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#1
05-04-2012, 01:46 AM
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1980s VHS VCR 15-year median reliability data (1978-1993)...
Based on nearly 2,500,000 responses total to Consumer Reports' 1983 to 1993 Annual Questionnaires. Readers were asked about any repairs to VCRs bought new between 1978 and 1993. All are VHS format. Data have been standardized to eliminate differences among brands due solely to age and how much the VCRs were used.
FEWER-REPAIRS <<<<<
MORE-REPAIRS (*) not listed, estimation only Last edited by waltchan; 10-26-2022 at 05:34 PM. 
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#2
05-04-2012, 01:50 AM
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Panasonic was the most-reliable brand, while Fisher was the least-reliable brand. Toshiba was the most-reliable brand with linear power supply inside, while Funai/Symphonic was the most-reliable brand with geared idler wheel system (no rubber tire).
Last edited by waltchan; 05-06-2012 at 03:50 AM.
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#3
05-04-2012, 12:07 PM
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#4
05-04-2012, 03:47 PM
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Back when I was a kid in the mid-late 90's my folks got me a Sharp new VHS deck for my birthday, and that has been one of the most reliable decks trouble free decks I've owned (or seen). I still have it and occasionally use it. I seem to recall that thing has survived falls that other decks I've had would have died from(some did!).
__________________
Tom C. Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off! What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4
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#5
05-06-2012, 12:26 AM
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How good were the Sharp/Montgomery Ward 80s VCRs???
I need someone's opinion with Sharp/Montgomery Ward VCR on reliability? Do you find them reliable, and what were the problems you saw? In several issues published by Consumer Reports between 1982 and 1986, responders voted Sharp as the "least-reliable, most frequently-repaired" VHS brand.
A tech guy, who is also my friend, used to repair VCRs before and currently sells VCR parts at studiosoundelectronics.com. He is upset at me for placing Sharp at #9 in the list. 
Last edited by waltchan; 05-06-2012 at 12:42 AM.
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#6
05-06-2012, 07:48 AM
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Those CR lists are why I dropped my subscription many years ago. I could always think of exceptions to their lists.
About all I recall about Sharps was replacing idler clutch assemblies, idler arms, capstan motors, pinch rollers, and some upper head drums mostly because of loose head height set-screws, they had a bad run of those. On recordings one head would partially erase what the first head had just laid down on the tape making for poor record quality on EP especially, playback of head A might be strong, head B very weak when looking at the RF envelope. Remember the Sharp upper drums that were solid brass?
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#7
05-04-2012, 12:43 PM
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..but those Fishers #14 on the list were usually very simple repairs, 99% of the time was the squealing loading belt 143-2-7504-00600 or 01000. Still have the part numbers memorized did so many of them. Likewise the older pre-'83 or so Panasonics (Quasar/Magnavox/GE//RCA/Sylvania) with the XAMV0019 sensor bulb that when burned out would disable the machine.. not so reliable actually. Ah the memories.
Last edited by Ed in Tx; 05-04-2012 at 12:53 PM.
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#8
05-04-2012, 01:21 PM
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I replaced a LOT of idlers on Fisher decks, too. Particularly this guy:
 The Hitachi/RCA idler (RCA #164113--isn't it scary how some of these numbers stick with you even 25 years later?) was another "fast mover", but at least it was designed in such a way that it could be swapped out in seconds with no tools. One shop I worked at had a tech who had small enough hands that he could reach in through the front-load door and swap those idlers out without even taking the cover off... 
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#10
05-04-2012, 02:41 PM
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I need someone's opinion with Sharp/Montgomery Ward VCR on reliability? Do you find them reliable, and what were the problems you saw?
A tech guy, who is also my friend, used to work on VCRs before and regularly sells VCR parts at studiosoundelectronics.com. He is upset at me for placing Sharp at #9 in the list. Last edited by waltchan; 05-04-2012 at 07:21 PM.
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#11
05-07-2012, 06:47 PM
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Those were the days.
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#12
05-08-2012, 01:03 AM
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Sad to see RCA so low on the list. My Dad bought at least 2 Selectavision VCRs circa 1984, and we used them for over 15 years, throwing them out in still-working condition.
It isn't the age they had on them that is so impressive, but rather the miles. Dad dubbed videos (legally selling/trading public domain stuff) and we had a library of 5-7 thousand VHS tapes-most of them having run through those two decks! The only problem we ever had on them was a lightning strike took out both displays, and we used them for years without the display. That ended in about 1990 when we casually mentioned them to a guy who repaired VCRs, and his eyes got all wide and he said he could get a pair of repair kits for cheap and just snap them right in! Good to his word, we had "like new" VCRs a few days later, and it became my first VHS deck, my brother getting the other.
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#14
05-08-2012, 09:02 AM
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Speaking of Akai VCR's... I had one for a time that had a built in audio amplifier with speaker connections. I used it for a tweeter set-up on my TV for years. It got retired (haw haw) after the idler tire died, and I had nothing on hand to replace it. By then, Akai didnt want to know me for parts. Speaking of Fisher VCR's  I had a Fisher FVH-840 unit that ran for over 10 years, with a yearly replacement of the idler and clutches and belts. It ate a friends cherished tape once, and my friend has never let me forget it.I bought this Fisher because it was Hi-Fi, and also had linear stereo, too. A local radio station came through the AFM circuitry loud and clear during the day, and was silent when they powered down at night. When I moved back to NC, there were no issues. Bought an FVH-950 to replace the other Fisher. It lasted 1 year and 5 months before it simply died. I was hating Fisher at that point, so I bought a Sony with a flying erase head. It's still here today, with minor repairs.
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#15
05-10-2012, 07:51 AM
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You guys should start a new topic on the Mitsubishi and Panasonic VCR... I've had a bunch of them recently that were a mess that I picked up at the thrifts.
I've got several Sony VHS machines that all had the same problem: There's an arm that physically pulls the tape out of the cassette and moves it in place at the capstan and pinch roller. The pivot bearing gums up. Once it's freed up, the machine works fine. Most of the time, I have to remove the pivot from its shaft to get oil in it. One of these models is a SLV-900HF with a flying erase head that I paid $2 for at the thrift. I've got 9 machines like this... Each one cost a fortune when new. I have less than $30 in all of them. Remotes included with most of them!!!
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