VCR 1986 Ferguson 3V55; Boxed

Despite do all the above, and finding a piece of tape wrapped around the base of the pinch roller, the tape load still seizes mid-load. When the tape carriage was out for worm drive cleaning, I manually ran it through it sequence, it runs the full load to unload.

Looking more closely, it does take the tape correctly and lower into the correct position. What is not occurring is the head-spin and lace-up. Think I'm going to need John on this one.

Edit

I wonder if it's Q604 the drive transistor? This is listed in stock faults for the 3V45 for no play FF etc

Wonderful machines apart from just a few common trouble spots, CPs (fuses that look like transistors) which blow if you are not very careful, cassette detect switches on the carriage but they appear to be fine, that NiCad of course and the horrible graphite grease.

When you say it freezes after inserting a tape do you mean none of the function buttons work or does it stop during lace up? if it's the former try putting a tape in (not with valuable material on it) with the record safety tab removed. If it's an issue with the control micro, possibly death by Varta, then with said safety tab removed the machine should go automatically into playback.

As above

Posted by: @crustytv

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Looking more closely, it does take the tape correctly and lower into the correct position. What is not occurring is the head-spin and lace-up.

I was wondering, if it's Q604 the drive transistor? This is listed in stock faults for the 3V45 for no play FF etc. Doesn't mention no lace-up though.

Posted by: @crustytv

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I was wondering, if it's Q604 the drive transistor? This is listed in stock faults for the 3V45 for no play FF etc. Doesn't mention no lace-up though

Guess that idea was a no no then

Hmm.. Now this is almost to the letter the symptoms I have. Listed in 3V55 stock faults.

It's possible, those STK regulators could fail in various ways. Do you have any, but before you change it measure all the CPs on the PSU. Unfotunately there can be quite a few changes in the PSU from the original manual, some versions had extra CPs fitted

I can't even locate it in the machine, not sure if I have any in stock, it's not a part i'm familiar with.

@crustytv 
Unfortunately I only had a couple of years experience with VCR’s and they were new so little trouble. 
I can only watch and let you get on with the repair.

I know what they look like now, but blowed if I can locate it. 🙄 

Posted by: @crustytv

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I can't even locate it in the machine

You wont, just dawned on me that was used in later machines. FV11R and FV21 series. The FV11R looked similar to the 3V55 but darker trim.

Even though the stock fault manual clearly stated 3V55 had one! Bloomin marvellous, Well I'm stumped on this then. What about the optical mode switch, could that have failed?

I doubt it, normally won't FF or rewind. Just to be clear, when you press play the drum does not spin and the guides start to lace the tape then stop and return? Check some voltages first on CN3 of the PSU, check all the supplies are up with the operate light lit. 3V44/45 manual will be ok to follow for this.

I have just been over the power supply of the 3V55 checking the electrolytics. The only two that come up as 'In-Circuit-Leaky' are C5 and C12, both 33uF. This could be spurious as they were in circuit and could be perfectly fine, guess the only way to tell is to remove them.

With the absence of a manual and differences between the 3V44 and 3V55, it's a little difficult. However, if the PSU's are mostly similar, then the 3V44 shows that C5 and C12 are decouplers in the 5V circuit, I wonder.

That cream fuse and holder show it's a very late version, it was originally an N25 CP on wires, there will be some differences in the circuit but don't go too deep yet. Just check the supplies on CN3, the drum motor board requires two supplies, unregulated 17V and unswitched 12V on PSU CN3 pins 8 and 7 respectively.

I hate to say it, but I'm sure I've seen those bits of plastic used on hair curlers, Chris... maybe it's been 'posted through the letterbox'?

Posted by: @cathovisor

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posted through the letterbox'

I should count my blessings, it wasn't remnants of a jam sandwich.

Amazing what havoc an intermittent joint can cause 🙄 A reflow of all pins on CN3 brought about life.

Faults I'm left with are a severely inadequate rewind. Search REW function is fine

Admin Edit:
VCR video clips removed from thread as it was slowing down the load time.

Unfortunately the reel idler is a very small affair and was not available separately. You had to buy the whole reel drive assembly but it's not impossible to get at the idler and give it some rubber restorer treatment.