RCA Selectavision model VKT385 VHS VCR issue

[B 4204 T3]

Here is a quick update on my VCR:



Yesterday, I made some test recordings on a blank tape at all three speeds, with my rabbit ears & loop antenna & digital television converter box connected to it, and it recorded very well, then it played back with no problems at all. I also played it on my newer VCR, and it played just fine as well. My movie tapes are also still playing correctly.



What I am planning to do now is order a service manual for it and clean the heads & audio control track. Hopefully, it will still work properly.



On a side note, this VCR is very quiet & runs smoothly. It operates much quieter than other VCRs that I've owned in the past.



Thanks for the suggestions.

[B 4204 T3]

After using this VCR regularly for the last four months since I had it serviced in the repair shop, a new problem has happened with it.



Yesterday, I taped a TV show on it, after the show ended, when I tried to play the tape back, it wouldn't rewind. I kept pushing the rewind button, and I thought it was working fine, since I could hear the internal mechanism whirring for about five seconds, but it kept stopping, and it wouldn't rewind. I also noticed that the numbers on the counter were not changing, so I knew that something was malfunctioning.



Before yesterday, the rewind and fast forward functions worked fine, although slowly, but I couldn't get it to work yesterday for some reason. What is really strange is that the search functions still worked; the tape would rewind and fast forward while I was playing the tape. It works by holding the rewind and fast forward buttons in the entire time while I was searching thru the tape, which is the only way that I was able to rewind the tape & play it back.



I also tried playing, rewinding, and fast forwarding a few different video tapes, and the VCR did the same thing on all of the tapes, so I know that the problem is with the VCR and not the tapes.



I am confused by what is going on, and why it failed only four months after having the VCR serviced in the electronics repair shop. Does anyone know what could be wrong with it? Any suggestions are really appreciated.



Thank you very much!

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by B 4204 T3

After using this VCR regularly for the last four months since I had it serviced in the repair shop, a new problem has happened with it.



Yesterday, I taped a TV show on it, after the show ended, when I tried to play the tape back, it wouldn't rewind. I kept pushing the rewind button, and I thought it was working fine, since I could hear the internal mechanism whirring for about five seconds, but it kept stopping, and it wouldn't rewind. I also noticed that the numbers on the counter were not changing, so I knew that something was malfunctioning.



Before yesterday, the rewind and fast forward functions worked fine, although slowly, but I couldn't get it to work yesterday for some reason. What is really strange is that the search functions still worked; the tape would rewind and fast forward while I was playing the tape. It works by holding the rewind and fast forward buttons in the entire time while I was searching thru the tape, which is the only way that I was able to rewind the tape & play it back.



I also tried playing, rewinding, and fast forwarding a few different video tapes, and the VCR did the same thing on all of the tapes, so I know that the problem is with the VCR and not the tapes.



I am confused by what is going on, and why it failed only four months after having the VCR serviced in the electronics repair shop. Does anyone know what could be wrong with it? Any suggestions are really appreciated.



Thank you very much!

Those Hitachi, as well as GE, RCA and others they built were always trouble-prone. They never stayed fixed! GE and RCA had Samsung make them, right after. They weren't very good either! Now it seems, Samsung can do no wrong.
Hit the Thrift shops, yard sales. Many times, they can be had for less than you paid for that dog. Maybe even free!

[Blast]

Originally Posted by B 4204 T3

Yesterday, I taped a TV show on it, after the show ended, when I tried to play the tape back, it wouldn't rewind. I kept pushing the rewind button, and I thought it was working fine, since I could hear the internal mechanism whirring for about five seconds, but it kept stopping, and it wouldn't rewind. I also noticed that the numbers on the counter were not changing, so I knew that something was malfunctioning.

Before yesterday, the rewind and fast forward functions worked fine, although slowly, but I couldn't get it to work yesterday for some reason. What is really strange is that the search functions still worked; the tape would rewind and fast forward while I was playing the tape. It works by holding the rewind and fast forward buttons in the entire time while I was searching thru the tape, which is the only way that I was able to rewind the tape & play it back.

I also tried playing, rewinding, and fast forwarding a few different video tapes, and the VCR did the same thing on all of the tapes, so I know that the problem is with the VCR and not the tapes.

I may not be getting a complete understanding of this problem. But, here goes...

There were some Hitachi designs (not sure if the VKT385 was one, or not) that used, what I'll describe as, a single pin analog system for their function buttons.

All the major function buttons (Stop, Start, Rewind, etc.) were wired through different sized resistors so that each button pressed presented a different voltage to a single pin of the microprocessor (uP). For example, pressing STOP might send 5vdc to said pin, pressing PLAY might present 3.2v to the same pin, etc. And, the uP would 'know' to perform the proper function based on the voltage presented at that input pin.

So, when the function buttons started getting electrically intermittent over time they might, and would, 'fool' the uP into 'thinking' that a different button had been pressed other than the one the operator was actually pressing because of the additional resistance that had built up in the switches over time.

So for that, remove the front panel and spray a little Deoxit D5 into each of the function buttons in order to to clean their contacts.

Now, this isn't going to do anything for a slipping idler wheel or some other mechanical problem that's just now surfaced. And, again, I may not be fully understanding the problem. But, if you're having to hold two buttons to perform a function that one button normally performs, this may be the problem.

Good luck.

[B 4204 T3]

Thanks for all the responses; I really appreciate the suggestions.



I haven't done anything with this VCR yet, but when I have more time, I will try looking at it some more. I thought maybe the culprit is a mechanical problem with one of the idler tyres or one of the belts, so I can try examining it. I also have a can of Deoxit D5, so I will try cleaning the front controls.



Something else I've heard about the Hitachi VCRs from the 1980s is that they have a very complicated internal mechanism, and they're difficult to service. I'm thinking of ordering a service manual for this VCR, but it's expensive.



I will also try looking for other VCRs if I can't get it working reliably.



Thanks again for the suggesions.

[B 4204 T3]

I worked on this VCR again, and I was able to figure out what was wrong with it. It works fine now, and I can use it again. This old Hitachi / RCA Selectavision VCR is definitely a keeper, and I will use it for a long time to come, so thanks for all the suggestions & help on getting it working again!



I will try to post a picture of it on here soon.

[Electronic M]

In the last decade I've had 2 identical (besides cabinet color) Toshiba Beta HiFi decks (still own one), besides the IIRC capstan belt both worked perfectly mechanically and electrically... Very good build quality/reliability there.

[Blast]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

In the last decade I've had 2 identical (besides cabinet color) Toshiba Beta HiFi decks (still own one), besides the IIRC capstan belt both worked perfectly mechanically and electrically... Very good build quality/reliability there.

Nice! I might point out I've only ever worked on VHS.

[Tube TV]

It sounds like your rewind issue is coming from worn belts or idlers cause the motor is starting.

I forget exactly how that VCR is laid out but I do remember servicing that machine back in the late 90's. I don't remember it being all that bad to work on. The most miserable I remember is the top loader RCA that was older than yours.

I wouldn't be too much effort to service the belts yourself.

[Blast]

Originally Posted by Tube TV

--snip-- I forget exactly how that VCR is laid out --snip

Something like this. This photo of the entire lower mechanism is from the thread "Rca Vkt300" here on videokarma. With the infamous RCA p/n 164113 idler.