Any place to buy JVC VCR parts?
 

Hello,
Roy here,

Hoping you all could steer me in the right direction? Finding parts for my four JVC HR-S7800U VCRs have been increasing difficult over the years. Is there a source(s) for parts? At this time I'm in search of the following... LP40370-001E ROLLER ARM ASSY, QAR0119-001 STATOR ASSY and LP20617-008A DRUM SUB ASSY.

Thanks in advance,
Roy

There are a few random sites (and random offline store), with a few random parts. But we're now 20+ years removed from JVC manufacturing any of this. This stuff was long ago clearanced out, recycled, or trashed, as it costs serious money to warehouse inventory for decades.

I'm not aware of anywhere that specifically carries 7800 parts.

This is why most of us have parts/donor decks to pull from.

But you may be in luck. At this exact moment (Dec 2024), I actually have a extra non-working 7800, that I'd consider selling off for the eBay parts rate for this model, which is about $200 total shipped. (For comparison, the BS "working/tested" decks average about $450 tax/shipped.) This 7800 does not appear to have ever been picked from, and I never did for certain. It may even be reparable, but I've not had time or desire to try. The tape holder assembly is collapsed (thus gate doesn't close), and the LED is failed. But the head cylinder seems fine, rollers, etc. All the parts you'd need.

Just these parts alone -- LP40370-001E ROLLER ARM ASSY, QAR0119-001 STATOR ASSY, LP20617-008A DRUM SUB ASSY -- probably would have run at least $100 anyway. So for another $100, you get anything else you may need now, or in the future. It's not uncommon to think you just need A/B/C to make it whole again, but after replacing A/B/C you realize you need a new D or even D/E/F/G/etc.

Those 7800 motors are cranky, so it never hurts to have a spare. (7800 is a pre-V10, and most V10 have failed due to bad motors.)

I've looked for VCR parts myself and I can't find any place other than eBay, any other website will be either a scam or an outdated page that leads to check out but no actual order will be fulfilled. If you can't find your part on eBay it is highly likely it is not available. If we are talking about generics such as belts, screws, electronic components, certain tools, then that's a different story.

If you are into Japanese and Russian websites and willing to take the risks of expensive shipping that's another option but there is always a chance of being scammed.

And lastly the easiest way of getting parts is used machines, You can't get brand new parts but if you are lucky you can get good condition parts.

New old stock of these will be over $2000 easy.

I was actually thinking back to prices we paid new back in the 2000s. There's really no comps out there for what a new (NOS) part would run now. $200, $2K, no idea. I just know it won't be less than the $100 it was years ago.

What always gets me is this uncanny situation:

(1) I'll acquire something unexpected, not sure if/when I'll need it, or if/when I'll sell it to others.
(2) And then, almost immediately after, a person is suddenly looking for the same something. Whoa! :eek:

... then the person passes on it. :huh1: :screwy:

I hope that doesn't happen here. But if it does, seriously, WTF? The stars align, and some people just cannot take the luck/blessing they've been given. I seize opportunities (and celebrate the win), I don't run from them. Not everybody is that wise, it seems.

We're talking 48 hours here. I fully expected to put this 7800 in my attic, into my "VCR graveyard". So seeing this post blew my mind. It's happened several times lately, exact situation. I'm like a video genie -- but don't rub me.

https://www.smcelectronics.com/vcrele.htm

this one got some (mode switches, motors, memory backup etc.., many brands)

That person hasn’t answered a single email or phone message in 3 years.
I drove to the previous store front because I live in the area.
Maybe he is now moved to Brockton. I’d love to know if anyone gets a response.

Hello all,

As of this posting, I've pulled the trigger for a "working/tested 4800" from eBay @ $124.00 delivered. We shall see how this shakes out.

Thanks to All who have takin the time to respond in my hour of need,

Roy

Hopefully that 4800 has what you need, but do realize it's not 100% fully identical.

I guess my deck will go in the attic.

I believe the parts I require are? According to the service manual.

For these specific parts, I think so.

My worry is if you need more, and those might not be. I'm forward-thinking when it comes to parts for this old gear.

I looked at eBay 4800s before even replying to this thread, and wasn't impressed by the numbers. $125 similar model vs. $200 identical model was really a no-brainer, $75 is nothing in the video world, a rounding error. (Was that $125 also including tax and shipping?) Especially since I know how to pack gear, and eBay sellers are notorious idiots when it comes to packing VCRs.

Good luck, I hope it works for you.

Forward-thinking is always a good thing. Hopefully this purchase of the 4800 will serve my purpose for the time being, assuming it's in working order. It's been my limited experience w/eBay that when sellers accepts returns, they tend to be more careful/accurate with "working/tested" claims and their packaging techniques. It was $125.00 delivered.

Thanks for the "Good luck", I'll take all I can get.

As I said above, those websites are very old and you can place an order, you card will not be charged, your order will not get fulfilled. Who would sell a mode switch for $6 in 2024?

There's a lot of ghost sites with TBCs, too. Some of the old Yahoo storefront type templates are easy to spot. I don't understand how a site can be abandoned for decades, and still be online. It'd have to be self-hosted on an obsolete dedicated server, as normal hosting and VPS forces updates after some time.

SMC is a live site, updated just 2 weeks ago.

How embarrassing for them.

1999 called, they want their site back. :laugh:

No one said it is not live, otherwise how can you place an order if it is not live?

FWIW the SMC site copyright reads 1998-2024. No guarantee it is current but at least someone took the trouble to update the year, a somewhat encouraging sign.

There are scripts that automatically update the year. At the very bottom of this site is 2002-2024, but we never update that. On Jan 1, every page will show 2002-2025.

SMC shows updated parts (belts) arrived in November, but if ANYONE can get a hold of this company we could put this to bed.

There is nothing to put to rest, the business is active as seen in their front page, Do they have VCR special parts? That's what you need to find out, like I did numerous times with different websites, Even Sears parts had video drums listed and I placed orders but my credit card never got charged, when try to inquire about the order they will just cancel it.