Terrible tracking issues with my VCR?
 

I could use some advice, any suggestions are appreciated!

Hello!

I have a JVC-HRD4050U, and im having playback issues specifically with all tapes. I keep on getting “no signal” but I am still able to hear audio, and sometimes the video will display but only very briefly before becoming very noisy or “snowy” then I will recieve no signal again, still hearing the audio. I have dumbed it down to solely being a playback issue as I am able to access the menu on the VCR without problems, ever. Pressing the tracking buttons will sometimes help for playback, but eventually the same thing happens within about 5 seconds before it losing tracking again. I also get no signal when I FFWD, RWD or Pause

I have cleaned the tape heads, and also tried my hardest at realigning the tape path alignment as I thought this might have been the issue. I had no luck, and it didnt make a difference so I just set them back to where they were originally before I had moved them. Is there anything else I can try?

I’ve also tried both Coax and the AV method of connecting, both resulted in the same outcome unfortunately. I have been trying to figure this out for hours now, hopefully ill be able to get it working properly.

Thank you

So you’re just hooking it up to the TV? You aren’t trying to capture? Are the tapes EP/SLP?

Assuming:
1 You cleaned the heads really well
2: You didn't remove grounding screws (bad grounding= snowy pictures)
3: Ribbon cables are well seated in their sockets for the AC head and Drum/preamp (check again please),all the way down

It could be:
1- Tape tension issue (back tension arm) (check with your finger on the left side of the tape path if the tension if good (not loose),same thing on the right side

2- Can be an issue with the Post guides (P2,P3) that need a tweak

3- Check / adjust your AC head
The AC head is a set of two heads: one for audio linear a.k.a mono (reading & recording) one for control track (tape speed infos reading SP/LP, and Sync pulses i believe)
If not set properly it certainly can affect the quality of audio and also video to the point it's snowy and audio is muffled.
Adjusting it will not be easy without a scope but it can be done good enough (i did it on my philips, and some other vcrs)



two videos for you:

Adjust the AC head:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fazLIPQqKLk

back tension (~8min mark):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dY0...Vuc2lvbiB0YXBl