VCR Mechanism Doesn't Play
 

Hello,

My Panasonic PV-4060 VCR has stopped playing tapes. It loads the tapes, and will even play them for a few moments (with good image quality) until it stops. It also has trouble rewinding and fast forwarding, stopping randomly. Eventually I have to unplug the set for it to respond at all to commands.

With the cover off, it seems like everything is in order. Where can I start looking?

Operate it with the cover off and while playing observe the take-up reel, see if it's stalling causing it to stop. Might be a rubber idler or somesuch.

With the cover off, this is how it stops.

youtu.be/OqbOsY6nAVc

And this is the resultant clicking during which the mechanism won't respond to commands.

youtu.be/8HAyjs_QPdk

Sometimes it turns off at this point also.

Where is the rubber idler?

Did you watch the operation of the unit with the cover off?
Seems like the slack of the tape isn't being taken up. I don't remember if that model has an idler wheel or a gear. It's located between the two spindles. I don't miss working on those things.
I use VCR's a lot! If one gives me grief, I just grab another one off the pile, as I have several.
BTW, the condition your unit is in, could lead to damaged tapes!

Yeah, I posted videos in my last post.

There's nothing between the two spindles, so I guess the unit uses a gear.

I only have the one, but I only use it for the few tapes I don't have on DVD. I'll probably digitize them as soon as I get this VCR working again.

Here's a video of the unit being disassembled from someone else. You can see the lack of an idler wheel at 4:29.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eATL5x1hZQA

I guess you're on your own, or someone else with a YouTube acc't can help you. Your YouTube is private and I do not have a YouTube account any more.

Oops, that's an error. Should be public now.

EDIT: The issue has all the symptoms of a dirty/worn idler tire, but it doesn't seem like there is one.

Looks like a "G" chassis, which doesn't have an idler tire as I recall. It's got some other oddball problem. I'll have to think about it. Maybe someone with G chassis experience can offer an opinion too!

I wish I wasn't so helpless, I don't even have a service manual to go on.

I found this: http://www.science-bbs.com/72-electr...ae5c2f5178.htm.

and here: http://www.science-bbs.com/72-electr...4371422272.htm.

Sounds familiar.

Where are the two mode switches?

Does that unit have a mechanical counter? If yes, look to see if the belt is slipping.

I never understood how those things worked anyway, what w/all those teeny-tiny parts...And all the Monkey-Motion they had to go thru..

I can say these do NOT have the belt driven counter.

There is a slider switch on the FL assy and a rotary encoder switch down on the deck mechanism that turns with the cam gear, only two I recall. BUT!! You have never had a G chassis apart and don't have the manual and the mechanical timing is critical.

It almost sounds to me like power supply problems, these do have the SMPS power supply buried on the back. Like not enough current to power the motor and engage the mechanism control solenoid.. Should be a good solid 12V or 15V somewhere on a pin to the capstan or cylinder motors.

Ed is right, no belt counter.

You're right, I'll do more damage than good. I'll check the voltage.

It's been too long since I worked on VCRs but I remember that G deck. Boy, do I remember it (the mechanism, in a general sense).
Also remember trying to find the very first instance of the complaint- It's just like someone presses the STOP button, isn't it? But, it's not the reel sensor.
Ed said something about the switch on the FL- isn't THAT the problem? Try cleaning that out.
If not, sorry. It's been at least 15 years for me.
Brian