VCR Recording Problem

megan050903

I have a JVC video recorder which is about 3 years old.

The problem is when taping from either TV or cable the playback is dreadful - sound and picture distortion to the point where its unwatchable. However, it is fine when playing back precorded tapes.

I would point out that it doesn't happen on every occasion but is now becoming more frequent. I have tried using different blank videos but has not made any difference.

Does anybody have any suggestions.

Thanks

Lawbag_2

recording heads might need cleaning, but a 3yo video sounds about right.

oh and its JVC, 3 years out of warranty right on time!

megan050903

Lawbag wrote:

recording heads might need cleaning, but a 3yo video sounds about right.

oh and its JVC, 3 years out of warranty right on time!

I bought the recorder in September 2003 so not quite 3 years old yet. Are all JVC's under warranty for 3 years and I assume that if mine is I can take it back to the Comet.

When you say the heads might need cleaning, can you recomment any particular product to do this.

Thanks for your help!

culpepper

We used a vcr cleaning kit to do ours.we bought it in maplins.It did make a difference as the more you play stuff through it,the muckier it can get. If its never been cleaned in 3 years,its probably worth trying . Some of these warranties state that the parts and labour are free if returned to place of purchase and the error found to be mechanical.I would say dirt from use was wear and tear.

pchelpman

megan050903 wrote:

When you say the heads might need cleaning, can you recomment any particular product to do this.

We have used two of the TDK dry video head cleaner casette tapes. I think this is the one ...

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s25202/0/Video-Tapes/TDK/Vhs-Head-Cleaner---Dry-Type/details.aspx?&IsSearch=y&pageindex=1&CatId=286&comp=n

....although I suggest you phone Jesspos to find clarify. I can't find a picture of it.

Quincy_3

Thats wierd Ive just been around mum and Dads and fixed their Sony VCR they have.

All I do is unplug the VCR of all cables, then Clean the heads manually with some nail varnish remover on a cotton wool bud, the head is a large chrome spinning disc with two teeny weeny slots I just lighty cleaned the slots and then cleaned the pinch rollers aswell, and also told them to stop forward winding past the adverts and longer whilst on play as this doesnt help for long periods at a time.

VCR Pinch Roller, that I cleaned with a wool bud and some nail polish remover.


VCR Head with visible slots also cleaned as above.


Then just reasemble, i.e replace cover wait 10mins then try VCR.

megan050903

Thanks for everybody's suggestions.

One thing I have just discovered is that it's only happening on 4 hours tapes on the 3 hour ones its absolutely fine.

Don't know if this makes any difference??

albertross_2

if you are going to manually clean the heads, be very delicate, they can easily be damaged. Inside those slots is a minute coil of wire, wrapped around a core. I use isopropyl alcohol, and a lint free cloth, or chamois leather. Always leave plenty of time for the heads to dry, as suggested by quincy, otherwise you will clog them up as soon as you put another tape in.

Have you tried adjusting the tracking (if there is a manual tracking adjustment).

It could also be a low recording signal level, but adjusting that is an engineer job, if it comes to that, it may be cheaper to replace it..