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Old 15th Jan 2017, 11:36 pm   #1
Vauxfan2k
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Default Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Hey,

Got myself a nv-fs200 which had a perfect picture on vhs and svhs inc pause and scan. Problem was the heads seemed a bit tight and when the machine was stopped and tape ejected the heads would stop almost instantly like they were binding. After asking a friend I wedged some card between the 2 halves of the drum avoiding the heads,and removed the top cap and 3 torx screws. The grease wasn't great and there was a brown tinge to the centre of the cap (indicating running and heat) thought while I was there that I'd undo the circlip to clean and the lubricate the shaft. Unfortunately my sausage fingers knocked the card out and the head dropped onto the lower drum (not with a bang or anything)

Got the shaft cleaned up and top greased and put back together.

I was faced with a terrible picture like dirty heads, despite cleaning it only improved slightly. LP scan forward/rew and pause are useless. Left the machine running a new pre recorded tape for 2 hrs, and the picture came back better and better. After a few hours and re cleaning the picture is nearly perfect but scam and pause are still the same. I checked for damage to the ferrite but there doesn't appear to be any adverse effects (unless the heads or one of the heads has been knocked out of alignment)

And anyone shed any opinions as to how to get this back as it should be? Heads aren't cheap if/when available (almost as cheap buying another machine)

Thanks

Steve
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Old 16th Jan 2017, 1:53 am   #2
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Well, just the upper drum meeting the lower drum wouldn't theoretically knacker the head tips. I'd look at cleaning again before worrying too much. Try the business card or piece of paper method which seems to work well on stubborn clogs.
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Old 16th Jan 2017, 4:16 pm   #3
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

What Ben says seems right. With the added advice of clean everything the tape touches.
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Old 17th Jan 2017, 7:33 pm   #4
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

The paper trick made it worse but took a lot of dirt off. Ran my tape cleaner (il burst into flames for this) through it a couple of times, then forward and reverse scan while using the tape. Tried a video and it plays flawlessly again.

Hooo flippin ray!!!

Thanks
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Old 17th Jan 2017, 8:27 pm   #5
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Never ever use a cleaning tape as they destroy the head tips.

Should be lint free cloth and ipa.
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Old 17th Jan 2017, 8:36 pm   #6
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Yeah I know but it's all I have handy, ran out of ipa using the paper as I had dregs left. . This particular tape is like lint free cloth rather than the harsh material on the cheaper tapes. Allsop with soft sweep. Has got a few of my machines displaying better even after a manual clean.


Pic of Harrison ford was before the paper and tape. The submarine (the abyss) is now. Svhs is better still.
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Old 17th Jan 2017, 8:48 pm   #7
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Pics of the heads when removed for inspection, for anyone interested in what they look like split.
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Old 18th Jan 2017, 4:01 pm   #8
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Good job mate! In case you need a new head drum, the part number is VEH0467. However, because it's a 7 head machine, they are very expensive.
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Old 18th Jan 2017, 5:36 pm   #9
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Yeah big sigh of relief. the fs90 has the same heads. Have a spare fs90 if it ever comes to it.

Bin that head cleaner, such a stupid idea.
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Old 18th Jan 2017, 5:52 pm   #10
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

FS200 is a lovely machine - take good care of it. I'm still trying to find a good one on Ebay but the average cost is 200-400 euros!
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Old 18th Jan 2017, 8:40 pm   #11
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Would you be able to import from the UK? Absolutely as new ones come up for around the £100 mark fairly regularly so worth keeping your eyes peeled. Sometimes you have to be quick.
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Old 19th Jan 2017, 12:05 am   #12
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Quote:
Originally Posted by HamishBoxer View Post
Never ever use a cleaning tape as they destroy the head tips.

Should be lint free cloth and ipa.
Modern cleaning tapes consist of lint free cloth and have holes to add IPA. Not ideal but it will not immediately destroy the heads (not until the tape runs out and the recorder fails to stop, anyway). Only some older tapes (pre VHS era?) are made of an abrasive material and should indeed be avoided at all cost.

I have had succes using coffee filter paper, but the best (also relatively expensive) cleaners in my opinion are those small sticks with a piece of leather attached to it.

That said, in extreme cases a stronger dissolvent than IPA is needed. Several manufacturers have such sprays.

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Old 19th Jan 2017, 12:13 am   #13
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vauxfan2k View Post
Pics of the heads when removed for inspection, for anyone interested in what they look like split.
Technically, the heads aren't removed in those pictures, the head motor is disassembled with the heads in place. Removing the heads (actually the upper drum with the heads on it) involves desoldering the connections at the top circuit board, undoing 2 screws and then pulling the upper drum (by hand with gloves or using a head puller).

However quite interesting to see since I never had the need to disassemble the motor!
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Old 19th Jan 2017, 1:02 am   #14
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

Technically I never said heads removed from the drum, however removed from the machine. Would have been stupid to remove them from the drum for inspection purposes only. Replacement maybe.

Thanks tho
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Old 19th Jan 2017, 1:09 am   #15
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

If you remove the head tips from the drum, good luck aligning them back to factory specs! And yes, on every VCR that has a head cleaner, I always remove it.
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Old 19th Jan 2017, 12:54 pm   #16
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

I should have clarified that you should never remove the heads from the drum since they are factory aligned I meant removing the upper drum with heads. That is done by the procedure I mentioned.
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Old 20th Jan 2017, 9:18 pm   #17
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

While not technically the correct term, we always referred to replacing the "heads" meaning the upper drum assembly. Customers understood that better.
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Old 20th Jan 2017, 9:49 pm   #18
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Default Re: Picture quality issue on NV-FS200

On some of the ealier (pre-EIAJ) reel-to-reel video recorders you did replace just the head tips. I have the service manual (no machine) for one somewhere and it gives a procedure involving mounting special microscopes to the deck to observe the exact position of the heads.
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