Hi people!
Finally I got two Panasonic AG4700 (PAL) for proper capture.
The seller said they were used and have been stored for several years.
They used'em for showing students how to edit some videos, however students started using PC's so the equipments were stored.
Based on that info I assumed that the VCR's would be used but in fairly good condition...
How wrong I was.
For better undestanding let's call each VCR1 and VCR2 (VCR2 will become a donor for VCR1).
As just got'em, I plugged VCR1, put a VHS in... it ejects it right back. Try'd a few more times, then it took it in. Starts to play... no image. Plays stops. Self ejects.
My firtst tought was: of course, dirty head drum. I clean it with Isoprophyl 99%. Still the same
Checked the Mode Switch, and in my inocent yet futile attemp: I took it off and forgot to mark it's position.
Still, later I downloaded the K mechanism manual and I follow'd the steps and checked that every gear is set up correctly. This is what I did:
1) took the carriage off.
2) took the motor off.
3) moved the wheel gear until main cam gear sets to cassete down position (a circle appears on the front of the main wheel).
4) checked all alignments. Everything was perfect.
6) took the mode sw off and aligned it properly (arrow->notch), then put it back to where it was.
5) moved the wheel gear until main gear shows to eject position (triangle slightly off centerd).
6) put motor back
7) put carriage back (not in load position).
Sadly it didn't work either. (see Video Part 2)
In fact, VCR1 mechanism seems to be a little stiff for some reason. Eject and cassete down does ok, but then when it has to go into play or FF, it really makes my fingers hurt to move the wheel.
On the other hand, VCR2 system has issues too. The head drum seems to have a vertical scratch and I broke the retention post of the pinch roller (a brief moment of brute force).
How ever the mechanism seems to work ok-ish. I did disassemble it and relubricate almost every moving part and it doesn't take as much force like the one of VCR1. (see video PART 3)
Here I been uploading some videos of mi (lack of) progress:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
So I come to you, my dear Digital Faquers. Ok, that doesn't sound right.
If any had some experience with the calibration of this models or just wanna seeme fail over and over is welcome to comment. Also some advices will be welcome.
Please feel free to comment and any help is welcome.
Let's hope I can can get to these to work, at least one of them.
Ofesad.