Panasonic AG-1980 rewind issue?

jham55 · #1 10-04-2024, 05:30 PM

This is an awesome deck but it has one glaring issue. The rewind is eating tapes. Or at least it is unspooling a bit. It can recover from it sometimes but others not so much. I added a video. Anyone experience this?

Dougmc · #2 10-04-2024, 07:58 PM

I guessing on takeup reel there is a soft brake to put a little
Drag on the reel during rewind. Either it has a mechanical issue or maybe the felt is missing
7

aramkolt · #3 10-04-2024, 10:58 PM

Haven't seen that, but I'd have to agree with Dougmc, one of the brakes is not being correctly applied on the right spool to keep it in tension. Reason I say it's the right side (take up spool) is because the tape is being pulled from the left side so really only the right side can be loose to cause that.

-- merged --

Looking at it again, almost seems like something else might be going on. I'd expect if it was the spool brake on the right that the tape would spill to the right of the pinch roller, not to the left. In full speed rewind and fast forward, I don't remember if different brakes are used, but my guess is that it doesn't spill tape when you do that? In those modes, the pinch roller isn't engaged which is basically the main difference where the precise spinning of the capstan matters for slow speed, but not fast speed. Makes me wonder if one of the capstan brakes could do that? I guess nice thing about AG1980 is that you can take off the bottom cover and directly visualize the bottom of the capstan as the tape is playing to see if you're seeing erratic capstan movements that look like they are supposed to be slowed.

jham55 · #4 10-05-2024, 08:16 AM

Not sure if anyone has a pic of theirs but it looks like the brake is a little off shaped.

latreche34 · #5 10-05-2024, 12:30 PM

Looks like tape tension problem, the head is throwing the tape with its rotation due to lack of tension during rewind, Check the tension arm or belt.

jham55 · #6 10-05-2024, 03:04 PM

I checked the bottom during rewind and nothing seemed off from the bottom but it unspooled a bit and caused an F6 error maybe from being on its side.

latreche34 · #7 10-05-2024, 03:37 PM

The tension bands and arms should be on the top not bottom.

jham55 · #8 10-05-2024, 04:16 PM

I know I was checking the bottom to see if the capstan or belt was out of whack.

ENunn · #9 12-11-2025, 12:51 AM

did you ever figure out what was causing your issue? I'm dealing with the same thing with my 1980 currently. I can't rewind without the tape slightly getting unspooled and without showing garbage video. it gets so bad that sometimes the VCR stops and the tape gets a little damaged because of it.

aramkolt · #10 12-11-2025, 08:55 AM

Maybe upload a new video of the issue yours has. After re-looking at the original video, it most likely has something to do with the brakes/back tension. Could be that pads are worn out, or something isn't engaging appropriately. First thing I'd look for is any brake pads that may have fallen off. In general, I haven't come across many brake pad issues with the AG1980 after working on about 30 of them in total, but I suppose it could happen with high use or if a pad fell off.

I haven't tried it on the AG1980, but you likely can block the center IR LED with some tape (so it thinks it has a tape loaded) and then do the the actions that cause the issue without a tape installed and see if you can visualize the brake contacting for backtension oand free rotate the spool that isn't driving to determine if any resistance is present to spinning that with your hand. The machine might shut down if it doesn't detect rotation on the opposite hub, or you could strategically disconnect power with say a switched power strip to get it into the state where you think backtension is missing and inspect, rotate the opposite hub with the machine totally off.

ENunn · #11 12-11-2025, 03:29 PM

this is what's going on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzeiy1VRrXs

where do i find the brake pads?

radiokom · #12 12-11-2025, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENunn

this is what's going on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzeiy1VRrXs

where do i find the brake pads?

I doubt it is brake pads. Can you post video with full cycle from cassette loading to play/stop/ff/rew/eject?
Did you removed pinch roller assembly, cleaned and lubricated (with few drops of oil not grease) rod?

Pinch roller rod cleaning and lubricating is a must for K and g mechanics. If pinch roller assembly is stuck you can have wonders including like this. Very simple procedure, so do it first.

Gary34 · #13 12-12-2025, 10:41 AM

I never rewind with my 1980. I rewind with a cheaper VCR.

radiokom · #14 12-12-2025, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary34

I never rewind with my 1980. I rewind with a cheaper VCR.

Of course, but it should work without issues anyway

Those loops are unacceptable, they indicate serious problem.
In my opinion the best mechanism for rewinding is Panasonic G-1 Mechanism.
It is slower than G-2 (what has additional motor for rewind) but we do not need speed. G-1 is very gentle (if serviced of course) on tape and unlike the K, deflects the tape from the head drum during rewinding.

I use Panasonic NV-FS1 for rewind.

lordsmurf · #15 12-12-2025, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary34

I never rewind with my 1980. I rewind with a cheaper VCR.

But, but ... be kind, rewind! Are you not kind to your videotapes?

ENunn · #16 12-29-2025, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiokom

I doubt it is brake pads. Can you post video with full cycle from cassette loading to play/stop/ff/rew/eject?
Did you removed pinch roller assembly, cleaned and lubricated (with few drops of oil not grease) rod?

Pinch roller rod cleaning and lubricating is a must for K and g mechanics. If pinch roller assembly is stuck you can have wonders including like this. Very simple procedure, so do it first.

sorry for the late reply. i haven't recorded a video yet but I found out another issue that's related to my rewind issue.

if I insert a tape that was already played to the end, then rewind, the tape gets eaten. if I play a tape that's at the beginning, fast forward all the way, then rewind, then the tape DOESN'T get eaten. something's up.

i was thinking it could be the pinch roller and that I should clean it and lube it too. what do you use to clean the roller? and what kind of oil do you use to lube the assembly?

radiokom · #17 12-30-2025, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENunn

i was thinking it could be the pinch roller and that I should clean it and lube it too. what do you use to clean the roller? and what kind of oil do you use to lube the assembly?

Problem is not a pinch roller (you can clean it with acetone and then as routine cleaning with IPA) and a drop of oil on bearing will be enough (if it has ball bearing, I believe it has, in later K mechanisms was used plastic bush).

Problem is pinch roller shaft with original grease what is hardened. So you need to remove complete pinch roller assembly (look in SM, very simple, remove bracket and pull it off) clean old grease with IPA and apply few drops of oil (not grease) on shaft.

Pinch roller removal is described in section 3-17 (page 25) in attached SM

I do not know it is a cause of your problem, but this operation should be done anyway.