Is this what a bad head looks like?

[starbond]

Every other frame is snowy. Going frame by frame I can see a clear image, then a fuzzy one, then clear etc...
I looked at the heads and they don't seem damaged to me, I can see copper wire and the they're all facing out.

The attached images are two consecutive frames

[starbond]

I spoke too soon! After 3 rounds of alcohol paper across the head a lot of oxidation came off. I just needed to give it a thorough cleaning. You can delete this thread or let it serve as a lesson to others who think they have bad heads when they are really just dirty!

[Haunted_TBC]

Just to be clear, we’re talking about 90%+ alcohol, yes? And by paper, do you mean the optical cleaning swabs?

[latreche34]

In the situation of severe crust buildup the common rules don't apply, I had to resort to unusual ways of cleaning that were beyond alcohol and printing paper that require experience and skills.

[themaster1]

Snowy like that it's more interferences imo (grounding screws / grounding spring on the drum missing, really dirty heads (i mean really).
A dying head would deliver a picture but with black streaks imo.

If it's a 4 heads try LP tapes as it's another set of heads that will read the tape. Good luck

[starbond]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haunted_TBC

Just to be clear, we’re talking about 90%+ alcohol, yes? And by paper, do you mean the optical cleaning swabs?

Yes, I dont know the technical name for it, but its when you take a piece of cardstock with a little alcohol on it and spin the head against it so the black crud comes off.