JVC HR-S7000U - could use some advice on servicing mine
I have a "vintage" JVC HR-S7000U unit that has some "issues" ...
I'm not able to service it myself (see below), and so I plan to take it to a JVC-authorized service center near me, but when I PM'd another member on here yesterday about its symptoms, he recommended that I post them to the forum for your advice ... Since I can't really do anything to it myself, I'm not quite sure what question(s) I'm "asking" here, but I could certainly use any comments/advice that anyone might have ... Thanks! Kevin the PM: Quote:
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McCoy: "Captain...?"
Kirk: "Kirk here..." McCoy: "He's dead, Jim." Seriously, nothing from that descriptoin sounds good, or even worth a repair. I would wait until you get the SR-V10U. I have a feeling you have no qualms about retiring the ancient VCR for good. ... Side Question: Is there a certain reason that you've posted to narrow little columns just like this sentence? Is there something wrong with the site we should know about? Or maybe you're using it from a phone? You're the second person to do that this week. It actually makes threads harder to read, and it confuses search engines. |
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But your points are well-taken, and I'll try to remember to post in "free form" from now on ... Kevin P.S. OK, now that I've posted this, I see that you've already fixed it above (and elsewhere) ... Sorry for making you do that ... |
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seriously, though, how much use have you put into your 7000U in the past? is it actually possible (highly unlikely) that the controls are all worn out? more realistically, i cannot seem to figure how your 8000U's deck controls can be all inoperable like that, save for the leads from the front panel PCBs and the thin ribbon cable for the flip-down control panel all being loose/disconnected/severed/etc. one thing i CAN say though, is that most/all of your transport related issues should be cured by a good fresh mechanism lubrication, and perhaps a new set of transport rubber (idler tire/two loading belts) as well. i can't imagine any way of figuring your front panel control issue out without opening her up to have a look at things. if you do not feel that you could do that comfortably, then indeed, you should by all means take it to that service shop of yours... |
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I don't know how long you may have followed my video-related postings online (as they go all the way back to the newsgroups era in the mid 1990s), but I've been at this for a while. When I started, there was no SR-V10U, D-VHS, SR-W5U, etc. JVC put a lot of effort into the 3600+/9500+ generations of equipment, so there really wasn't a reason to buy pre-9500 used gear for lower costs. The SR-V10U is the fruits of HR-S9600 ancestry. I've seen quite a few so-called "wonderful" JVC VCRs through the years, including W-VHS and D-VHS gear, and I passed on all of it. The D-VHS is a good substitute for S-VHS, when found for a good deal, while the W-VHS has issues that make it a money pit. I often think the fan base for vintage VCRs are a bit revisionist (as in "revisionist history") to a degree, as I was there, and I didn't see the miraculous picture quality that is sometimes touted. What I remember are VCRs with problems, and imperfect video quality. In fact, I have relationships with a number of studios (small and large) and broadcast engineers (TV and cable), and we tend to all have the same opinions on VCRs, since we've been heavy users for 15+ years. We understand the niche benefits of certain older gear, but also understand that it's not something we'd ever suggest for general use -- NEVER as a main VCR. if you have a specific need for that specific quality niche, then sure, buy one of the special VCRs (and ALSO accept the limitations it has). Quote:
We'll fix it, if we know about it. :thumb: Quote:
I've triaged and resuscitated CE and pro gear well beyond its shelf life, including 1970s VCRs, film cameras, video cameras, and even computer equipment. But at some point, these can become too dated for general use. The best LP players are from the 80s. I still have 8-track players AND 8-track recorders INCLUDING the blank tapes! Note that I also recommend older Vidicraft gear for composite video work, and it's all from the 1980s. Quote:
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I'm not saying to never fix it, I'm saying "not now". :) |
Thanks, Tasuke! I don't know why lordsmurf says it's "dead, Jim" -- I've been waiting for a reply ...
I don't think I used to use the HR-S7000U all that much, so I'd be surprised if the controls are all worn out ... I've read elsewhere online (from a JVC service tech) about the ribbon cable to the flip-down control panel, so I'm guessing that that's the problem with that ... The other deck controls on the left side actually did work -- intermittently! -- when I first started using it the other day, but now they don't seem to work at all ... So perhaps "dodgy" connections there? (Whereas the flip-down panel controls didn't work from the start) ... I also figured that the transport-related issues have something to do with -- at a minimum -- insufficient lubrication and/or brittle rubber parts ... That makes perfect sense to me (unlike the control-button issues?), given its age and inactivity -- rather like a car's engine and tires ... Now you've really made me curious!!! I'm not afraid to open 'er up and "see what I can see" -- after all, I think the warranty's probably expired by now? :D I'll report back later today -- possibly with pix, if I see anything "interesting" ... :cool: Kevin P.S. Oops, thanks, lordsmurf! I guess we were both replying at the same time there ... I'll ponder what you've written ... :) |
Part of this also comes back to the primary goal of The Digital FAQ, when it comes to how we operate on the forum, our philosophy. We don't believe in giving out generic advice, but advice that is tailored-made TO YOU SPECIFICALLY, especially for our Premium Members. Based on the conversations so far, I don't get the impression that this VCR would best fit newkt's needs. Yes, we could tell him how to fix it, where to go, etc -- but it really comes back to "Does he really need this specific VCR to accomplish what he wants to do?"
Sometimes the best answer to a question is to punt. Change topic. Make counter suggestions. I'm reminded of an article on malpractice I read some years ago. The patient had severe groin pain on a daily basis, and rather than the doctor attempting to discover the cause, his idea of a solution was to neuter the man to make the pain end. As it turned out, the patient was simply wearing underwear that was too tight -- he needed a larger size. (What I no longer remember is if this was learned before or after the neutering! YIKES!) So answering the question isn't always the best way to address an issue. In this thread, "How do I service this VCR?" was replied to with "Don't." Tasuke disagrees with Site Staff -- but that's also welcomed and encouraged. Good to have multiple views. :) |
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Even Tasuke has admitted in several places that the beloved 7000 and 8000 models aren't really "up to snuff" for serious archival work ... I guess I was thinking of 2 reasons for fixing my old HR-S7000U: 1. It was the original VCR used to record all of my S-VHS tapes (a few) and most/all of my VHS tapes (a bunch), so it might be able to perform better than the SR-V10U on "certain" tapes? (As yet TBD) ... 2. I've started to get kind of "nostalgic" for it after putting it into action again, and I'd just "like" to see it working again ... (I know -- pretty lame) ... It was my very first VCR of any kind when I bought it in 1989 (for $700+, as I recall) ... Back then. I was also buying my very first TV --a 27" Hitachi tube (also for $700+), which I'm still using! -- and I just wanted the "best" VCR and TV that I could possibly afford (~$1500 for both) ... So -- nostalgia ... :rolleyes: Quote:
"Yes, please take no offense to my question, it's simply an issue that's been" Quote:
And as for selling it someday, I've already promised Tasuke "first dibs" on it ... ;) Kevin P.S. Thanks, all, for the interesting and informational replies to my original post! :) |
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Here's the big question: SP mode, LP mode, or SLP (now EP) mode? I'll see about widening the reply box. |
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But I'm guessing there's a lot of SLP/EP in the mix there? Quote:
Kevin |
i don't see how a VCR's mecha alignment needs to be futzed with, as any quality VCR is designed to hold it's factory alignment indefinitely.
perhaps, if one wanted to use VCR-A to playback/archive an entire library of cassettes made on VCR-B that the user no longer owns, and that VCR-B's particular alignment was so far off of what VCR-A is set to, that VCR-A must be re-aligned and calibrated to track VCR-B's recordings. is that REALLY THAT common of a problem? i sure haven't encountered it enough to bother me, and i've got recordings as far back as the mid/late 1980's, recorded on my mother's long out of commission, but still in possession 1986/1987 HITACHI linear stereo VCR, a VT-1570A or something to that effect; http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...I/VT-1570A.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l.../VT-1570A6.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l.../VT-1570A8.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...VT-1570A13.jpg http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...VT-1570A12.jpg my mother even kept the 1987 newspaper insert from "TOM PETERSON'S" (a PORTLAND, OR. local AUDIO/VIDEO/FURNITURE dealer) that was making a production out of their "Annual HITACHI SPRING SPECTACULAR" in which all of their HITACHI products were on sale, including that VCR, for a mind-blowingly low-ball $670 and change... a year or two back, i pulled that gawdawful thing out of storage and attempted to resuscitate it, to no reliable avail, as i soon discovered that mid/late 80's HITACHI VCR mechanisms are about the worst ever designed, a HIDEOUSLY complicated mecha, using damned near a dozen belts and weirdly laid out in an overly complex fashion in order to make everything fit in the VCR's overly small enclosure. i'll never let this VCR go, as it was a strong fixture of my childhood, and as such, highly sentimental, but nevertheless, it's got to be one of the worst VCR designs i've ever seen to date... |
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For Tasuke:
I took off the cover and unhooked the front panel, hoping to find something "obviously wrong" (like a severed ribbon cable) -- but I didn't ... Anyway, here's the pix, scaled down (for posting) from their original 2250x1520 size -- not that you can actually tell anything from them ... (Hmmm ... Judging from the attachment file sizes, they also got compressed by another 50% in the upload process ... Oh well) ... Attachment 1487 Attachment 1488 Attachment 1489 Kevin |
thanks, what a treat!! :)
any way that you can send me unaltered, full-size copies of those pics? JVC HR-S7000U (1987) http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...S7000Uint1.jpg JVC HR-S8000U (1988) http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/l...HR-S8000U7.jpg the 7000U chassis appears to be a fair bit shallower (DEPTH) than the HR-S8000U. the boards directly aft of the FL display fit into the chassis in a nice vertical row, as opposed to the 8000U's boards stacked flat one on top of the other. there is a large, black-anodized, extruded aluminum heat sink to the rear there that is completely nonexistent on the 8000U. 3/4 of the left side depth (front of VCR facing you) on the 8000U is taken up by the DIGITAL EFFECTS module, a single PCB completely sheathed in steel shielding. this does not exist, of course, on the 7000U, as that model lacks DIGITAL FX of any kind. i have always wondered if both of the BRAKE PADS for the REEL SPINDLES were original, each is molded of a different color of plastic, the left one white, the right gray. as you can see, your 7000U is IDENTICAL there, which means that my 8000U is most likely running (PERFECTLY, at the moment) on it's original set of pads. so you pulled the front bezel module, and disconnected both of those white ribbon leads directly aft of the FL display? i can see that the 7000U uses a pair of opaque white ribbons, completely different from the single transparent amber extra-thin ribbon used on the 8000U. come to think of it, i believe i recall hearing on a forum once, from a veteran retired ex-service tech, that supposedly, JVC purposefully changed ribbon types between the 7000U and 8000U, due to reliability issues with the 7000U due to those ribbons. that sure would explain your balky control panel. you should check both ends of those ribbons; perhaps there is a faulty connection with one or both of them at the front panel PCB ends... |
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but I didn't disconnect anything ... Those two opaque white ribbons are still connected at both ends, I believe -- and I'll double-check that in a moment ... Here's the first post by the ex-service tech in the thread you're probably referring to: http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...1&postcount=10 Quote:
P.S. BTW, Tasuke, I believe your photo there is wider than the prescribed 850 pixels ... :cool: |
You can upload larger images to the forum, inside a ZIP or RAR. (We don't want wide images creating scroll bars on pages, which is why everything is resized to 850px max width.) Also please keep images on-site, as sites like Photobucket will delete your images eventually, and in the long-term these threads will become useless without the illustrative images for future readers. We try to archive information here forever, and storing it all on-server is the only way to see that this happens.
All of this is explained here: How to Upload/View/Download Images+Attachments Thanks. :) |
okay, thanks!
i'm a PHOTOBUCKET PRO subscriber, so all my pics should theoretically be immune to any big-brother deletion, but i'll be uploading them to here directly from now on... Quote:
i think you should go ahead and disconnect those two white ribbons from the chassis-mounted PCB side and reseat them to see if that has any effect. it's quite easy to do, and just MIGHT be your problem, if the physical integrity of the cables themselves are fine. i've actually pulled and dismantled the front bezel modules of both my HR-S8000U and HR-D630U, both models sharing the 7000U-style front bezel in common. i mostly did this, in order to reach, and clean, the glass FL display tube and it's associated front panel FL window from the inside, as VCR FL tubes and their windows have a tendency to collect dust and filth from the inside after 15/25+ years, and JVC S7000 family models are no exception. do this, and your VCR's FL is virtually guaranteed to look crisp and clear like it never did before when there was two decades worth of crap fogging it over... |
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JVC problems: Power Supply related?
After reading through the present thread I found this, not related to your particular model but is generic to any vcr so might be of help. The advice on power supply electrolytics is very true, open or partially open caps can give an endless number of symptoms. I bought and am waiting for the last JVC SR-V10U from the person on eBay who was selling them for $49.95, keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that it's as good as he says they are! I got an AG-1980 through eBay a while ago, lots of white horizontal lines, I found so many open caps on the luminance/chroma board that I lost track of how many I had to replace. It did cure all video problems, and no not a single cap in the power supply needed replacing! If the JVC I'm waiting for has bad caps hopefully they are not surface-mounted.
http://www.tv-forums.com/forum/TV_Eq..._Issue_P57763/ |
Hey my 8000U has lots of streaks in the SVHS playback as well. Do you think it's the heads or caps in the boards? I bought it off eBay supposedly new never used for $390.
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