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? :D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0147.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0148.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0160.jpg

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.

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.

Do you think it may have an electrolytic that can't hold a charge anymore?

...

AUdubon5425: Definitely as it's 25 years old. I'll track the suspect cap(s) down.

--

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.

Interestingly, the FF/REW issue happened earlier when I tested the replacement belts.

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.

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

Interestingly, the FF/REW issue happened earlier when I tested the replacement belts.

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.

Here's a pic of my VT-35 E

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!

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/7121/img0354l.jpg (http://img185.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img0354l.jpg)

...

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.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/600x450-2009030200109.jpg
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. :D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0167.jpg
I forgot to note that this little channel select driver is still on the door.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0165.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y251/jedo1507r/Hitachi%20VT-33A/IMG_0171.jpg
No sign of video problems. (Old life insurance ad, 2003-ish)

http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?711-my-vcr-scans&p=2915#post2915