GE 1VCR5018X 4head Hi-Fi VCR

[jmm83]

Just Got this VCR Yesterday for $10

it did not work at first
it would load the tape & come back out
the Switches on the Loading Mechanism were broken
had to take ones out of a broken 80's magnavox (panasonic) vcr

this vcr only has one belt and that is on the loading motor

Does Any one know what the PAY TV Knob does on the back?

And please let me know if you know anything else about it
thanks

[rca2000]

SOMEWHERE....I have one a lot like it, labelled Magnavox. early 1985 model. I bought it new--on a close-out at a target store in I think October 1985. IIRC, I paid $349 for it. At the TIME...that was a GOOD deal--for a hi-fi vcr. I got OVER 15 YEARS of use out of it...a LOT of use...before the SMPS finally gave up in summer of 2002. I meant to fix it, but it is STILL around here somewhere. IIRC, I put new rubber in it after about 10 years including a pinch roller. The heads NEVER went bad, nor any motors...


It has been awhile since i saw it.....but i THINK...mine TOO...had that switch on the rear.

[Ed in Tx]

Equivalent to the Panasonic PV-1730. I almost bought one back in the day, but it was ahead of the MTS stereo standard so it lacks a stereo TV tuner. This has direct drive reel motors which is why it lacks most of the usual belts & idlers.
That Pay TV switch has to do with the old subscription boxes they had back in the early-mid-80s like On TV. You would set it up to the channel the descrambler box put out so the VCR would switch to it. Something like that...

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by jmm83

Does Any one know what the PAY TV Knob does on the back?

I wonder if it has a descrambler in it?? (For pay TV)

Would be interesting!! (Although there isnt anymore analog scrambled channels anymore)

[Ed in Tx]

No the descrambler would be a separate box supplied by the pay TV service. You would set the VCR switch to the channel the Pay TV box put out. "On TV" was on Ch 21 here back in the late '70s until mid-80s when cable took over and those OTA Pay TV services went away.

[dishdude]

The PAY TV switch worked with an adapter that plugged into the AUX port. If you needed a cable box to descramble HBO, it allowed you to split your cable line to the VCR and cable box, then run the output of the cable box to the adapter. This allowed you to tune a scrambled channel on the VCR tuner so you could set timers on multiple channels.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by dishdude

The PAY TV switch worked with an adapter that plugged into the AUX port. If you needed a cable box to descramble HBO, it allowed you to split your cable line to the VCR and cable box, then run the output of the cable box to the adapter. This allowed you to tune a scrambled channel on the VCR tuner so you could set timers on multiple channels.

Ah yes it comes back now. It has that AUX jack in the back .... never saw a descrambler for that. Another obsolete technology.

[jmm83]

oh ok thanks for all the info
does anyone know what remote went with it?

[centralradio]

Nice VCR.My tuner for my portable Panasonic has the pay channel knob.We had HBO with its cable box direct fed into the VCR so I never used the back selector.The Panasonic PV-1730 was my first choice then I decided I wanted a portable PV9600 with its tuner.

Might be lucky to find a match on Google and Ebay for a remote.

[jmm83]

vcr has been acting up it was playing slow at first with some static
but if i rewind and fast forward a few times it will play normally
does anyone know what the problem is

[Ed in Tx]

Loaded with 30 year old electrolytic capacitors plus wear on the cylinder and pinch roller, and everything else, lots to check.

That particular chassis used a cylinder that would wear out, bottom of cylinder where the tape exits would get worn slick causing tape drag ("stiction"). Also the cylinder bearings would wear causing excess wobble in the upper cylinder as is spins.

[jmm83]

I think it might be the Capstan Motor
It Spins Slow at first
is there any way to put a different one in it?

[Ed in Tx]

You cannot substitute it with a different motor if that's what you mean. Might be able to use one from a PV8000, 9000, 1730 for sure. I doubt it's the capstan motor though. Just a bad DD capstan motor would be more rare than one of those VCRs actually working properly after 30 years. Electrolytic capacitors are the bane of electronic devices. I suspect there are more than a few bad in your VCR.

[centralradio]

I agree with Ed.Video capstan motors are more complex .They are not like cassette tape motors with a trimmer inside or tape speed adjustments and some which are interchangeable.

Yes check the caps around the motor driver circuit plus the power supply circuit going to the motor.

[pac.attack76]

Nice machine. Had one just like it back in the 90's.