The ATF, auto-track-find, servo does both the tracking and speed detect. If you have lines of
static in the picture, one or both tape guides have drifted out of place(due to thermal changes
loosening the set screws), which would screw up speed detection if it was far enough off. If
you have unpatterned static through the picture, your heads ain't clean enough yet. Isopropyl
is pretty poor for head cleaning. MEK, methyl ethyl ketone, works best, without endangering
the head coils or anything else(except your liver, if you sit around huffing the stuff). Once
you are positive that the heads are quite clean, then it may be physically leaking surface
mount electrolytic caps in the head amp causing the problem.

--
Stephen Sank, Owner & Ribbon Mic Restorer
Talking Dog Transducer Company
http://stephensank.com
5517 Carmelita Drive N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico [87111]
505-332-0336
Auth. Nakamichi & McIntosh servicer
Payments preferred through Paypal.com
"adrian82" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello Stephen,

that's what I anticipated Well I have cleaned
the video-head several times with Isopropyl,
but tracking problems remain. Either it's
an Hi-ESR problem now or I missed something.

How does tracking and speed-detection work
on Video8 without any control head, there
must be something to detect tape-speed,
isn't there ??

Regards,
Adrian