got years ago with about 75 tapes, not sure if still works as have not used it in a while, but every thing is still there, may try it some time, i been using DVD and DVR more now to watch movies and VHs as i have alot of movies and tapes. I'm more into older classic movies though, like what we had as kids.
hello Mr. 12voltvids, awesome channel, you're the only one on this planet that still cares for betamaxes and I adore you for that.
love watching your videos you are pure genius doing a diagnosis and repair and the vcr or whatever works again
So much info, nothing speaks like experience! Always wondered about head replacement and how it would be done. Now, can head replacement be done on the 4mm dat units ?
HI how many heads is there left in the world for betamax i can see you are moving heads around is there alot of parts left around
Is the video head repairable, or is it a paperweight now and your going to dispose it.
Hi 12voltvids! I just watched your Sony Betamax Video Head Replacement from 2014.
I have 3 beta video machines (not Betamax) and one Sony Handicam. NONE of them will play tapes.
Nothing else is wrong with them. What I get when I play a tape, is a snowy screen. I can't believe they all need head replacements. I have cleaned the heads on each one and still gets snow. It's like the tracking is wacked on the all. Again, can't believe that is the same issue with each one. Any suggestions?
Hey i see you're still replying after all these years, thank you very much! Love the extra info from the comment section.
On a related note, i want to put the head of a SL-HF860 in a SL-HF500 machine, is this possible due to compatibility? Is the process for doing this similar to the one on the video? The head is not completly shot but just in case
Sony had i think 3 different head drum designs. The original was a 3 piece where the disk in the center spun. This was used in all early machines up to the 710 chassis which was the sl5xxx series. The SL 2xxx series used the second type that had the 2 half's with the slot where the head protrudes. This was also used in the slhfxxx series but if i remember some of the latest last ones used a different drum. If the head disk fits it should work. There were slight differences. They were available as a 2 head, 3 head and 4 head config
A 3 head can be used on a 2 head and a 2 head on a 3 head drum but slo-mo and freeze won't work. 4 head can be used on the 6 head drum (i have put an slhf900 drum in an slhf1000 and everything works except for video insert editing as the 1000 had flying erase heads)
What was white plastic parts on macanishm on back side
Can you please explain why is it that a video head gradually deteriorates? From what I understand, it is nothing but a coil on graphite or something else. So unless the coil is damaged, it should play the same picture at all times and when the coil is damaged, the picture should stop. I would therefore expect it to be the same at all time (assuming it is clean) until one day it completely stops working. What causes it to be a gradual process?
The video head is a coil wound around a ferrite core. The ferrite core has a gap that is measured in microns. This is spinning and scanning the tape at 1800 rpm. After about 1000 hours the friction between the head and tape wears the head and the gap starts to get larger. It can now no longer respond to the same frequencies to record and play. As the gap widens it loses high frequency response. White peek is recorded lower in frequency blacks higher and the sync highest. When the high frequency drops sync gets distorted as does the darker areas of the picture resulting is tearing and noise. Fun fact a VCR with Warren heads will play recordings made on other machines fairly well and when you make a recording on a VCR with a warrant heads that tape will play fairly well on a machine with good heads however if you make a recording and attempt to play it on the same machine look at a very bad unwatchable picture. That's the fastest way to tell if your heads are worn. If the VCR will play an old recording or a recording made on a different machine but not a recent recording they had to shot. You can verify this using a scope I'm looking at the RF output because it will be very low. Typically time lapse VCRs that were used for security use and we're running 24 hours a day I would change the head about every 9 months to one year of use and they were completely shot by this point
Great job! I have several beta decks that need new heads. I've replaced them in the past, but I can't seem to locate replacement heads anymore. Will you please post your source for replacement head assemblies? I have a SL-HF360 (part number 846Z02) in dire need of a new head assembly.
These days these parts are getting as scarce as hens teeth. I salvaged the head off of another unit.
Hello again 12voltvid, After my second purchase off ebay, i finally got a used SL-2700 with a good video head. I have replaced the old one with the new one , and the video itself looks pretty darn clear, except there are a lot of interferences, rolling, and scratchiness (if that is a word). I'm guessing the tape/ tape path is way out of alignment. No one in these parts that I know of that can trouble shoot this for me, so i'm asking you if there is a standard procedure for "tuning" the machine. Any chance I could send you a video of what my screen looks like if that would help. I know there are many adjustable screws, etc inside the machine, but I can't find the secret. Thanks in advance. Keep up the good work, Bob
The big problem with the SL2700, SL2500 and SL2000 was the direct drive mechanism. I know, it sounds like a better system, but on those machines the extra tension when rewinding and ff caused the tape to polish the upper drum surface to a mirror like appearance and this is bad.
The tape sticks to it and it causes many playback problems that appears like tracking issues. Take a look at the upper drum. It should be a dull aluminum texture. It is shiny, even just on part of it, it need to come off, and be given the comet procedure.
hi!! where can I find replacements for sl s380 all de mecanic system because does´t work thanks
Hello . Don't you have a tutorial showing how to replace the hall effect sensor of a Sony SL-HF950ES ?!
I also have a Toshiba V-M41 Beta that failed at the same time as the Sony. It plays the tape fine but there is no picture or audio with static on the screen. Tracking doesn't change anything.
My head is working but I hear a noise, it sounds like it needs lubrication, is there any way to do this?
I LIKE his videos
Hello mate, I have a superbeta here in Brazil, but the head is not spinning, and tape seems to run slowly, do you know what is the problem?
Do you need sometimes lubricate the head, on a head shaft, or something like that ? On my vcr like to hear a little bit louder head. thanks
Thanks for posting, nice video.
Exeslent bro and good job 👍👍👍
Hi there, I am wondering if you have spare Betamax machine exactly the same as the one in this video? As I am looking for a loading mech to fix my Sony betamax
I suspect one of my sl-f1e (sl2000) has a bad head. Good to know that stationary drumassembly is easier to service.
The older SL 5000 series, as well as the 6000, 7000 and 8000 series used a 3 piece drum. The heads were on the center portion disk that spun.
A special micrometer and jig was required to replace the head disk on these machines as you had to get the eccentricity correct or the picture would shake violently side to side. The jig initially cost the authorized servicers (you had to be trained by Sony to even be able to buy on) was close to 600.00 for the kit, which included a few different base assemblies for attaching it to the various machines, and set of dihedral adjustment screws. These were wedge shaped screws that were placed down in the head disk and used to align one of the heads so it exactly tracked the factory alignment tape, which was also required.
It had the indian head test pattern recorded, but the head switching point was advanced to it occurred during the frame instead of the normal place, which is 6 lines before vertical sync. So they would advance it to 30 or so lines so you could see it in the picture, and there would be a 'Y" split on the vertical lines. Dihedral adjustment was done to minimize the "Y" so it looked closer to an "I" and was a time consuming procedure as the dihedral screw was put down until tension was felt, and then 1/4 turn, and then remove it again for the test as leaving it down in the head would change the balance of the disk. A good Betamax tech could change the head, and do full alignment in an hour. I remember one of my co-workers taking all day and then giving up. Ended up on my bench and I had it done in under an hour.
12voltvids The sl2000 has 3 heads on a spinning centerdisc, the drum is stationary like in this video. So, you still have to align them with specialized tools and proper training?
Nik Neuy The SL2000 is the portable unit, that I did a service video for and is a 2 head machine. You are probably thinking the SL-HF2000 which was a 3 head (good slo mo and freeze frame)
Regardless both use the 2 piece drum like in this video, and no specialized tools are required to replace it. They are prealigned, and the drum motor is a nice tight fit to the head disk. If you saw one of the older 3 piece head drums you would know what I mean. Loosen the screws and the disk can move freely around the motor spindle.
12voltvids Ah ok. Yes it's a portable. Thnx for the info!
Why did you not have to use a jig to adjust eccentricity in this case?
Not required on 711 chassis machines.
thanks for your good vids ...
when i had vcr's and got a head clog i used to leave a brand new blank playing through and that always cleared the fault but usuallly when that tape was taped on it was full of bad dropouts but at that time memorex would send a replacement under the guarantee for replacing faulty tapes if you returned the tape to them
Scotch actually made a special cleaning tape which was just a regular VHS tape that had not been polished, so the surface was slightly more rough. They recorded a message on the tape. It said, when you can read this message, your video heads are clean. Eject the tape now, do not rewind untill the end is reached.
It was good for perhaps 5 passes. Worked well. For that matter all the certified dry cleaning tapes worked this way. They were just regular video tape without the final polishing and the oxide was not as fine. That worked to scrub out the debris from the tape.
Back side of of your fingernail also works well. It is just the right hardness to clear the clog without damaging. We did that on the air many times on umatic. If a head clogged while on the air the operator would just stick his finger in, and clean the head. If you do this where the tape is mashed between your nail and the head it will scratch the head, if you can access the drum where there is not tape around it, the dirt will come off and stick to your nail.
Saw that done many times when I worked briefly at the local TV station.
I have a trouble with my SL-HFR30 Sony Betamax, can play very well my tapes, and do normally the fast forward or rewind, but, I want to record anything in any tape, always the VCR ejects the tape, the tapes are new, can you help me?
I know exactly what your problem is.
There is a lockout switch that is activated by the cassette. On the bottom of the deck under the front loader there is a metal pin that sticks up. Normally the pin is pushed down by the cassette. This pin activates the record prevent switch. When the tape pushes the pin down it activates the switch. If you break the record tab off on the bottom of the tape the record prevent switch doesn't activate, and the system control is set to eject the tape if you press the record button on a tape that has the record prevent tab broken.
Now asasuming that the tab is not broken off on the bottom of the tape it is 1 of 3 things. Either the switch is defective, the wire to the switch is broken, or the cassette is not dropping all the way down on the side that the tab is on.
That lock out tab is on the right side of the cassette looking from the top down, just behind the flap that opens. If you turn a tape over it will be on the left edge just behind the hinge for the tape flap. If it is a hole, then the tab is broken, and you need to cover it up with some scotch tape. If the tab is present, it will be most likely one of the 3 things I mentioned.
Im working on a Magnavox VCR/DVD recorder combo. I have no video at all using the Composite but audio is fine. When I swith to component or HDMI I have snow and audio but. All outputs are fine when using the DVD side. Is this bad heads in your opinion?
How does a rotary transformer go bad?
Usually the glue used to hold the winding in into the groove on the ferrite core attacks the enamal insulation on the wire and then the copper itself.
That's one great camera! I was wondering if you might be amenable to uploading a wiring schematic of your ESR meter on your website, even if it is for Patrons only? Doubtless after watching your videos people are going to want to build them, and I, for one, would be willing to become a Patron for that!
It I had it I would post but I built this 25 years ago.
Hi, I'm from Mexico City, I have a beta sony 1988 SL HF860D and when I play it does not turn the head. Why can it be?
I saw your video and I lubricate it as you say but it does not turn. Can you help me please?
Is a Toshiba VS-443 a decent betamax machine? I've never owned a betamax but recently picked up a box full of tapes for free and I'm intrigued.
When they worked they were ok, but as far as reliability goes sanyo and Sony had them beat. Sanyo beta machines were exceptionally reliable. Go figure they unloaded the tape like VHS to Ff and rewind. Less stress on mechanism and a very simple loading mech.
@@12voltvids
Thanks! Saved me some money and headache!
Yes, I bought the SL-P7000 player working and S-570, but I got a 5600 that don´t power up.
I know mechanism works perfectly (stopped working after long storage).
Can I remove the PSU from one machine and install it on another?
Thanks
because I have and old 5400 and belt kits and powers but don´t play or anything.
No the PSU will be different. They might use the same linear regulator IC.
Are heads still available for sony beta?
Only from a donor machine.
Hi,please help me
i have one vcr sony betamax SL-800,i want video head drum for that.do you have it?
Tnx a lot
No I don't have any head drums to sell.
Where can I get video head for Sony super Betamax sl-200me?
I don't know where you can get beta parts. Try googling it and see what comes up. I am sure there are a few places that have old parts.
Hi, you really do great videos, really thanks for that, but i have couple questions, every head has two little heads or inductors (it's the same thing for hifi units like the sl-hf860d or the sl-hf840d?) and do you know where is located the audio heads?
+hector gonzalez Beta HiFi use the same heads to record the HIFI audio as the video.Unlike VHS HIFI they do not need separate heads. Because the head drum on a beta machine is larger there is more bandwidth, enough to place the 4 FM carriers used for the sound between the down converted 688KHz chroma, and the FM Lumanence signal.(they are in the 1.5-1.7mhz spectrum)On VHS because the drum is smaller, the relative head to tape speed is less, so there is less bandwidth. Not enough room to place additional FM carriers, so for VHS they used separate heads that were cut at a totally different angle, this allowed a deep layer recording of the FM audio signals, and then the video was recorded over top. The video signal would erase a portion of the audio that was already there, but because the angle, or azimuth was so different from the video signal, enough of it remained to be recovered. It was a totally inferior and complex way to do it compared to the simple Beta solution, but that was the only technical way they could make it work. Beta was better in every way except for the most important one, the cash register.
+12voltvids thank you for your quickly response, well maybe that's why some people of this technology still retain his Betamax, It was a shame that this technology disappear.
+hector gonzalez Betamax was a great format. I have several Betamax machines myself including 2 SLHF1000, an SLHF900, SL5200 (that was the first HIFI VCR ever made), 2 SL2000 portable, an SL3000, and a few vintage SL8200 and SL7200 boat anchors. This one I fixed in this video had been given to me, I put it up on Ebay, and it fetched me 400.00! These units are like gold, because they are getting hard to find, and if someone has a collection of old tapes they need to transfer they start looking for working machines. The tape transfer businesses out there that still do Beta typically charge a fair bit by the hour. I know in my tape transfer business I charge a flat fare for VHS, but for the specialty formats, Betamax, 3/4" S-VHS it is charged out per hour, so if someone has a bunch of tapes it gets real expensive real quick. So used machines go pretty quick and for top dollar. I placed this one up on Ebay with a reserve as I didn't want to give it away. First bid was over the reserve, and 25 bids later it was at 400 and it went State side. Cost the buyer another 60.00 shipping because these units are heavy. I was given a mint condition SL2000 portable with tuner and camera. Once I overhaul that, it will also be auctioned off to a collector. My old 2000 is beat up, but the one I just received (broken of course) looks like it just came out of the box.
Love that machines, a time for continous develpment... and... the only Hi tech thing at home . .
Is it true that SL2000 portable are very reliable because of his protection for traveling?
I have a Sony SuperBeta SL-100. Just recently got it from ebay. At first it worked fine, then every time I turned it on I had to spin the head up to get it going, and now the head won't spin at all. If I try to spin it, it will just go back to its original position. It seems like the head motor is holding the head still instead of spinning it.The head spins freely when not trying to play, record, fast forward, etc.
+Jack K Clean the glue off the hall sensor on the stator. That yellow glue turns brown and becomes conductive.The head drum is a 3 phase motor, and the hall sensor tells the chip what phase the motor is so it can advance the rotation of the magnetic field to move the motor.How it works, is the motor drive IC creates a rotating magnetic field by switching the 6 coils on and off. The coils are cross wired, one will be north, and the one opposite south. No feedback from hall sensor, no rotation, the motor will lock exactly like you describe.If you watch that 3 hour sony beta training seminar I uploaded, the instructor talks about this problem.
Do you have a timestamp? I also don't know where the hall sensor is. Assuming I'll have to take the bottom panel off and it's under the head?
+Jack K Look at this video:ruclips.net/video/vt2MO1ScbPMT/видео.htmlhis one had a drum motor problem, I am sure it was the hall sensor, and I show it at about the 4:30 point. On this one, I had a spare coil assembly so I swapped it, but I am sure it was just the hall sensor that was bad.
I damaged one of the coils slightly when removing it. It should be fine right?
Also how do you recommend re-gluing the hall effect sensor?
do beta tapes eject when they rewind from the end of the tape like vhs tapes?
My SL-C9 doesn’t but then again my VHS doesn’t either
i was told to use printer paper on adat with the right cleaner in paper it doe's work you are right how to do it here
I have s-vhs deck that won't playback s-vhs tapes but will play back vhs could it be the head?
Due to the higher frequencies that svhs uses it is possible that the head could be worn, but it more likely a problem in the svhs signal processing, capacitors in the comb filter are very common. The svhs signal takes a different path through the circuitry than vhs.
Do you have to buy a new head or chip to fix it or how do you do it??
+Donald Ellett It think it would be tough to find a Betamax head these days as it has been about 20 years since they went out of production. I keep old machines for parts recycling. I lace a storage locker full of old junk.
Pay dividends keeping old systems !!
No
I have an NTSC machine that I am willing to part with, if the price is right. Probably this machine here.
You might still be able to order new replacement Sony Betamax heads from ASTI Magnetics.
If this particular unit is a 2 head model, it should use ASTI part number 416.
ASTI part number 430 would be for many Sony 3 head models such as the SL-HF550.
Your SL-5200 would use ASTI part number 404.
Unfortunately, we're SOL when it comes to models like the SL-HF750, SL-HF1000, and any ED-Beta deck.
ASTI also appears to have part numbers for video head disc assemblies for Toshiba and Sanyo models, though they don't have anything with more than two heads for models from those makes.
You'll have to call ASTI to check for availability and pricing: 1-800-654-2202 Extension 107
You must be registered as an ASTI Customer to purchase parts direct from them.
Sensitive machines
Hi my name is chanan from Israel.Do you have a working beta max recorder for sale.
28:33 what movie is that on the Beta-Tape?
I have no idea. It didn't pull a copyright match which is unusual because if it does I will have to cut it out
put the head assembly in a ultrasonic bath i have many heads cleand with succes
so july of last year......and it only lasted a year? wow....
This machine is still working fine. One of my HF 1000s that I put a new regulator in last year has gone south.
oh oops.
The one with the sticking head drum?
And it hadn't been powered up since the last time you saw it running.
so much Video8 tapes sitting there...
Really? Where?
I have literally hundreds of hi-8 tapes I have no idea what to do with.
They all have raw footage of peoples weddings I shot over the past 30 years. Have a huge box, one of these days they will meet Mr Bulk eraser and then go in the garbage. Too bad, there is hundreds of dollars in tapes that are basically worthless now.. I have hundreds of SVHS and Beta tapes that will also suffer the same fate I am afraid.
For the beta tapes you can join the facebook group called Betamax Is Better, and maybe there's someone that collects those other two formats!
Betamax Flippy
Not a bad idea. I would give away most of these tapes, as I will never use them.
They have all been used once. I used to shoot lots of event videos, peoples weddings and other for hire stuff. I would shoot the tape, dump it for editing an dthen put the tape in a box. Many of the camera tapes were reused a few times, but the masted edited tapes I kept so if the client ever came back for another copy I would still have it. Over the years I shot literally hundreds of weddings, and every one of them from 1984 right up to when I quit the business in 2006 is on either a beta, S-VHS, Hi-8 or digital 8 format for the master edited tape. Many of these couples have probably long split. I should just bulk erase them and get rid of them.
I have several large boxes full of tapes I need to get rid of.
never clean the head with tissues betamax heads are fragil and by fast rewinding the tape contact continu the heads
Hi
who would need this video?? how often would a person be at home and say shit my betamax is broken.
+KnightField if you had a betamax and valuable tapes on the beta format that you wanted to preserve then you would. I sold this machine you see here on ebay, it went for 475.00 us!
I still get betamax tapes to archive to Digital. I get $20 per hour to archive beta and 3/4" because there are so few people with beta and UMatic machines that work. Most people tossed them out long ago and then they stumble across their wedding or their old videos of their kids when they were young. I am busier now in the video archive business than I ever have been. I usually have 2 or 3 DVD recorders running at once in my studio. On average I burn 50 to 100 dvd a week!
So yes people do try to fix an old machine. 1, so they can transfer their tapes, or 2, so they can sell it as a working machine, because to a collector beta machines are like gold.
Kinda shot your dumb ass comment down in flames didn't I!
12voltvids that you did :-)
You'd be surprised. Here in the UK they are still in demand. I refurbish these too, as many are archiving to digital. Sadly most are in desperate need of a good service and some love especially after 30 odd years.
Hi my name is chanan from Israel.Do you have a working beta max recorder for sale.
Hi my name is chanan from Israel.Do you have a working beta max recorder for sale.
+חנן נחמני I do have a couple of spares that are repaired, they are NTSC machines. I would consider selling one if the price was right. I know how rare they are these days, so I wouldn't be giving any Betamax units away.