On Jul 2, 4:11*am, "Arfa Daily" wrote:
"Ron" wrote in message

...



I have two Panasonic VCR's, model numbers PV-V4540 and PV-9450.

They are almost idenical on the outside and very simular on the
inside.

The "newer" model - PV-V4540 - seems to have a head going bad from
everything I've read.

The PV-9450 works fine, but doesn't have the features that the PV-
V4540 has.

I would like to install the head unit from the PV-9450 (the older one)
in the PV-V4540 (the newer one).

They look the same, but are they the same? And if I swap the
headunits, will the alignment be the same?

Here are pics of the head units. The one thing that I wondering about
is the "arm" on the center post of the (newer) PV-V4540...what is
that?

The arm in the centre is for static discharge. Without it, on a machine
originally fitted with one - which most are - you tend to get little white
dots on the playback picture. Provided the heads *are* exactly the same,
then there are no alignment issues with head swaps on modern VCRs. It is
only two screws, so give it a go. Normally, the screw holes are offset
slightly to make sure that you don't get it on 180 degrees out. At worst, it
just won't work. As a matter of interest, what are the symptoms for your
diagnosis of failing heads on the first one ?

Arfa

When the video starts to get noticeably bad a screen will pop-up that
says the heads need to be cleaned. So for yrs I've been taking the top
off and cleaning the heads when the screen appears. (white piece of
paper with rubbing alcohol holding it against the heads on the upper
drum while turning it counterclockwise - alcohol and Q Tips for the
erase and audio heads) Put the top back on and everything is great
until they get dirty again.

So earlier this week the picture started looking *really* bad, and
sure enough there is the screen telling me the heads are dirty...so I
do my usual procedure, only this time, the picture still looks like
crap. The warning screen isn't coming up, but previously recorded
tapes in EP mode look horrible, any tapes I make in EP mode look
horrible.

Tapes that I've previously made in SP mode look OK and store bought
movies look OK also. Not great, just OK. (Same with making a tape in
SP)

Before any of this happened, while watching a recorded EP mode tape if
I were to hit rewind to back up the tape, about 25% of the upper
screen was nothing but noise lines/snow.

But, this would only happen if it was near the beginning of the tape.
Once you got past a certain point (3/8ths - 1/2 way) this problem
would go away.

After cleaning the heads, this problem is still present. I can fix
that problem by adjusting (big adjustment 1/4 turn) the feed side
roller guide, but the picture still looks horrible.

So, after reading many articles, I can only come to the conclusion
that one of the 4 heads in the drum/cylinder went bad.

I haven't had time to switch the heads yet, when I do I will post the
results.

Meatplow, after removing the 2 small screws, the upper part of the
drum/cylinder, what ever you wanna call it, just lifts right off.