Sony Beta

That's an awfully heavy lever. (ba DUM!)

erm, which model? sony did about two dozen , you know....

SL-HF900

I think there was a manual for this around, but the main person passed and that might be a problem.

greg

I own this unit, and have the service manual. (Certainly one of the classic Betamaxes. Best timer-setting system ever, in any VCR.) If you could ask a specific question, I'll try to find the answer.

There is a white lever preventing insertion of cassette. I can't see anything to make it move. Its either out of position or something else is broke or missing. if I remove the lever it will otherwise work except the mechanism may be unsable.

greg

Give me an hour or two to get back to you on this. I'm in the middle of some things that have to be completed. Thanks for your patience.

If it just prevents tape insertion it's probably there to prevent the tape from being inserted unless the threading carousel is in the correct position.

Well there is nothing wrong with that. Its my Beta test cartridge thats at fault. ??

I am now working on the real problem. Looks like sticky feed motor.

greg

Fixed that, now the tape will not move much or none in rewind or FF. It works in play mode in forward and reverse. Glad I don't see much of these anymore. taking the motor head off gave me Deja Vu I think I have done this before. Seems this or another Beta recorder had some Sanyo power module problems. The modules were replaced..

greg

Though unlikely, don't rule out a high-friction cassette.

Don't remember enough about every Betamax unit I've worked on to picture the tape drive. You could be right about an underpowered motor. I own a Sony SL-HF something, it's up in the attic. it doesn't have a jog shuttle like the SL-HF900 but was/is a damn good unit. It employed a belt and idler to drive the reels if my memory is correct.

I got two more SL-HF900's. Seems like all have common sticktion problems. I had the transport motor system out 3 times on the first machine. That a bitch to do. I also heard its hard to get new tapes. I also looked at another model Sony lying around and a belt was finished on that model. The first machine works fine in play and record, and fast play in forward and reverse, but has winding problems. I don't know, the motor has a lot of torque.

Fun.

greg