Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram
I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. I've done a Google
search for information on this but I'm still a bit confused. Some people say to use a clean cloth or a Q-tip while other people say to use only chamois swabs. Is using a cloth bad because I can't seem to find any chamois swabs. The second problem is that I'm obviously not an expert in VCR cleaning and I'm not quite sure where the video head(s) are located. Is there a picture or diagram someone could email me. What type of cleaning solution is best to use? I've heard of all sorts of things to use but some people say not to use them so I'm confused. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40)
--- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v .... If you don't know what leever "A" does then you better leever "B" |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40)
--- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v .... If you don't know what leever "A" does then you better leever "B" |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
"Asimov" wrote in message . ..
"Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40) --- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v I did read the FAQ before I posted but I still had questions. But I think I'll ask my questions somplace else since people in this newsgroup are going to be rude. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
"Asimov" wrote in message . ..
"Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40) --- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v I did read the FAQ before I posted but I still had questions. But I think I'll ask my questions somplace else since people in this newsgroup are going to be rude. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
"Mike" wrote in message om... "Asimov" wrote in message . .. "Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40) --- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v I did read the FAQ before I posted but I still had questions. But I think I'll ask my questions somplace else since people in this newsgroup are going to be rude. What are your questions? A few individuals are rude, most of us are not. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
"Mike" wrote in message om... "Asimov" wrote in message . .. "Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (13 Sep 04 22:46:40) --- on the heady topic of "Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v I did read the FAQ before I posted but I still had questions. But I think I'll ask my questions somplace else since people in this newsgroup are going to be rude. What are your questions? A few individuals are rude, most of us are not. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
"Mike" bravely wrote to "All" (14 Sep 04 23:38:27)
--- on the heady topic of " Cleaning VCR - need help and a diagram" Mi From: (Mike) Mi "Asimov" wrote in Mi message . .. Mi From: (Mike) Mi I'm going to clean my VCR and I need some help. [,,,] Mi Any help would be greatly appreciated. All together now: READ THE F.A.Q.!!! You're welcome, Mi I did read the FAQ before I posted but I still had questions. But I Mi think I'll ask my questions somplace else since people in this Mi newsgroup are going to be rude. You call THAT rude?!!! Perhaps, littleboyblu87, you first need a little toughening up for usenet? You have no idea what a thorough usenet flaming is like. ;-) ;-) ;-) HOWEVER, Just to prove you wrong I'm going to dump some archival info starting with the VCR cleaning FAQ you claim to have read. Really, you're welcome, A*s*i*m*o*v Date: 04 Aug 95 13:23:29 General Guide to VCR Cleaning and Rubber Parts Replacement: ---------------------------------------------------------- All the guideposts, wheels, and rubber parts of a VCR should be cleaned periodically - how often depends on usage. Of course, no one really does it unless something goes wrong. Do not attempt to clean the video heads until you read the procedure below, you can break them - very expensive lesson. In most cases, they do not need attention anyhow. Qtips and alcohol (91% medicinal is ok, pure isopropyl is better. Avoid rubbing alcohol especially if it contains any additives) can be used everywhere except the video heads. Just dry quickly to avoid leaving residue behind. Cleaning may get your machine going well enough to get by until any replacement rubber parts arrive. Things to clean: 1. Capstan and pinch roller. These collect a lot of crud mostly oxide which flakes off of (old rental) tapes. Use as many Q-tips (wet but not dripping with alcohol) as necessary to remove all foreign matter from the capstan (the shiny shaft that pulls the tape through the VCR for play and record). Just don't get impatient and use something sharp - the crud will come off with the Qtips and maybe some help from a fingernail. Clean the pinch roller (presses against the capstan in Play and Record) and until no more black stuff comes off. Use as many Qtips as necessary. If the pinch roller is still hard and/or shiny, it will probably need replacement. Many are available for about $6 from the sources listed below. It is sometimes possible to put the pinch roller in an electric drill, drill press, or lathe, and carefully file off the hard shiny dried out rubber surface layer, but only use a last resort - and this fix is probably temporary at best. 2. Various guideposts including the roller guides (the white rollers on metal posts which are near the video head drum when in play or record mode). When in FF or REW, or with no tape present, these move on tracks to a position toward the front of the VCR. 3. Idler tire (idler swings between reels and transfers motor power to reels - clean until no more black stuff comes off. A dirty or worn idler tire is probably the single most common VCR problem. If the idler tire appears cracked, glazed, or dried out, it will need to be replaced. About $.50-$1.00. As a temporary measure, you can usually turn the tire inside-out and replace it. The protected inner (now outer) surface will grip well enough to restore functionality until a replacement tire arrives - and verify the diagnosis as to the cause of your problem. Also, the idler assembly includes a slip clutch. If this weakens, the idler may not have enough force to press on the reel table edges. When in doubt, the entire idler assembly is often available as a replacement part. 4. Reel table edges - surface on the reel tables where the idler contacts. 5. Audio/control head (right side) and full erase head (if you have one, left side). Q-tips and alcohol are ok for these. 6. Anything else that the tape contacts on its exciting journey through your machine. 7. Rubber belts. Access to some of these will probably require the removal of the bottom cover. After noting where each belt goes, remove them individually (if possible) and clean with alcohol and Qtips or lint free cloth. Dry quickly to avoid degrading the rubber from contact with the alcohol. If a belt is trapped by some assembly and not easy to remove, use the Qtip on the belt and/or pulley in place. However, if it is stretched, flabby, or damaged, you will need to figure out how to free it. Any belts that appear loose, flabby or do not return instantly to their relaxed size when stretched by 25% or so will need to be replaced and may be the cause of your problems. Belts cost about $.30-$2.00 and complete replacement belt kits are often available by model for $3.-$12. Meanwhile, the belts will function better once they are cleaned, maybe just enough to get by until your replacements arrive. 8. Video heads: READ CAREFULLY. While VCRs should be cleaned periodically, the video heads themselves usually do not need cleaning unless you have been playing old or defective rental tapes which may leave oxide deposits on the tips of the delicate ferrite head chips. Unless you are experiencing video snow, intermittent color, or loss of or intermittent HiFi sound (HiFi VCRs only, the HiFi heads are located on the video head drum) leave the video heads alone. I have used wet type cleaning head cleaning tapes with some success. Follow the directions but wait sufficient time for everything to dry out or you will have a tangled mess - 15 minutes or so should do it.. To clean by hand, you will need what are called 'head cleaning sticks'. These are covered by chamois and are safest. DO NOT USE QTIPS (COTTON SWABS). These can catch on the ferrite cores and damage them or leave fibers stuck in the heads. Qtips can be used for cleaning the other parts like the rollers and audio/control head as described above but not video heads. To use the cleaning stick, moisten it with head cleaner or alcohol. Pure isopropyl is best, however, the 91% medicinal stuff is ok as long as you dry everything pretty quickly. Don't flood it as it will take a long time to dry and you run the risk of any water in the alcohol sitting on surfaces and resulting in rust (very unlikely, but don't take the chance). Gently hold the flat portion of the chamois against the upper cylinder where it is joined to the lower (non-rotating) cylinder. Rotate the upper cylinder be hand so that the heads brush up against the moist chamois. DO NOT MOVE THE HEAD CLEANING STICK UP AND DOWN - you will break the fragile ferrite of the heads - $$$$. Side to side is ok as long as you are gentle. Depending on how dirty your heads are, a couple of passes may be enough. Let everything dry out for at least 1/2 hour. This process can be repeated. However, one pass will usually do it. The following are good sources for consumer electronics replacement parts, especially for VCRs, TVs, and other audio and video equipment: MCM Electronics (VCR parts, Japanese semiconductors, 1-800-543-4330. tools, test equipment, audio, consumer electronics including microwave oven parts and electric range elements, etc.) Dalbani (Excellent Japanese semiconductor source, 1-800-325-2264. VCR parts, other consumer electronics,) Premium Parts (Very complete VCR parts, some tools, adapter 1-800-558-9572. cables, other replacement parts.) -eof- Area: Doing your own repairs in electronics Date: 15 Sep 01 10:59:42 From: "voltare" Subj: VCR Head Clean [html] How To Clean Your VCR Heads A How-To on cleaning your VCR tape heads, head drum, and other parts inside your VCR. WARNING: Read this entire page and refer to additional references at the bottom of the page before attempting this procedure. Difficulty Level: Hard Time Required: 30 Minutes Here's How: a. Eject any Tape from VCR and Uplug it from wall current b. Unplug any other cables from VCR (Cable, Antenna, Audio/Video Cables, etc..). c. Place VCR on flat surface such as a table covered with newspaper or cloth to protect table surface. d. With the appropriate screwdriver, remove VCR cover carefully. e. You will see a shiny round drum--this is the Head Drum. Take an isopropyl alcohol-dipped chamois tipped cleaning stick and place it on the Head Drum with light pressure. f. Manually rotate the Head drum with your free hand (it spins freely), keeping the chamois stick stationary, allowing fluid to clean the drum (never move the chamois stick in the vertical direction--you may snap off the Head protrusions on the drum). g. With fresh chamois tips and alcohol, now clean the Stationary audio head, Capstans, Rollers, and Gears. Check for dust. Do not get excessive fluid on any parts. h. Clean Belts and Pulleys using fresh chamoise tips, once again, do not use excessive fluid. i. Clean dust off Circuit Boards using a mini-vacuum cleaner and/or compressed air (use just enough force to remove the dust and dirt). j. Let machine site a few minutes after finishing above process. k. With the VCR still open, plug into wall and TV, turn on VCR and insert a recorded tape. (do not touch any of the interior workings of the VCR or interior metal cabinet during this process). l. Press Play on VCR and confirm that everything is functioning correctly and picture and sound is restored. m. Repeat steps 1-10 if results are not satisfactory. n. Eject Tape, Unplug VCR from wall, uplug all cables. o. Screw VCR cover back on and place back in original location with proper hookups. Tips: a. Do not perform the above procedure if your VCR is still covered by Warranty or Extended Service Plan. Take unit to authorized technician instead. b. Make sure you have all the proper srewdriver(s), Chamois, cleaning solution, etc... before starting Step One of this process. DO NOT USE Q-TIPS. c. Your Guide is not responsible for any damage to your VCR involving any steps in this process. If you have doubts about your skill after opening the cabinet, do not go forward. For more extensive information, check the resources below. Related Features: a. Online Service Manual. b. Tips For Extending The Life Of Your VCR c. How A VCR Works (includes interior photos of VCR mechanisms) d. VCR Repair: General VCR Cleaning Guide e. VCR First Aid. -!- Area: sci.electronics.repair Date: 30 Apr 95 15:28:05 From: (Tim Rudeseal) Subj: Cleaning VCR Heads Organization: Southern College of Technology In article , (Gareth Blades) wrote: lestat@seamonkey (lestat) wrote: stuff deleted I usually use a piece of plain paper, like a post-it note, and a little IPA. I put it directly on each head and rotate back and forth several times, repeat with another piece. I know when it is clean when there is no longer any dirt on the paper. -!- Area: Doing your own repairs in electronics Date: 13 Aug 98 16:18:24 From: Subj: what do you use to clean VCRs ? I'm going to catch some flak for this, but for the head chips, I use a pencil eraser, and for the upper and lower drums, I use a Q-tip and a solvent called Chloro-clean (a GC product). No, I don't inhale. ;-) The pencil eraser "trick" came from a Sony Rep in the Beta days of the late '70s. It will scour even the toughest clog and provides just enough "give" to keep it from damaging the head chip (which I've never done). If the head or tape path is contaminated by sugar (soda pop), rubbing alcohol does the initial cleanup for the tape path, then a follow up with solvent. Ray Carlsen CARLSEN ELECTRONICS... a leader in trailing-edge technology. -!- From: Jeff Grous To: Achim Lohse Date: 94-05-23 23:08:00 Subj: VCR cleaning procedure AL Now, how about a short discourse on procedure for doing the cleaning AL properly, and what materials to use, and which to avoid especially. AL My knowledge is limited to Q-tips and isopropyl alcohol. However, I AL _am_ vaguely aware that the alcohol tends to dry out the rubber AL parts, promoting cracks, and the Q-tips shed fibres, possibly AL gumming the works. I believe the swabs also come in cotton or rayo AL form, but have no idea whether one is preferable. Well, here's how I do it- I use medical-grade wood swabs with dual cotton tips for all moving parts _except_ the drum itself. The cotton stays on the swabs, and they're tough enough so that you can REALLY get down and scrub those stubborn stains. bg As a solvent, I will generally use denatured alcohol, since pure ethanol is not easily obtainable. This won't hurt the rubber parts like isopropyl will. In really tough places I will use acetone or what we call "Grean Death," A.K.A. GC Radio/TV service solvent. (This stuff is basically pure Tolulene, and is NASTY. It used to be green, and hence the name. Now it's clear, but the lable is still green. It works GREAT on rubber parts and stubborn spots, but will DESTROY plastic much better than acetone. It destroys _you_ much more effectively, too. grin) Clean EVERYTHING the tape touches until: A) the swab picks up no more crud, or, B) you can see that the surface you're cleaning is in fact clean. If you cannot make the pinch roller look pristine with a matte finish, it's toast. Replace it. You can also use the swab on the lower (non-rotating part) drum. Be sure to especially scrub the spot on the lower drum where the tape enters and exits, this is the area that gets dirtiest. Also, be sure that you rotate the upper drum so that the head chips are nowhere near that swab while you clean, or you run the risk of snagging a chip and breaking it off. Now for the last part... I use a very tightly knitted special cotton cloth called a Texwipe for cleaning the upper drum. You CANNOT use an ordinary cloth. You fold the cloth into quarters, soak it in solvent and press it against the drun with your index finger. Rotating the drum with your other hand and keeping the cloth still will get both the chips and the surface of the drum. Be forewarned: THIS IS NOT FOR THE FAINTHEARTED OR PEOPLE WITH 10 THUMBS. There's a "feel" to this task, and if you get it completely wrong, you'll break a chip. It's pretty forgiving, but if you're uncomfortable, use a clean white business card folded in half soaked in solvent instead of the Texwipe. You won't get the head as clean, but you won't break a chip off, either. I don't like those foam swabs or the chamois sticks, they grab head chips too easily. If you can't get any Texwipes, drop me a note and I'll send ya a couple. Short? Well, guess not... good luck! -Jeff -!- .... "Bother!" said Pooh, as he saw the sparks and smelled the smoke. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|