Fixing my trusty Zenith VR-3300 vcr

[Steve]

Hi,

I have a sturdy Zenith VR-3300 that developed a problem recently and before
giving up on it for the high cost of a video shop repair I thought I should
ask if it might be easily fixed at home. The problem is that when inserting
a cassette the tape loads, threads itself, starts to play but then stops
almost immediately and retreats back into the cassette shell. I hate to
loose the service of this nice unit and have had the cover off once or twice
to clean things with q-tips and rubbing alcohol but this time around I
cannot see anything obvious that would indicate a problem.

I need a vcr to view the tapes at the university I am attending. I realize
new units are fairly cheap but I'd rather stick with this well designed vcr
that came out when they were considered high end audio/video equipment.

Thanks for the help and advice, Steve.

 

[Sofie]

Steve:
This is usually NOT a high cost repair at most VCR repair shops...... you
are painting video shop repairs with too broad of a brush....... In
fact, the advice you are getting now comes from a video repair shop owner
and tech..... so PLEASE go a little easy on the majority of us who are just
trying to make a living and pay the bills.
Be certain to check all the belts and idler assembly, including the loading
belt behind the capstan and pinch roller...... and verify that the take-up
reel begins to turn when the tape starts to play. Also a dirty or
defective mode switch can cause similar problems.
This model of Zenith is a very nice, well built VCR manufactured by JVC and
when operating properly has much better performance and a better picture
than most new cheapie VCRs..... and the new cheapie VCRs will never get to
the age of the Zenith due to their cheap and lightweight construction.
If you can not easily fix this yourself, before you toss the VCR or
accidentally screw it up trying to fix it you would be best advised to TAKE
your VCR to a shop (or two) for a repair cost estimate so you can make an
intelligent repair decision with facts instead of internet or telephone
guesses.

 

[Stephen Sank]

The JVC model is HR-D470, one of my all time favorite vhs machines. The sideways loader is
actually the most bulletproof loader I have ever seen. I'd bet the problem is simply the
threading belt slipping as it engages the pinch roller, causing the logic to "time out" before
the cam gear gets to the full play position. Very common.

--
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

 

[Frank Durda]

I love old VCRs.

Last weekend I bought a JVC HR-7200U at an antique mall for $15 with all the
original paperwork. Still in excellent cosmetic and operational shape
despite being 22 years old. Picture is as nice, if not better, than any new
cheap unit you'll find today. Remove 5 screws on top and the entire cover
comes off to easily clean the heads. It's a 4 head machine, so I bet it cost
a fortune back in '82.

Also have a Panasonic PV-1540 4 head stereo VCR from '85 that we bought new
and still works perfect.

 

[David]

Steve:
This is usually NOT a high cost repair at most VCR repair shops...... you
are painting video shop repairs with too broad of a brush....... In
fact, the advice you are getting now comes from a video repair shop owner
and tech..... so PLEASE go a little easy on the majority of us who are just
trying to make a living and pay the bills.

<SNIP>

Sofie,

I've read many of your posts in other newsgroups and have the highest
respect for your opinions.
However, I had an experience recently that shows what Steve was referring to
when he said
"the high cost of a video shop repair".

My Sony XBR TV had a problem which I explained in detail over the phone to
the owner of the repair shop.
He said he would send a technician to check it out (TV was too large to take
to the shop) and that the cost
would be $103. That amount would be applied to the repair if I elected to
have the repair done.

When the technician arrived and I told him the same thing I had told the
shop owner, he said the picture tube
was gone and that the TV could not be repaired. He said he didn't even need
to turn the TV on and that if I had
talked to him instead of the shop owner, he (the technician) could have told
me this over the phone based on the
symptoms I described to him and would have saved myself $103. Of course,
There's no way I would have been
able to talk to the technician first.

So I can understand Steve's reluctance to take his VCR to a repair shop if
he can find someone else to help him.

David

 

[Sofie]

David:
I can understand your feelings on this..... but the fact is that telephone
or internet diagnosis with a non-technical person at the other end is not
very expedient nor accurate. It would be much like calling up your dentist
or doctor on the phone and trying to explain to him about the problem and
wanting to know how serious and how expensive it will be to treat...... or
your mechanic regarding your car that "makes a funny sound" or "stops
running sometimes" ...... or calling your ????? ... you get the idea here.
The danger of a shop giving telephone diagnosis and estimates is that if the
shop guesses wrong and the price is too high then the customer will NOT go
ahead with the (otherwise economical) repair and he won't get his equipment
fixed and the shop loses out on building a relationship with a
customer....... or if the price is too low, the shop comes out looking
like a bad guy when the customer is finally informed of the correct/higher
price. Either way, both the customer and the shop lose out.
There are a lot of identical symptoms that have multiple and various
faults.... some expensive to fix... and others are quite economical to
fix.... NO WAY to know for certain without a tech actually seeing the
equipment and the symptoms and if deemed necessary, pulling off the back and
performing some basic troubleshooting and technical testing with test
equipment, electronics knowledge, repair experience, proper tools and
replacement parts, etc, etc.
Generally too, if a carry-in repair at a shop is, say, $100.... that same
repair if the shop tech has to go to the home and make one trip.... or two
trips if the equipment has to come in to shop.... that repair can easily
become DOUBLE or more to cover the cost of a tech spending time in the
company van (using company gas and insurance) traveling to and from your
home..... someone has to pay for this extra non-technical expense if the
customer can not or will not find a way to get it to the shop on his
own......
By the way.... you would probably never be able to get your dentist,
doctor, or even a mechanic at a dealer shop on the phone to ask the
question...... let alone getting them to your home.

 

[Patch]

<SNIP>

Sofie,

I've read many of your posts in other newsgroups and have the highest
respect for your opinions.
However, I had an experience recently that shows what Steve was referring to
when he said
"the high cost of a video shop repair".

My Sony XBR TV had a problem which I explained in detail over the phone to
the owner of the repair shop.
He said he would send a technician to check it out (TV was too large to take
to the shop) and that the cost
would be $103. That amount would be applied to the repair if I elected to
have the repair done.

When the technician arrived and I told him the same thing I had told the
shop owner, he said the picture tube
was gone and that the TV could not be repaired. He said he didn't even need
to turn the TV on and that if I had
talked to him instead of the shop owner, he (the technician) could have told
me this over the phone based on the
symptoms I described to him and would have saved myself $103. Of course,
There's no way I would have been
able to talk to the technician first.

So I can understand Steve's reluctance to take his VCR to a repair shop if
he can find someone else to help him.

David

David, if what you say is true, then you were certainly "hosed". I did TV
repair for 20 years & can tell you that it's impossible to diagnose a bad
picture tube without at least turning on the set, or checking the tube. This
shop owner should be reported to the Better Business & maybe to the local
DA. Guys like him give the rest of the repair industry a black eye. He's not
in the businesses of doing repairs, only making "service calls".

 

[SJF]

<SNIP>

Sofie,

I've read many of your posts in other newsgroups and have the highest
respect for your opinions.
However, I had an experience recently that shows what Steve was referring to
when he said
"the high cost of a video shop repair".

My Sony XBR TV had a problem which I explained in detail over the phone to
the owner of the repair shop.
He said he would send a technician to check it out (TV was too large to take
to the shop) and that the cost
would be $103. That amount would be applied to the repair if I elected to
have the repair done.

When the technician arrived and I told him the same thing I had told the
shop owner, he said the picture tube
was gone and that the TV could not be repaired. He said he didn't even need
to turn the TV on and that if I had
talked to him instead of the shop owner, he (the technician) could have told
me this over the phone based on the
symptoms I described to him and would have saved myself $103. Of course,
There's no way I would have been
able to talk to the technician first.

So I can understand Steve's reluctance to take his VCR to a repair shop if
he can find someone else to help him.

David

=======================
Picture tubes can be replaced but there's more profit in taking the $103 and
running!

SJF

 

[Sofie]

SJF:

Without turning on the television, the in-home estimate from the shop tech
and certainly a discussion on the telephone or internet is nothing more than
a WILD GUESS.

The only certain way to know that the CRT is bad is for a knowledgeable and
experienced television repair technician to take the back off the set and do
some basic troubleshooting with test equipment and maybe a handful of proper
replacement parts.

The symptoms that are observed (even by a technically knowledgeable
individual) can be very mis-leading..... and can involve different repair
procedures and parts, some maybe fairly inexpensive and some maybe cost
prohibitive.

The cost of having the picture tube replaced in any television, especially a
large screen Sony XBR Trinitron would be most certainly cost prohibitive and
repair/replacement is usually not an option for the vast majority of
customers...... now if the television were in-warranty or on a service
contract, that is a different story.

And by the way, to respond specifically to your comment below, there is much
more profit to be made in replacing picture tubes, but it would be doubtful
that customer would go ahead with the repair once he heard the repair
estimate cost.

 

[David]

Sofie,

This is my whole point. If the technician had done some kind of
troubleshooting (at least take the back off of the TV and pretend to know
what he's doing), I wouldn't have been as upset to spend the $103. I knew
when I called the shop that I would be charged a service fee for looking at
the TV and that it would be applied towards the repair if I elected to do
that. I also understood that I would forfeit the fee if I chose not to
repair to the TV. The only option I was given was to replace the picture
tube for $1200. Since this really wasn't a viable option, I don't think I
should have been charged the whole $103, maybe half of it.

The technician told me this was his last service call. He said he was
quitting the business because there was no money in it. Hard to see that
when I paid what I did for basically nothing.

We've kind of strayed from the original question...whether the original
poster should take his VCR to a shop for repair. He will likely run into the
same situation I did with my TV. I have also taken two older Sony VCRs to
this same shop (before the TV incident) and had to pay $65 each to have them
diagnosed. Same story as the TV...$65 applied towards repair if I chose to
do it or forfeit the money. I had both repaired at a cost of about $95 each.
About all that was done was to give them a good cleaning.

If you're wondering why I keep going back to this shop, it's because they
are basically "the only game in town" to work on VCRs and TVs. They probably
won't be in business much longer if the TV technician quits because he said
he was the only technician at the shop.

Thanks for letting me rant!

David

 

[Don K]

My Sony XBR TV had a problem which I explained in detail over the phone to
the owner of the repair shop.
He said he would send a technician to check it out (TV was too large to take
to the shop) and that the cost
would be $103. That amount would be applied to the repair if I elected to
have the repair done.

When the technician arrived and I told him the same thing I had told the
shop owner, he said the picture tube
was gone and that the TV could not be repaired. He said he didn't even need
to turn the TV on and that if I had
talked to him instead of the shop owner, he (the technician) could have told
me this over the phone based on the
symptoms I described to him and would have saved myself $103. Of course,
There's no way I would have been
able to talk to the technician first.

I hope you didn't pay the $103.

The shop didn't do the work they agreed to perform, which was to check it out.
I don't care if they sent over a genius with 3 PhD's in TV repair. If he didn't
even turn on the TV or inspect anything inside, he really has no idea what is
wrong.

When troubleshooting a problem, it is good practice to independently
verify what is going on. This is plenty of opportunity for misdiagnosis
due to "cockpit error", when things aren't set up the way a person
thinks they are.

Get your money back or file a complaint with your state's Consumer Protection.

Don

 

[erik phoxie]

I'd totally agree with sofie. Check if the take-up reel is spinning
(right reel). If not, probably the rubber that drives it is
worn/slippery/dirty/gone.

I've recently serviced an old Panasonic NV600 (huge frontloader). New
heads and new rubber. Gave it to my mom. She loves simple stuff
because it isn't complicated

e.p.

 

[Steve]

Hi Sophie,

Thank you for the reply. From the posts given I would say my problem is that
the rubber on the little wheel that drives the right take up reel has worn
to where it can not do its job anymore. I have confidence to repair most
simple things but the wheel looks pretty well tucked under a lot of stuff.
Is this the type of thing you can buy in a kit that I see others talking
about?

Thanks again, Steve.

 

[Sofie]

Steve:
Yes, you can get a new idler wheel.... or it is easier and cheaper to just
get the rubber replacement tire that goes on the wheel...... most shops that
do a lot of VCR repair should have the rubber tire in stock. Either way
you are going to have to do some careful dis-assembly and re-assembly work
to get to it. If it looks like you are getting in over your head.....
before anything bad happens, TAKE your very nice machine to a repair shop
for what should be a fairly inexpensive repair.... and while you are at it,
get it professionally cleaned. This particular Zenith (JVC) machine is near
the top of my list as on of the better VCRs ever built.... in my opinion,
well worth repairing as long as it doesn't require major things like head
drums, motors, etc. Before you jump in with both feet getting it
repaired, get an estimate so you can make an intelligent repair decision.

 

[Steve]

Sounds good, thanks for everything. Steve

 

[SJF]

Hi Sophie,

Thank you for the reply. From the posts given I would say my problem is that
the rubber on the little wheel that drives the right take up reel has worn
to where it can not do its job anymore. I have confidence to repair most
simple things but the wheel looks pretty well tucked under a lot of stuff.
Is this the type of thing you can buy in a kit that I see others talking
about?

Thanks again, Steve.

Years ago, on my record changers and real-to real tape recorders, I used to
find the rubber on the drive wheels had oxidized with age and no longer had
a grip on the mating wheel. I usually was successful in repairing these by
sanding off the hardened surface to expose fresh rubber. Use a fine grained
emery paper. Might be worth a try if you can get to the drive wheel remove
it or do the job in place.

SJF

 

[RonKZ650]

Before you go to the trouble to change the idler/tire check that the supply
reel (left side) is actually moving before the VCR unloads. If the supply reel
does not start running, it's the load belt is slipping and needs replaced.
These VCRs had a history of hardened grease around the load assm that should be
removed, but usually the repair can be done by simply replacing the belt.
Ron
Wheat Ridge TV, Wheat Ridge, CO

 

[jean and bill]

This particular Zenith (JVC) machine is near
the top of my list as on of the better VCRs ever built.... in my opinion,
well worth repairing as long as it doesn't require major things like head
drums, motors, etc. Before you jump in with both feet getting it
repaired, get an estimate so you can make an intelligent repair decision.

Kinda OT, but I've got a JVC 4 head VCR, model HR-D142U, which is now
about 20 years old (doesn't seem that long), and I was just wondering
what your opinion of this model is? Never gave me a moments trouble,
and I like it because I can set it without turning on the dang TV.

Jeannie

 

[GMAN]

Hi Sophie,

Thank you for the reply. From the posts given I would say my problem is that
the rubber on the little wheel that drives the right take up reel has worn
to where it can not do its job anymore. I have confidence to repair most
simple things but the wheel looks pretty well tucked under a lot of stuff.
Is this the type of thing you can buy in a kit that I see others talking
about?

Thanks again, Steve.

Here is exactly what you need.

Your deck is actually a JVC in Zeniths clothing

your best bet is to get the maintenance kit at the bottom of the following
link that runs $13.50 that has all the rubber and the replacement idler
assembly.



http://www.diyvcrparts.com/cgi-bin/web_store/web_store.cgi?page=mbk-93.
html&cart_id=5369275_31574

 

[Steve]

Thanks again,

The kit looks pretty simple, getting to the appropriate parts within the
machine might be hard. I am capable of making repairs having put together a
Heathkit or two. Would anybody dare give me a rough guide as to the
unassembly sequence I should follow. Nothing too detailed just a take this
out first, and this second etc outline.

Thanks everyone, Steve.