I have some failed repair attempts sitting in my closet. Nobody on eBay wants them (surprise surprise) and I'm not going to waste any more increments of 50 cents by listing them. Probably no one on here will want them either... but here's what I've got:
Three Panasonic AG-1970's
#1 When powered up, it acts as though a tape has been inserted and tries to load the tape, but fails of course since a tape has not actually been inserted. Verified that the light sensors are working correctly, so it's not that. Possibly a mechanical timing issue, but I can only find the 1980 K-Mechanism manual.
I'm also an idiot and busted off the flying erase head. The display is nice and bright, though.
#2 Dim display. Powers up, drum spins up, but then the unit powers down and does not respond to the power button. I think it's an eject or capstan motor issue?
#3 Powers up, then displays error message 0AE4. I don't have the service manual and my AG-1980 manual doesn't list this error code. Bright display, though.
I also have a few busted HR-S5901/5902U's, a HR-S4800U that powers up for a second and then turns off, flashes "auto" and won't respond to the power button. I think I managed to lose a spring when trying to get a tape out of it, too. I have a 5901U whose transport and everything seems fine, but it continuously tries to track the tape and never gets there. I'm thinking a bad cap, maybe I'll still try to fix this one...
Probably no one on this forum would want the 5901/2's or the 4800U's even if they were working, but I thought I'd throw it out there. Maybe someone needs AG-1970 parts.
If anyone recognizes the symptoms and wants to give me repair advice, you're also welcome to do that!
PM me if any of this is of interest to you. Or email
jbd5010@gmail.com