CED VideoDisc and Player Discussion

[SelectaVision420]

so i went to http://www.studiosoundelectronics.com/mbk-73.htm and found a parts kit for my vjp-900. when i got it it was not working at all. no fast forward rewind or play, it wouldnt even load a tape...

these models have a lot of hardware condensed in a very tight area, and it requires a methodical deconstruction of a cube of circuit boards and clips and some screws and a few surprises...



the band in the bag is the replacement for the wheel that comes in the other part of the kit. i decided to use the whole part replacement instead of just changing the belt since the new one had some sort of improvement...

spring is some sort of improovement







first thing is to unplug this wire from the battery pack slot so you can remove the cover, after you unscrew the cassette door cover.



it plugs in here, its a bitch to get off so be patient



once the top is off remove the front face plate by prying at these tabs, be gentle and take your time



try to tilt it forward as it has these tangs at the bottom that lock into the bottom plate i used a wide flathead to spread these apart





this is the face with out the faceplate



now remove the 4 screws on the base and then pry this apart carefully to remove the base



also to remove the base this tab must be unlocked and the metal strip pulled out



here is the bottom side facing up



front view



here is one of the belts from the top side that is easy to get to see how the old one stretched



remove it with a hook and replace



now remove the side board by carefully alternating prying force between the 3 white plugs you see on the bottom,



they fit here into the bottom board be careful with all of this it is very fragile and sharp



the front panel is removed in a similar manner



now before you try to remove the bottom circuit board remove this metal shield and it will reveal a push tab to unlock the base the rest of the way, there is one more that is easy to get to, these are on the side of the rca jacks..



dont bother unplugging the rest of the board hold it off to the side a bit enough to access the belts



the motor is held town by a tab and one screw. the 2 belts side by side can be weaseld off carefully, and the single belt can be replaced when the assembly with the motor comes out

make sure to put this tab back before the screw goes in



for some reason this idler was apart and i had to figure out a way to engineer it to stay together


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Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

here are some videos of it after, something still isnt quite working but im taking a break from it for now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAC7DPXMiNE&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XaBnJ_Ta1E&feature=youtu.be
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

That's a ton of work.

This is why I just don't get it that CEDs did so poorly. The CED players just give new meaning to the term Simplicity in Electronics when compared to anything else of the period.

Darn RCA for putting off the introduction of CEDs for so long. If they'd had them ready for market in 1975 like they could have and should have, well, we'd be now collecting way many more titles than we do. Of course, that would mean much heavier collections to store.

Imagine this: CEDs go digital with HD video formats now possible, along with Dolby Digital or DTS soundtracks. Of course, the new players have component HD output or DVI or HDMI. Why not? We had D-VHS.

[SelectaVision420]

when i was taking this apart i was wishing it was a ced player lol
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

here is another video i took of the vcr playing a home recorded tape from good will, it ate the tape immediately, but i fast forwarded it a bit and it played for a little while before eating the tape again... i need to find service literature for this model

vjp900 test with home recorded tape
http://youtu.be/2KM87H_jvPQ
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

VCRs that play the tape fine at proper speed but still "eat" the tape have a problem with the take-up spool. That spool is either not rolling or rolling at a speed that's too slow to pull in the videotape as it is played, so it begins to get slack and eventually "eaten" by the VCR.

Typically when this happens, fast forward will pull in the slack tape and allow playback for a while longer until it gets slack once again. The causes of this range from slipping belts or roller wheels, to weak tension springs, to a slow motor.

[SelectaVision420]

[ketonic_dude]

Just looking at all that I don't know if I even want to attempt to repair mine. I have a hard enough time working on the CED players and this VCR looks like a nightmare.

[SelectaVision420]

[SelectaVision420]

just an update, i was able to find a ni-cad battery after tons of searching and crazy prices or dumb sellers, i found this, and its a plus cus a lot of the ones i found are lead acid...


_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Vercus]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I just acquired a VKP926T which uses the same chassis. Did you change the pinch roller when you did the belts? If not, that could give some erratic performance as well.

Thanks for the awesome thread. It definitely gave me an idea of the massive challenge I'm up against if I decide to try and repair this thing.

-Jon
_________________
CED Newbie-
Sears 934 series and Zenith VP2000 - both working
120 discs

[kitchensynch]

Was this a rebranded Hitachi, by any chance? From what I've seen of some of their other video AND audio stuff back then they were just a nightmare of stuffed stuff in stuff.
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A New Vista of RCA Victor COLOR!

[SelectaVision420]

[SelectaVision420]

got my battery in today and put it in the battery compartment and pressed charge, so hopefully it will take and hold a charge, the voltage before was like 5 and a half volts im not sure if the charge light turns off or not when its done or what, but i will check it periodically...


_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

sweet just scored this!


_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

was able to get a parts player from rix rex and also a vkp-900 which ill mess with later, but here i took this player and de-belt-gooped the player and transferred the belts from my vtr unit to this one. once i did that i docked it and when the unit was powered on it would not turn off and the capstan motor was stuck on. also the tape would not advance in either direction and it needed lube in a few places.

at this point i was able to get it to fast forward and rewind at a reduced speed, and it did momentarily play a few different tapes, although it ate a few. the problem is the rubber drive left a lot of residue and its causing grip issues so i cleaned it with some alcohol and left it to settle over nite. ill try to get the rest off and see if it will stay playing a tape, for the time that it did play it seemed to have a good picture so hopefully i will have a working vtr now!

i noticed also hitachi mut have had a few change made along the way, i noticed on this board in the later model this chip is replaceable.









it got crazy haha

_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

What a bunch of odds and ends to keep straight!

I find the best thing for cleaning the belt goo to be ammonia. Some people who don't like it full strength have used glass cleaner with ammonia in it.

[SelectaVision420]

haha thanks, i got the vtr unit you sent me figured out, i am able to fool the tape sensors and i can get it to go into play mode with out a tape in, and you can see the drive motor turn the drive wheel, but it slips on the tape reel, so i tried with nail polish remover and alcohol to remove the old rubber stuff, and i got most of it, but it seems to have the same issue as my other vtr; the take up reel cant keep up with the capstan/ pinch roller and it causes excess slack in the tape, i backed off the tensioner and tried to lube the take up reel, but the reel is riveted in it seems and cant be removed, i can feel it has drag on it, if i can just get it un-sticky it will play a tape! i have gotten video out of it and it seems okay, so maybe ill have to invent a fix for this vtr unit, since both of them have the same issue...
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Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

here's a video of whats up if y'all are interested

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c6SJfCgkxE&feature=youtu.be
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

Sounds like you have the problem in hand.

You know, the take-up on these always wears the most and first because of the constant use. They are supposed to be somewhat slack in that you don't want the take-up to break or stretch the tape. That's why they are always done by some sort of roller wheel or such where there will not be excessive tension, and not done by a geartooth arrangement.

Sounds like both good cleaning and lube in vertain places is needed, don't know if there's a way to spiff up the motor, but it does sound like it's dragging under too much tension.

[SelectaVision420]

[SelectaVision420]

okay, added a little more lube and i cut a ribbon of medium grit sand paper, and glued it to the take up reel hub, and although the start is a little rough, so far i an about 30 minutes into tremors and havent had an issue, although my 30 minute or less tapes wont play...

here is part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NV1FjHqlxc&feature=youtu.be

here is part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaAlOKYj9KM&feature=youtu.be
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[Rixrex]

Be careful that the sandpaper fix doesn't create some later problems. Maybe a piece of rubber with a rough surface would do as well.

Tapes that are 30 min or so usually have a much larger take-up wheel within the tape cassette case. Maybe there's a connection there?

[SelectaVision420]

i take back what i said earlier, i just watched a 45 min or so video cassette and it played great and the belt that contacts the sandpaper is easily replaceable, so if it works, for now ill leave it. if it kills the belt ill re-design it, but it seems to add the bite it needs to get thru the long and short tapes. im really excited i havent watched a VHS in like 10 years so, im thrilled all my hard work and research paid off!
_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[SelectaVision420]

okay guys, these 2 machines josh sent me to try to get him one working unit, sadly, they were roughed up in the mail, and both timer displays were ruined ( although i have a spare ill use ) mainly im posting this for josh, but its for every one

this one came out of the box with the face plate loose..



and this unit is much nicer inside, but the case is cracked, and the lid was just mis positioned...



this is the display of the latter unit



this is the display of the unit that came with the face off



both units had the plastic retaining ring broken off ( one was taped under the unit after josh found it; mine was broken too easy fix )





the first machine's belts were destroyed



here it is in the maintenance position



the second unit i thought had a broken lid





but it's fine



before any disassembly i tested the unit, but the belts were slipping...



display still works but wont do for me...


another crack


the take up reel idler belt was the worst lol



preemptive goop check



this one was also missing the retaining ring


belts are okay, but they slip


here are all the belts, i tried to shrink them, but they weren't having it...





i have it down to a science now both these vtr units were apart in 90 minutes or so


_________________
Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[ketonic_dude]

Hey Tony, I'm actually surprised you got them already let alone have them all diagnosed and everything. That one display was already shot when I sent it. The faceplates where attached and there wasn't that crack in the back of the one that I was aware of. I thought I packed them pretty good with bubble wrap all the way around but apparently the post office can dish it out better than I gave them credit for. Never underestimate the destructive powers of the USPS I guess. But anyways Tony, how much will it cost for the new belts and shipping to your door? If you say the idlers look good then I won't worry about them. I must say I am impressed with your disassemble and diagnosis so fast, your getting to be an expert at these. Well let me know how much I need to send you for the belts and I will get that paypal'd to you. Hopefully you can manage to combine these two machines into at least one working one. Thanks.

[SelectaVision420]

[SelectaVision420]

unless you want a new pinch roller, the one i underlined should do, i only bought a new pinch roller because i thought mine was rock hard and was bad, i think i have a spare as well, so if you dont want the roller the mbk-73t should suffice


the MBK-73:
Belt Kit

Our MBK-73 kit contains all four belts that are used in these VCRs. The belts are used to drive the clutch that drives the reels and for loading and unloading. Common problems are no play, poor picture, or lines in the picture It is also common for bad belts to cause the VCR to attempt to power up then shut down. Your price for our MBK-73 kit is $7.95.


MBK-73T:
Rubber Kit

This kit contains all four belts and the idler tire for these Hitachi built VCRs. The idler tire is the only part of the idler assy. that normally needs to be replaced. A bad idler tire can cause such problems as lines in the picture, no play, eats tape, and no rewind or fast-forward. Your price for our MBK-73T kit is $9.95.

MBK-73PT:
Complete Rubber Kit

Our MBK-73PT kit is a complete rubber replacement kit for these Hitachi built VCRs, containing all four belts, the pinch roller, and the idler tire. If the pinch roller has a hard glaze on it or the capstan shaft has a black buildup the pinch roller has probably been slipping. Your price for our MBK-73PT kit is $18.95
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Sears 274 & 934(80150,10&11350),sft100,sgt250,sjt090,100,101,200,300,400,vp550, VP4000!
caddy.daddy.fleetwood@gmail.com

[ketonic_dude]

That one that had the plastic washer taped on the bottom is the 2nd one that I had got. I never messed with it. Just unpacked it and put it on the shelf to mess with another day. The other one was the first one I bought, it had that glitch on the lcd when I got it. The only thing I ever did with it was test to see if it worked and it didn't. I made a small x with sharpie on the back to be able to know which one went with which base. I will Paypal you the money for the belts tomorrow. Thanks for looking at them for me.

[SelectaVision420]