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#1
05-01-2009, 05:24 PM
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Dragged home a Hitachi VT-33A
I went to a flea market that I have never been before today and stumbled upon this bottom feeder Hitachi deck. Paid $5 for giggles and I happen to have spare belts from trashed modern recorders and old belts from cassette decks to get this up and running.
One weird quirk is that the machine fails to turn itself on unless it was unplugged for a few minutes, though I could set the clock and program the VCR with this problem. Any experience with this box or its more exciting siblings?    
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#2
05-01-2009, 06:38 PM
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I have a VT35, the mechanism is the same but with digital channel display and a slighly different front panel design with even larger mech function buttons
Mine came from a dumpster, it just needed a new belt, it worked for a few years then the controls got sluggish (it often rewinded when i pushed FF or vice versa) then the whole control panel died. Sooner or later i'm going to try to fix it, maybe i have a dirty function switch in the mech.
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#3
05-01-2009, 08:06 PM
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#5
05-01-2009, 09:45 PM
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AUdubon5425: Definitely as it's 25 years old. I'll track the suspect cap(s) down.
-- Quote:
I'm just curious on the larger mech. buttons on the VT-35, if you're able to post a photo of it. Even with this one (and a few VCRs of this era), one wouldn't need fingers to run it. Last edited by jedo1507r; 05-01-2009 at 09:51 PM.
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#6
05-01-2009, 11:04 PM
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That really brings back memories of the dozens of these (and dozens of RCA-branded equivilents) I worked on the '90's. I second the motions about tact switches being the culprits. Just replace them.
That thing is in great shape for 25 years old! Brian
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#7
05-02-2009, 12:18 PM
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Mine started to swap the REW and FF functions, then the whole control panel died shortly afterwards, i remember the "tape in" light was still on even with no tape inside and the carriage up, so it wouldn't even accept tapes anymore, someday i'll have a go at it Big buttons were a typical feature on many 80s Products, i think they look really cool! 
Last edited by Kiwick; 05-02-2009 at 12:25 PM.
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#9
05-02-2009, 08:01 PM
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Kiwick: Your VT-35E looks good, all of those colors that the NA version lack, though we get woodgrain vinyl on metal on the case.
 Japanese VT-33 I'm also starting to think the switches are the issue as andy and Blast said. I had to hold the transport buttons a little longer to prod it along.  I forgot to note that this little channel select driver is still on the door.   No sign of video problems. (Old life insurance ad, 2003-ish)
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