|
VCR Adjustments
Tools Needed:
* standard phillips screwdriver
* a small phillips screwdriver
* a recorded tape
* a coax cable for connecting to the television set during
adjustment.
* And... you need to be close to the television set, and have it
viewable while you do the adjustments.
Adjustment Note: The
adjustment pots inside the VCR are NOT going to make drastic changes if
that is what your expecting. If the tracking is that far off, give it up
my friends. But if the video and sound are a little off, adjusting the
unit might be perfect for getting the VCR back to its peak performance.
On the
dirty side of the issue - the VCR will not likely be dirty
inside. The unit I opened to show you the process was at least eight years
old and had no dust inside the unit, and the head and most of the interior
was spotless. All I ever used on the VCR was a typical over the counter
wet head cleaner. Please take
note that video repair shops that have a cleaning special and
adjustment for $69.99 or so, aren't going to do anything more than adjust
the two pots on the VCR and return it to you a day or so later. As you can
see from the photos, the VCR is nearly spotless.
Unit Used for
Adjustment:
Lets get
started: I will be taking apart a typical VCR... a GE model VG-7620, a
two-head - non hi-fi unit. Just a player out of the many I have. It just
sits in the closet now.
First
things first... Unplug the VCR. You
don't want any power running to the VCR when you start taking it
apart. Besides electrocuting yourself, a nut or washer falling on the
exposed circuit board can short something in the VCR. I have done it. Don't learn
the hard way.
Refer to
Figure
1: Cover Removal: The white arrows indicate, on this unit the
three screws to remove from the back of the VCR, and two from underneath
had to be removed in order to slide the VCR Cover off. The cover slides
underneath the front and is generally screwed down at the back of the VCR,
in most cases. NOTE: Look how clean that is inside...
Now slide cover off and set to
the side. Figure 2 shows what the VCR appears like with the cover off. There
can sometimes be a slot in the middle of the circuit board where adjustments
can be made. Most models today are like this one, so lets continue.
Figure
2:
Arrow 3 indicates a screw you need to remove before pulling the
circuit board up. Once the screw is removed, gently pull back the tabs at
arrows 1 & 2 with your thumbs and with your index figures pull the
circuit board up and back... slowly. You don't want to yank any wires or the
ribbon cable loose. The unit is extremely clean inside, no dust inside.
Figure 3:
The Green Arrows indicate where the pots are that you are going to adjust.
In 'figure 3' the view of the VCR has been turned around. This is likely the
best way to have the VCR sitting in front of you. You will now need the
small phillips screwdriver for the adjustment. Now you can really take
a look at the VCR's guts. No dust on the boards or heads. You can see
some dust in the upper left corner out of the way. I did NOT wipe down the
unit before working in it.
In Figure
4, the green arrows are showing you the two pots for adjusting the
sound and video.
Carefully, connect the video out coax port to the
television. Make sure that all the screws and washers are placed away from the
VCR. Plug in the VCR and turn it on. There is now 120vac applied to
the machine, DON'T touch the circuit board.
Put the VHS tape into the VCR unit. Push play and
make sure you've got audio and video on the TV. It's time! Take the small
phillips and pick a pot to adjust. (Pots are sensitive and require very
little adjustment to make changes.) Pick the right or left pot and turn
clockwise or counter-clockwise
Sound or Video: By adjusting the
pots you will either see or hear an improvement or it will get worse.
Once you have the best quality from both pots and
are satisfied stop the tape and eject it. 'Unplug the
VCR'. Now... re-assemble the VCR in the opposite way you took it
apart. No, there shouldn't be any screws or washers left over when you
done.
After the unit is back together,
hook it up to the television and test your work again with it assembled. If
your happy, the unit is ready to be put back in work.
Congrats. You are done, and have saved yourself about
$69.99 from a video repair shop that is likely ripping you off.
TB.
BACK
TO THE VIDEO HEADQUARTERS MAIN PAGE
|
