JVC SR-VS30 eating MiniDV tapes?

buckwheat3 · #1 07-02-2022, 09:09 PM

I now have three JVC SR-VS30 units from three different sources with the same problem. 95% of the time when I insert a miniDV tape, it loads properly and looks like its about to play, then instead of playing, the capstan motor at the top right of the mechanism starts spinning backwards and spills the tape all over as shown in the video. I've looked through the service manual and taken the mechanisms apart several times and everything looks normal. I can't figure out what's causing this and I really want to have the MiniDV parts operational again.

latreche34 · #2 07-03-2022, 12:04 AM

Get a DV camcorder, They are usually less abused than home decks, What's the point of having a DV deck in a VHS machine anyway?
It's the capstan motor drive that is gone bad, You have to install a new motor drive PCB from a working machine or the entire capstan motor assembly, not worth it if you ask me.

lordsmurf · #3 07-03-2022, 11:05 AM

The JVC MiniDV half of combo decks has an engineering flaw. Those have eaten tapes since day 1. Some insist it's fine, until it happens to them. The units degrade really quickly, and should never be used. Because most current owners are buying these decks used, they never got the memo.

- Just use the VHS side, great VCR.
- Never the MiniDV. Get a quality MiniDV camera, and done.

I have a VS30 that seems better than most, and I only use it for the odd DVCAM tape, never the common MiniDV.

buckwheat3 · #4 07-03-2022, 11:53 AM

Just to clarify, I'm not using these myself; I buy them to repair and sell. I've already fixed the VHS sides and I want to fix the MiniDV part so I can advertise them as fully working. I know the MiniDV decks are pretty notorious for eating tapes. I don't think I've ever come across one that didn't have some kind of problem, but most of the time I'm able to fix them and these seem so close to working. I will try swapping the capstan motor today from a working deck I have and see what happens. Thanks for the help!

latreche34 · #5 07-03-2022, 03:45 PM

You must know that when a BLDC motor goes fast in either direction it is the motor drive problem, Most likely the hall effect sensor gone bad so the motor control chip can no longer knows where the motor position is, what direction is going and at what speed, Replacing the HE sensor on the PCB underneath the motor or the PCB itself is not fun, So swapping the entire motor assembly is a lot easier.
If the problem persists with a known to be fully working motor that means the control chip on the main PCB is gone bad, The next thing is to replace the DV deck control PCB, It should be shown in the service manual.

Crazyretrotech · #6 04-08-2025, 10:54 AM

It not the motor controller, it the magnetic clutch gear it cracks on the bottom gear as it a metal with plastic ring gear over it and plastic shrink over time. These also have a brake on take-up side were lever breaks due to was to thin and has a post going though the middle so it snaps over the stress with spring pulling on it. I fixed mines and took parts out of a working JVC that gear wasn't cracked as they used a different type of plastic and not nylon like the orginal and replaced the brake on take-up side, it works prefect now. It did excatly what they all do before capstan motor spin fast and then spill tape before. Now it works good and nonclicking sounds. Used a better gear under magnetic clutch gear to fix it and a thicker lever brake off a camcorder that happen to be a later model, so a different plastic, but same size gear and it works.

aramkolt · #7 04-08-2025, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyretrotech

It not the motor controller, it the magnetic clutch gear it cracks on the bottom gear as it a metal with plastic ring gear over it and plastic shrink over time. These also have a brake on take-up side were lever breaks due to was to thin and has a post going though the middle so it snaps over the stress with spring pulling on it. I fixed mines and took parts out of a working JVC that gear wasn't cracked as they used a different type of plastic and not nylon like the orginal and replaced the brake on take-up side, it works prefect now. It did excatly what they all do before capstan motor spin fast and then spill tape before. Now it works good and nonclicking sounds. Used a better gear under magnetic clutch gear to fix it and a thicker lever brake off a camcorder that happen to be a later model, so a different plastic, but same size gear and it works.

Any chance you could label some of the parts on one of these and show what your repairs look like? I also have some VS30's and I'd say about half of the DV drives don't work. Generally, I just remove them from the deck since the VHS side works fine without it being there, and that way they don't get removed by mistake. Even referencing the service manual diagram to point out the parts that need addressing I think would be helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Crazyretrotech · #8 04-08-2025, 03:27 PM

I have a whole video on YouTube called "JVC HR-DVS2U MiniDV S-VHS Combo Deck Repair and common issue". I show what fails on them and parts you need to replace. Problem is getting a good magnetic clutch gear. Thankfully most JVC camcorders use that same magnetic clutch gear as they stuck with same design since 2001, but it knowing what models, I just got lucky as had a deck pulled years ago from a broken camcorder lot years ago and happen to have a good clutch gear, that was the same. Repair will require have to get to the sub chassis to remove magnetic clutch gear assemble.

Yes you can just remove the grey power cable to DV deck and S-VHS side will work and deck won't power down, I done it myself on many, as most people use it for just the S-VHS deck and don't want to fix the DV deck and parts are hard to source which the S-VHS deck is actually pretty good on these.