I have an EV-C3 which needs help. We'd love to get it running again sowe can view some of military time footage. Can you help? Or know a source of help. Thanks. Bill


On Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at 1:30:27 AM UTC-4, Wild_Bill wrote:
Hi, I haven't worked on VCRs for years, but I have a recent interest in 8mm
and Hi8 equipment lately, since the gear is so compact, and some of it
operates away from an AC power soure (DC powered) for remote use.
I still have enough test equipment and safe habits to get by with.

I spotted a used SONY EV C3 8mm VCR (approx 20 years old) at a recent
hamfest, and since it was only $5, I thought I'd get it to see if it was
going to be worthwhile to repair (the nice seller did at least inform me
that it did not work).
While this unit isn't commercial grade, it was cheap enough for curiousity's
sake anyway.

I've done some homework to look up SONY 8mm faults in the archives, and
believe the leaky smt electrolytics in the head amp (all 11 of 'em) repair
tip is definitely accurate for a deck of this vintage with the problem of
playing slow.
The other transport functions operate normally, except Eject. I haven't
tried recording yet, because there isn't much use in it's present condition.

Anyway, the interior of the unit seemed exceptionally clean, and testing
with a pre-recorded tape displayed poor video and audio (appears like very
bad tracking).. unsteady, slow and jittery.

From earlier experience with SONY 8mm gear, I was familiar with loose guide
posts and the resulting poor performance which has always looked as
described, but not necessarily playing slow.
The adjustable guide posts are loose enough to turn with fingertips, so
that's part of the playback problem.

The Unload/Eject problem has me confused (not a difficult situation anymore)
as the tape unloading operation is jerky, and the guide post blocks run back
'n forth while trying to accomplish unloading.
Some times, they stop in the middle and the power can be shut off, then
turned back on to retry Eject.
This might work in one try or may take 3 tries, but then the cassette ejects
quickly when the guide post blocks have reached the fully unloaded position.
There appears to be adequate lubrication on the underside of the mode gear
and associated parts, as I added just a very slight amount for surfaces of
the moving parts.

I don't understand the jerky, back 'n forth motion of the guide posts..
stopping and moving would seem normal, but running forward and reverse has
me baffled.
Would anyone care to enlighten me as to why this might be happening?

I haven't removed the mode switch for examination, but I did drip a couple
of drops of DeoxIT (not flooded) into the switch before running the
mechanism thru numerous cyles, with no change.

There appear to be only 2 very small/tiny cogged belts in this mechanism
(somewhere noted to be the U mechanism that's also used in commercial
units).

Thanks for any insight.

--
Cheers,
WB
..................