Hi All,

I have an interesting situation: two AG-5700 VCRs with the identical
problem--the tape will not get threaded. The cassette gets ejected a
second or two after it gets seated. I think this is a timing problem,
possibly because the gearing is off by a tooth or two.

I know that the cassette basket needs to be "spring-loaded" and I have
adjusted it several times. Although it looks right, the problem
persists. I have seen the markings on the gear that interacts with the
mode switch, but I must still be doing something wrong in getting the
proper alignment to get the timing right.

Here is my question: is there something I can try before sending these
out for service? If so, I sure would appreciate your suggestions.

Just to clarify, these are Panasonic AG-5700 S-VHS Portable Industrial
VCRs

On 3 Apr 2005 14:29:18 -0700, "VCR Gymnast"
wrote:

Hi All,

I have an interesting situation: two AG-5700 VCRs with the identical
problem--the tape will not get threaded. The cassette gets ejected a
second or two after it gets seated. I think this is a timing problem,
possibly because the gearing is off by a tooth or two.

I know that the cassette basket needs to be "spring-loaded" and I have
adjusted it several times. Although it looks right, the problem
persists. I have seen the markings on the gear that interacts with the
mode switch, but I must still be doing something wrong in getting the
proper alignment to get the timing right.

Here is my question: is there something I can try before sending these
out for service? If so, I sure would appreciate your suggestions.

If I recall these models were slave decks for the AG editing system
and for industrial playback etc...( I had the AG 1950 and 1960's in my
video service back in the late 80's and I'm thinking that I had the
5700's as slaves for them.)
If you want to use these for any serious/heavy use you'd do better to
have a Panasonic industrial repair shop have a go at them.( I DO NOT
recommend taking them to a regular consumer repair facility unless you
know for sure that the tech's there are able to work on
broadcast/industrial equipment.)
You might try asking over at rec.video.production first. Someone
there might be able to help you out.(Many of us on that group still
have some of the high end 1/2 inch stuff and service them ourselves.
I'd tossed my books on most of the Panasonic stuff I had. Just have a
repair manual for the AG7400's that I still use from time to time.)

I decided to have another go at it and, not having the service manual,
I made some educated guesses to re-align the gears by eye in both
machines. Well, guess what....they both work PERFECTLY now!! Case
closed.