SONY BETA -C30 :decision time - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ben · 2nd Jan 2008, 10:37 pm

I have 3 of these machines piled up in the workshop (2 the usual grey , one in rather fetching red). sadly two have what appear to be very worn video heads, the other has a dead deck if I recall.

Since I really need to thin out the accumulation of dead gear, I'd like to ask others' opinions on the feasibility of restoring any of them. Are head assemblies still available for this unit, and if so, is replacement relatively straightforward?
or, worst-case scenario, is this likely to be an expensive herculean task with comparatively little payoff and should I just strip them for parts (on that note,what would be worth preserving?)

any thoughts appreciated chaps

Ben

Mikey405 · 2nd Jan 2008, 10:46 pm

Hi Ben.

Heads are not amazingly difficult to change in Beta machines generally. They are a bit more awkward than most VHS machines and they need a little bit of setting up (eccentricity etc.). I'm not too sure about Sony C30s as I have never owned one, but you can normally replace and align a set of Sony C7 etc. heads in about half an hour if you take things carefully. I guess you could take the good heads and put them in the best of the other 2 machines Ben.

From Mike.

PS. You can get eccentricity gauges on the Internet, but it is possible to align the heads by eye without too much problem.

Steve_P · 2nd Jan 2008, 11:18 pm

Try GRANDATA for heads. What's up with the 'Dead Deck' machine?

Like Mikey Says, they aren't that bad to change.

Cheers,

Steve P.

Danny · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:14 am

Hi
C30 rings a bell

have a good look at the pinch roller this gives strange faults and I used to have to replace the roller on most of these machines when thay came in.
I only had one of these models with a duff head.
Danny

ben · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:45 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Try GRANDATA for heads. What's up with the 'Dead Deck' machine?

I have just plugged that one in and it has all come flooding back. It originally had a bust mech, which someone prior to me had diddled with, so I dimly recall swapping the whole deck over from a scrapper. Now the only thing which works is the load motor: the solenoid, drum and capstan motors are dead. I can get it to lace up and unlace by manually moving the solenoid but that's about it...

ben · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:46 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danny

Hi
C30 rings a bell

have a good look at the pinch roller this gives strange faults and I used to have to replace the roller on most of these machines when thay came in.
I only had one of these models with a duff head.
Danny

cheers Danny, will take a look, but I suspect the pinch rollers are ok as there does not seem to be any irregular tape movement, creasing etc...

Steve_P · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:50 am

Have you got volts on these motors?

Cheers,

Steve P.

ben · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:51 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey405

Hi Ben.

Heads are not amazingly difficult to change in Beta machines generally. They are a bit more awkward than most VHS machines and they need a little bit of setting up (eccentricity etc.). I'm not too sure about Sony C30s as I have never owned one, but you can normally replace and align a set of Sony C7 etc. heads in about half an hour if you take things carefully. I guess you could take the good heads and put them in the best of the other 2 machines Ben.

cheers Mike. that's good news, at least it seems I could tackle a head swap.
the c30 is a basic frontload unit (see http://www.palsite.com/tech.py?model=slc30tech.html ) sadly it seems the first 2 have worn heads and the third deck has heads condition unknown. I might try a swap anyway, since I've nothing to lose....

ben · 3rd Jan 2008, 12:53 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_P

Have you got volts on these motors?

Cheers,

Steve P.

thanks for the suggestion Steve. Will try and measure, but access is a problem - the motors seem to be buried in the depths and i don't have a jig to run the deck clear of the machine !

ben · 9th Jan 2008, 5:33 am

ok,pressures of space and time mean I have decided to keep the red c30 as-is, and see if heads turn up and I'll attempt restoration at a later stage. To that end , I'll keep the dead deck c30 mech in case those heads turn out to be good. If anyone needs any (small!) bits off the remaining ropey c30s, which are being cannibalised, feel free to PM me....FOC, yours for postage costs.

thanks again for the suggestions here. this thread can now be closed.

2nd Jan 2008, 10:37 pm	#1
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	SONY BETA -C30 :decision time I have 3 of these machines piled up in the workshop (2 the usual grey , one in rather fetching red). sadly two have what appear to be very worn video heads, the other has a dead deck if I recall. Since I really need to thin out the accumulation of dead gear, I'd like to ask others' opinions on the feasibility of restoring any of them. Are head assemblies still available for this unit, and if so, is replacement relatively straightforward? or, worst-case scenario, is this likely to be an expensive herculean task with comparatively little payoff and should I just strip them for parts (on that note,what would be worth preserving?) any thoughts appreciated chaps Ben

2nd Jan 2008, 10:46 pm	#2
Mikey405 Octode Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Solihull, West Midlands and Beaford, Devon Posts: 1,626	Re: SONY BETA -C30 :decision time Hi Ben. Heads are not amazingly difficult to change in Beta machines generally. They are a bit more awkward than most VHS machines and they need a little bit of setting up (eccentricity etc.). I'm not too sure about Sony C30s as I have never owned one, but you can normally replace and align a set of Sony C7 etc. heads in about half an hour if you take things carefully. I guess you could take the good heads and put them in the best of the other 2 machines Ben. From Mike. PS. You can get eccentricity gauges on the Internet, but it is possible to align the heads by eye without too much problem. __________________ G7TRF

2nd Jan 2008, 11:18 pm	#3
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: SONY BETA -C30 :decision time Try GRANDATA for heads. What's up with the 'Dead Deck' machine? Like Mikey Says, they aren't that bad to change. Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

3rd Jan 2008, 12:14 am	#4
Danny Heptode Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Walsham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 516	Re: SONY BETA -C30 :decision time Hi C30 rings a bell have a good look at the pinch roller this gives strange faults and I used to have to replace the roller on most of these machines when thay came in. I only had one of these models with a duff head. Danny

3rd Jan 2008, 12:50 am	#7
Steve_P Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 6,644	Re: SONY BETA -C30 :decision time Have you got volts on these motors? Cheers, Steve P. __________________ If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...?

9th Jan 2008, 5:33 am	#10
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: SONY BETA -C30 :decision time ok,pressures of space and time mean I have decided to keep the red c30 as-is, and see if heads turn up and I'll attempt restoration at a later stage. To that end , I'll keep the dead deck c30 mech in case those heads turn out to be good. If anyone needs any (small!) bits off the remaining ropey c30s, which are being cannibalised, feel free to PM me....FOC, yours for postage costs. thanks again for the suggestions here. this thread can now be closed. Last edited by Mike Phelan; 9th Jan 2008 at 8:39 am. Reason: Done!