Anyone have VCR repair experience?

[Manfred318]

I bought an old Panasonic Omnivision top load VCR (ca.1984) on the bay last week and when I got it here it was broken. Go figure, right? You can plug it in and get the flashing clock but it will not power on. So I took it apart and the circuit board is cracked in 3 places around the power button. A good reason for it not to power on huh? UPS being the ever careful people they are dropped it during shipping not to mention delivering it 3 days late. Anyways is there any way to fix the board or should I just chuck it out?
Heres a few pics for ya I will add one of the broken board tomorrow

[chargerman68]

whats a vcr

[Drache]

I used to have the same VCR when I was about 5 or 6 

I would try filing a claim with UPS first if it was insured....

As for fixing it yourself don't do what happened to me. I was fixing a newer VCR about 6 years ago. I was lying down on the living room floor with the VCR infront of me with the top off. I was tightening a screw with one of those all metal mini type screw drivers, the other arm resting on the metal baseboard heater. Right at that moment my friend plugs the VCR in by mistake instead of the TV (so he says). I received a nasty burn on the elbow that was resting on the heater (which wasn't on since it was summer) and left a black mark on the top of the heater where my elbow was touching. 

[JimShine]

If the broken board is the problem, try adding wire jumpers to reconnect the damaged traces on the PC board.

Or try contacting a Panasonic service center and see if anyone has a power board assembly sitting on a shelf somewhere. There is a chance there will be as that model was around when VCR's were pricey and not as disposable as they were by the late 80's.

In the end, is it worth it? I like seing some of our past saved as I bet 99% of those ended up in the dump. But at the end of the day you need to do what is in your best interest.

[2Gunz]

is that the thing that plays records?

[Charger74]

What Drache said is the best options you have.  I used to repair them.  I would suggest these two approaches if you want to try and fix.  His method of running jumper wires may be enough, but can get confusing depending on how many traces were broken.  If most of the traces are very small then this is the best method.  If the traces are few and decent size, there are trace repair kits at electronic supply stores (these are the ones that sell components and wiring, maybe even radioshack).  If not you can also scrap do the trace to reveal some of the copper, clean it really will with some acetone and then with some luck, and small piece of stripped wire, you can solder the wire to the trace being very careful.

Since this is a older unit, calling the company may not provide you the answer.  Best bet is to go to an actuall repair shop and see if they can call their vendor to see if one is available..  Either way, good luck.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.  AT least it's an older vcr, if it was less than 10 years old I would just tell you to throw it in the trash and go buy a $30 one from WalMart.

[Manfred318]

whats a vcr

Its this new fangled contraption that plays all of your talkin picture shows on convient tapes. They are the wave of the future. I hear theres also one called Beta that is supposed to take over the home entertainment market.

I used to have the same VCR when I was about 5 or 6 

I would try filing a claim with UPS first if it was insured....

I also had the same one when I was a kid I did file a claim through UPS and I did recieve a full refund. I figure if I can fix it for a few bux and a couple hours of my time it would be worth it.

What Drache said is the best options you have. I used to repair them. I would suggest these two approaches if you want to try and fix. His method of running jumper wires may be enough, but can get confusing depending on how many traces were broken. If most of the traces are very small then this is the best method. If the traces are few and decent size, there are trace repair kits at electronic supply stores (these are the ones that sell components and wiring, maybe even radioshack). If not you can also scrap do the trace to reveal some of the copper, clean it really will with some acetone and then with some luck, and small piece of stripped wire, you can solder the wire to the trace being very careful.

Since this is a older unit, calling the company may not provide you the answer. Best bet is to go to an actuall repair shop and see if they can call their vendor to see if one is available.. Either way, good luck. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. AT least it's an older vcr, if it was less than 10 years old I would just tell you to throw it in the trash and go buy a $30 one from WalMart.

I will try running the jumper wires and hope I dont screw something up, but then again it cant be much worse then it already is. I figure its worth fixing just because its an older VCR and they are getting harder and harder to find. I was going to just buy one at Wally World but they dont carry VCRs anymore, nor do any other electronics stores in the area. Whats this world comming to?

[Orange_Crush]

Not to piss in your Cheerios or anything but Cirquit City carried a VHS/DVD combo player new with a warranty for 80 bucks.  Why bother buying a 147 year old VCR off the bay?

Hell, we had a VCR just like that in 1982.

In any case, you probably could have bought a VHS HiFi for about as much as that thing and at least had good sound quality.

[Drache]

Not to piss in your Cheerios or anything but Cirquit City carried a VHS/DVD combo player new with a warranty for 80 bucks.  Why bother buying a 147 year old VCR off the bay?

Hell, we had a VCR just like that in 1982.

In any case, you probably could have bought a VHS HiFi for about as much as that thing and at least had good sound quality.

Maybe it's the memories....   

[Manfred318]

Not to piss in your Cheerios or anything but Cirquit City carried a VHS/DVD combo player new with a warranty for 80 bucks.  Why bother buying a 147 year old VCR off the bay?

Hell, we had a VCR just like that in 1982.

In any case, you probably could have bought a VHS HiFi for about as much as that thing and at least had good sound quality.

I already have a stand alone DVD player so I didnt need a combo player, and everyone of those Ive ever bought has been a piece of junk that lasts long enough for the warranty to expire. Then I have to fork out $80 more for a new one. I didnt pay much for this VCR and the one we had was the best one we have ever had so I just wanted another one. Alot of my electronics are old. For example, I still use a Pioneer Laserdisc player (ca.1981) and my Sony Discman Cd player dates from 1992. I even have a rotary phone in here at my computer desk. I just live in the past I guess.

[Charger74]

Nothing wrong with that.  Some of those older vcr's will run for a long time and the only thing that usually breaks are the belts and the rubber wheels.  Once in awhile a gear will break but that's usually from some sort of jam with the tape.

Hey, if it doesnt' work out, I have a pretty good Sony VCR I don't need.  Might let it go for cheap.

[Manfred318]

Nothing wrong with that.  Some of those older vcr's will run for a long time and the only thing that usually breaks are the belts and the rubber wheels.  Once in awhile a gear will break but that's usually from some sort of jam with the tape.

Hey, if it doesnt' work out, I have a pretty good Sony VCR I don't need.  Might let it go for cheap.

Thats what happened to our old one. The belt broke and instead of fixing it dad gave it away. Ill keep the Sony in mind. Got any idea of a price

[Todd Wilson]

I'd say your chances of finding a replacement board nowadays would be slim and none. Might do some internet searching. The days of repair like this are long gone. Basically you are stuck with a broke unit right now with no professional way to repair it most likely so your only option is to attempt to fix it yourself. Get a solder gun and try and fix it. Maybe wire jumpers as someone suggested or perhaps you can epoxy the board back together and fix a trace or connection.

With all the tree huggers and greenies out there I find it really funny that we have become a throw away society. Remember when the TV Repairman would come to the house and repair your TV. Now you throw it away and go buy another one. Same thing happens now with vehicles,tools and computers.

I like that old school vcr you have there. The older stuff was built better. I have a giant BETA collection with some top load BETA units. I'd probably sell the ballgame cheap if someone was interested!HAHA!


Good luck with your repair.


Todd

[Old Moparz]

With a new VCR/DVD unit so cheap, I can't see chasing down parts for one that's as old as this Panasonic you bought. This combination unit is $69 at Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05757168000P

[craigandlynda]

it comes down to, what is your time worth?

[Drache]

With a new VCR/DVD unit so cheap, I can't see chasing down parts for one that's as old as this Panasonic you bought. This combination unit is $69 at Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05757168000P

He's already explained that:

1) Already has a DVD player so why buy a combo? ("I already have a stand alone DVD player so I didnt need a combo player, and everyone of those Ive ever bought has been a piece of junk that lasts long enough for the warranty to expire. Then I have to fork out $80 more for a new one.")

2) He likes to have older electronics around ("Pioneer Laserdisc player (ca.1981) and my Sony Discman Cd player dates from 1992. I even have a rotary phone in here at my computer desk.")

3) Its a good strong VCR ("the one we had was the best one we have ever had so I just wanted another one.")

[Manfred318]

.I like that old school vcr you have there. The older stuff was built better. I have a giant BETA collection with some top load BETA units. I'd probably sell the ballgame cheap if someone was interested!HAHA!
Good luck with your repair.
Todd

Thanks Todd.   Hopefully Ill be able to fix it. Beta you say? Id like to have one of those as well.

With a new VCR/DVD unit so cheap, I can't see chasing down parts for one that's as old as this Panasonic you bought. This combination unit is $69 at Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05757168000P

Im not really going to chase down parts because the part I need will be next to impossable to find. I just dont need a combo unit. I would just rather have the old one. They were built to last and how many of the new ones you see lasting 20 years?  Like I said every combo unit Ive ever had has been a piece of shit. I bought a Hitachi one several years ago and paid nearly $300 for it. It lasted me about a year and a half before it started eating my tapes and would not read DVDs. Same thing happened with the two I bought after that one. I have no use for the combo units.

it comes down to, what is your time worth?

Not much really. Actually, I enjoy tinkering with things like this. It keeps me busy and gives me something to do.

[HKCharger]

whats a vcr?

[konigcharger]

my grandmother has an identical vcr in her tv room still works like new. i didn't realize it was that old 

[MichaelRW]

whats a vcr?

It's the son of Super 8mm. 

[John_Kunkel]

As soon as I saw the header on this thread I knew that half of the replies would be comments about the VCR not being "de rigeur". You guys need some new material. 

In a TV world inundated by commercials the VCR (four of them in my case) still serves a purpose.

[Mike DC]

   

Many of the modern VCRs I've tried are worse pieces of sh*t, brand new, than the 20yo VCR I was trying to replace.   


Now that everybody buys DVDs there's no more incentive to produce a VCR that actually works.  If it won't play something right out of the box, they know you'll almost always just blame it on the tape. 

 

[Todd Wilson]

   

Many of the modern VCRs I've tried are worse pieces of sh*t, brand new, than the 20yo VCR I was trying to replace.   


Now that everybody buys DVDs there's no more incentive to produce a VCR that actually works.  If it won't play something right out of the box, they know you'll almost always just blame it on the tape. 

 

I have been thru 3 VCR's in the last 4 years or so. Quality is way down. I have been thru 2 RCA  vcr/dvd combo units in a year and a half. I wont buy another RCA product every again. I am really sick of all this high priced crap they sell nowadays. I'd love to find a old school vcr thats still in good shape and use it.

Todd

[Big Lebowski]

I bought an old Panasonic Omnivision top load VCR (ca.1984) on the bay last week and when I got it here it was broken. Go figure, right? You can plug it in and get the flashing clock but it will not power on. So I took it apart and the circuit board is cracked in 3 places around the power button. A good reason for it not to power on huh? UPS being the ever careful people they are dropped it during shipping not to mention delivering it 3 days late. Anyways is there any way to fix the board or should I just chuck it out?
Heres a few pics for ya I will add one of the broken board tomorrow

   When they eat my tapes, I just smash VCR's, I never fix them.

[Old Moparz]

With a new VCR/DVD unit so cheap, I can't see chasing down parts for one that's as old as this Panasonic you bought. This combination unit is $69 at Sears.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_05757168000P

He's already explained that:

1) Already has a DVD player so why buy a combo? ("I already have a stand alone DVD player so I didn't need a combo player, and everyone of those Ive ever bought has been a piece of junk that lasts long enough for the warranty to expire. Then I have to fork out $80 more for a new one.")

2) He likes to have older electronics around ("Pioneer Laserdisc player (ca.1981) and my Sony Discman Cd player dates from 1992. I even have a rotary phone in here at my computer desk.")

3) Its a good strong VCR ("the one we had was the best one we have ever had so I just wanted another one.")

Yes, I read his explanation, but.....

1)   I still decided to add my opinion based on the low cost of new VCR/DVD units. So what if he has a stand alone DVD unit already? DVD players aren't expensive & they crap out too. If he buys a combo unit cheap now, he'll have a back up DVD player to replace the stand alone one for when it dies 6 months from now, & won't have to post the thread asking how to repair a DVD player.

2)   I like older electronics too, but I still buy modern ones when the need arises. The stereo I use daily is from 1977 & still sounds better than most of the crap in stores now. I bought new speakers 12 years ago after the foam surrounds on the woofers dried out. It was cheaper in the long run to buy a new pair of Infinity towers than to get 4 new 15" woofers for the Fishers. I did find replacement woofers recently that were very cheap & repaired them, btw.

3)   I'd like to get another one of everything I ever owned that was good too, but unfortunately, the stuff still isn't new anymore when you find it & I don't have access to a time machine yet.