One of the first Beta VCRs from I think 1978. I was surprised when I got it that it actually loaded a tape and played it for a few minutes, but eventually ate it when it tried to unload it when I tried to eject it.

I replaced all the belts, now it loads the tape, unloads it, rewinds, fast forwards, and plays all ok. But there is some issue with the color. When I first play a tape it only comes up in B&W, then after a while (faster if I mess with the tracking), I get these mostly red streaky vertical stripes of color over a partially B&W picture. I tried to take some pictures of it.

I fixed a Sears Beta VCR (a top loader from 1983) a few days ago (It needed new belts, an idler tire, and had a really dirty head). I'd like to get this older one working too, as of now I'm not even sure if this color issue is mechanical or electronic.

Mine was like that before the mechanics got worse and it stopped passing video completely...If you get yours working can I pay you to fix mine?

If you need belts, the part numbers are:
PRB SCX4.3
PRB FRY19.6
PRB FRQ13.6
PRB SCC15.7
PRB SCA6.1

I don't know about this color problem, I'm probably going to have to find a schematic and poke around.

Just curious - is that a prerecorded tape or something you recorded?

It's a prerecorded tape I picked up at a thrift store called "Duel in the Sun". I haven't even watched it, but have been using it as a test tape.

It plays fine in my other Beta VCR. I tried a few other Beta tapes in this VCR as well, all of which look the same with the same color problems.

I don't have too many Beta tapes, probably the most interesting is one recorded (in BIII) off a local public tv channel, WHA, showing some Doctor Who complete with the intervening pledge drives from 1986.

Did you ever figure it out? I recently got a second one of these decks that has the same problem.

I've been so busy starting a new job (teaching high school physics) that I haven't had time for anything. I haven't even unpacked a lot of my stuff yet. I did pick up a couple newer Zenith Beta VCRs a few months ago: the VR8500 and VR8900, but I haven't even tested them out yet.