Repairing JVC HR-S3910U S-VHS

I'm just trying to suppress a gag reflex. It's been a long time since I've encountered someone who actually thought they could fix something by indiscriminately spraying WD-40 in there. Back in the day, someone would occasionally bring in a car stereo with WD-40 literally dripping out of there when you tipped the piece up on it's side.

At the very least you are going to need to clean the WD of any rubber pieces (belts or idlers) and off any drive surfaces which contact them. Even then it's likely more WD will migrate back onto those drive surfaces.

Your original problem may have been nothing more than a bad belt, but at the very least you have complicated the issue, perhaps effectively ruining and practical hope of repair.

Sheesh.

Mark Z.

LOL --- Yes, I think I got carried away with the WD-40, will have to be more careful next time, not to do that, but to post here first for any advice.

I got carried away: Will clean the surfaces and belt(s) as suggested. Are there any WD-40 removers on the market? :)

Thanks for the helpful info.

LOL --- Yes, I think I got carried away with the WD-40, will have to be more careful next time, not to do that, but to post here first for any advice :)

I got carried away: Will clean the surfaces and belt(s) as suggested. Are there any WD-40 removers on the market? :)

Thanks for the helpful info.

P.S. I think I was inspired by an article on the web, which showed how to fix a DVD player's drive mechanism (FYI, the Panasonic RV-32) using WD-40. Thought that WD-40 would be a useful tool -- You guys are right, will have to be more careful next time, and post here first for any advice :)

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

....

Pure alcohol. Avoid methanol (unless you have very good ventilation) because it is toxic, vapors toxic and it also absorbed through the skin.

Avoid 'rubbing alcohol', unless it is pure isopropyl alcohol, because it can leave a residue

You can use 'Ever-clear' (195 proof vodka) [and even drink the part you don't use]. :)

Keep clear of ignition sources while using.

--
bz    	73 de N5BZ k

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an 
infinite set.

bz+ser@ch100-5.chem.lsu.edu   remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap

Cleaned the machine and parts as best I could, but with so many parts, looks like it needs to be looked at. Well, first thing, first, I am going to chuck the WD-40, and will not use it, ever again.

Second, if it's going to cost me $70 or more to service it (which is what I'm being quoted) I could go with a new machine, but with VHS being phased out, it is difficult to get a good, four head machine that gives true four head play back, the way it is supposed to. For example: I had a look at some combo players today, but they did not look that great (The housing for a Toshiba VHS/DVD Combo player was terrible: It looked like the machine was from the late 80's, the design at least. There was also a Samsung combo, looked a little better, the button were small, very non descript.)

VHS has great value: There is a lot of misrepresentation and misunderstanding of this fact, and it would be nice if manufacturers still supported it, or at least had a high quality option available on the market.

Any suggestions?

Cleaned the machine and parts as best I could, but with so many parts, looks like it needs to be looked at. Well, first thing, first, I am going to chuck the WD-40, and will not use it, ever again, because the fumes smell terrible.

Second, if it's going to cost me $70 or more to service it (which is what I'm being quoted) I could go with a new machine, but with VHS being phased out, it is difficult to get a good, four head machine that gives true four head play back, the way it is supposed to. For example: I had a look at some combo players today, but they did not look that great (The housing for a Toshiba VHS/DVD Combo player was terrible: It looked like the machine was from the late 80's, the design at least. There was also a Samsung combo, looked a little better, the buttons were small, very non descript.)

VHS has great value: There is a lot of misrepresentation and misunderstanding of this fact, and it would be nice if manufacturers still supported it, or at least had a high quality option available on the market.

Any suggestions for a high quality machine, or should I just have this serviced?

Thanks for any > snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote

innews: snipped-for-privacy@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

It is quite useful, in its proper place.

Two suggestions:

1) stop top posting

2) watch the trash bins. I have 'rescued' three VCRs from the trash [several TVs, stereos, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, computers, monitors, a couple of swords, several chairs, a couple of desks, a sewing table, a FAX, a couple of typewriters, an answering machine and a couch] almost everything rescued was in working condition or was easy to fix.

....

--
bz    	73 de N5BZ k

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an 
infinite set.

bz+ser@ch100-5.chem.lsu.edu   remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap

Good to see that netiquette is still around, and that the ng netiquette is still around. Will bottom post from now on!

I actually trashed a better model VCR recently, largely because did not want to spend the time replacing all the parts (eject mechanism was broken) Great, great machine for its time, but since it was mid

1990's, did not want to have it around anymore, did not go past 1999 for timer recordings. Great machine though, even hard to find on e- bay (A broken version is selling for $5, but not worth it for me)

Any recommendations on new VHS machines? Particularly one that would have good, high quality 4 head play back? Of course, I could always get this serviced as well, but is $70+ worth it?

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote in news:0211d0c8-da99-4377-aae4-0bb3ec1d9663@

27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

Thanks. Good manners are always appreciated.

Electronics should NOT go to landfill. Recycle.

Sorry.

You need to decide that yourself. My experience shows that most people won't spend more than 1/3 the cost of a new unit to repair an old one.

--
bz

please pardon my infinite ignorance, the set-of-things-I-do-not-know is an 
infinite set.

bz+spr@ch100-5.chem.lsu.edu   remove ch100-5 to avoid spam trap

Why put a water displacer product into a VCR?

If it slides, use a lubricant like Lubriplate (White Lithium Grease)or MolyLube. If it spins , oil it with 3 in 1 or sewing machine oil sparingly. Usually only 1 small drop.

People use WD-40 so incorrectly.

What we are all tring to say is what drove you to think that a water displacer product sprayed willy nilly into an electronics device would benefit you in anyway?

Did someone suggest this to you or did you read it on the internet? If so, let us know where the advice came from , like say from a Wikipedia article or the like so we can correct the fool.

Yes, the trash can.

You could try this

aspx?GroupId=101

or

The "did not go past 1999" issue can be resolved by using an identical year, such as 1990 instead of 2007, 1998 instead of 2009, etc.

If you can't find a suitable replacement, I'd say yes.

Get a good, guaranteed, used VCR. New standalone VCRs are few and far between, and DVD/VCR combos are, as you said, garbage. Find a repair shop that sells good used equipment. But hurry!

When I opened the VCR, I noticed something very peculiar: The right reel has a spring sticking up, then down, in the caterpillar position: It does not look broken though.

When trying to play the machine, the left reel moves, makes a funny whirring sound, and then stops: It does not play the tape at all.

BTW, thanks for the degreaser suggestion, will look into that, but where should I actually spray it?

I was inspired by an article about repairing another unit I had, the Panasonic RV-32 DVD player. About a year ago, there was an article up on the web, found it via google, which showed, picture by picture, a DVD player problem being "fixed" by WD-40. Since it worked for that, I thought it would work for the VCR too, will be more careful next time.

there's a limit to how much we can realistically achieve over the internet without physically seeing the deck. perhaps a vid on you tube may help? in any case, take it for a quote to a few repair places.

-B

Good suggestions, will follow up...

Will get the degreaser as recommended, but until that arrives: Would

99% Isopropyl Alcohol solution help remove the WD-40 in the interim, or would that leave a residue as well?

BTW: Can anyone recommend a good, original JVC parts supplier? This VCR would not accept certain tapes after a while, and would like to solve that problem as well, if I can clean out the WD-40 properly.

Andrews Electronics.

800-289-0300

Mark Z.