Have 2 of them. On playing a recorded tape, both roll the image, one slowly, the other very fast. Doesn't matter if the tapes are recorded on these, or other VTRs. On que/review, the image stabilizes with normal hash. My older TR21, which has had a lot more use, is perfect, so I don't think it's wear and tear in the tape transport. Is there a tracking adjustment, or is it the dreaded cap thing? Also, have a TR33. The color viewfinder just went B/W. Thoughts? JR HOME PAGE:
I'm not familiar with this model, but since the name is SONY, the first things I'd check would be the adjustable tape guide posts on the supply and takeup sides of the drum/heads. Very easy to check.. if they're not still tight, they'll easily turn with light fingertip effort. The posts are supposed to be locked in place by tiny set screws at the base of the posts where they anchor into the guide post blocks. Proper adjustment normally requires a test tape and a scope, after which the posts are locked with the set screws.
They've been loose in every SONY 8mm product I've seen that had problems which look like a somewhat severe tracking problem. I don't have a lot of experience with these small tape machines, but loose guide posts have been a problem in the limited number that I've seen.
When the posts are out of adjustment, it can cause curling of the edge of the tape, so you probably don't want to play any important tapes until the guides are properly adjusted.
You might be able to get the posts adjusted close to where they should be with a tape recorded on a known good machine (color bars or similar test pattern) and adjusting the posts carefully while viewing the video display, and watching how the tape tracks at the step in the base of the drum assembly. The tape will likely have some damage after using it in a misadjusted machine, but messing up a cheap tape is better than damaging the genuine test/alignment tape.
Your machines may have other problems, so you might check the archived SER posts regarding leaky caps in the head amp or other locations.
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