Here is a list of items which should be checked periodically or whenever a repair is carried out

Cleaning of tape transport
Every 500 hours of use or whenever another repair is made
Clean the tape path thoroughly. This includes all tape guides, shuttle assembly and drum.

Cleaning and degaussing of audio/control assembly
Every 500 hours of use or whenever another repair is made
Clean and demagnetize the Audio/control head in a similar fashion to a regular audio deck.

Replace drive system belts, idlers etc
Every 500 hours of use. Check whenever another repair is made
Check all the rubber belts and friction components, particularly the pinch roller, for signs of wear and if in doubt replace.

Measurement of back/forward tension
Every 500 hours of use or whenever another repair is made
Most VCRs require a back tension of approximately 60g.

Replacement of upper drum and video head
Every 2000 hours of use if required
Replace the video head if you see signs of failure, such as black/white streaking on the picture or failure of hi-fi sound. It the VCR is the type that uses a separate upper drum it is best to replace the drum at the same time.

Replacement of lower drum
Every 5000 hours of use
Although it is recommended that the lower drum be replaced it is not a realistic option as a new drum is probably not available.


Each of our models is split into a four sections. Take a look at the technical pages for each mode for lists of common faults and repair tips.

If you want more information then an excellent general guide to VCR repair and maintenance can be found at
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/vcrfaq.htm.