1979 Ferguson Videostar Deluxe 3V16

Posted by: Jayceebee

Posted by: Red_to_Black

So JC, did the 1 belt/2 belt alternative clutch arrangement only apply to the 3V22 model ?  

Yes, both versions were used in the  production run which is where confusion arose when ordering spares, the giveaway was the much smaller take up clutch design. With the earlier type the amount of torque could be adjusted by a stepped setting on the clutch body whereas the later one was fixed.

You know what's going to happen now, Chris will show us the underside with the Y & C board swung out and it's going to have the later deck  ? 

Thanks for that JC, like I say this would have been our fault most of the time ? 

Posted by: Chris

I feel like I did when I first peered into a TV almost 10 years ago, filled with dread and total lack of anything familiar or knowing where on earth to start.  ? 

There are just two motors in this machine, capstan and drum and both have to turn before anything happens. A good place to start is to check there are no snapped or thrown belts and see that both motors and head drum can be rotated by hand and. The fact the FF/REW keys stay latched for a few seconds means the mechacon is firing due a rotation sensing fault.

The underside. all belts are dry, under tension and not cracked.

Looks like the earlier two belt deck  JC ? 

Mind that does look clean ? 

Reputation saved (for now) and clutch belt positioned correctly.

Pop it into FF and you should see the capstan motor turning to the right of the cassette housing. The relay belt maybe slipping, item 11 fig 4-1a section 4-3. Platen cleaner might help with all the rubber until you can source replacements.

Posted By: Jayceebee

Pop it into FF and you should see the capstan motor turning to the right of the cassette housing. The relay belt maybe slipping, item 11 fig 4-1a section 4-3. Platten cleaner might help with all the rubber until you can source replacements.

Hi John,

Indeed that would appear to be the problem. I marked the two wheels with a line as an aid to see if they are rotating. Wheel 1 spins, wheel 2 does not move. However if I use my finger and manually turn wheel 1, wheel 2 does rotate in tandem. This is odd as it suggests the belt that connects wheel 1 to wheel 2 has enough tension between the two points when I manually drive it but not enough when spun at its own speed, slipping?

Ok it's almost certainly stretched, to get to it you'll have to remove the cassette housing. With the housing in the eject position remove the top cover and the four screws at each corner fixing it to the deck, carefully lift out the housing but watch out you don't pull off one of the tape counter drive belts.

Luckily I did manage to source rocking horse poop a couple of years ago, namely two belt kits, one for this and one for the 3292

Posted By: Jayceebee

Ok it's almost certainly stretched, to get to it you'll have to remove the cassette housing. With the housing in the eject position remove the top cover and the four screws at each corner fixing it to the deck, carefully lift out the housing but watch out you don't pull off one of the tape counter drive belts.

Cassette housing removed without disturbing the counter belts mentioned, however I'm a little concerned as the bottom front brass bar as indicated below pivoted when lifted and I didn't pay attention as to how it was positioned. If problems arise when reinstalling I have the other player as a reference, I didn't expect it to swing.

Access to the problem belt drive is now clear (far right)

Relay wheels cleaned with IPA and relay belt changed, whilst at it I also replaced the larger tape counter belt as it was ridiculously slack and brittle. Now to attempt putting the cassette tray back and suss the brass bar position. If this gets it working I'm one happy bunny but I'm half expecting more troubles.

Posted by: Chris

Posted By: Jayceebee

Ok it's almost certainly stretched, to get to it you'll have to remove the cassette housing. With the housing in the eject position remove the top cover and the four screws at each corner fixing it to the deck, carefully lift out the housing but watch out you don't pull off one of the tape counter drive belts.

Cassette housing removed without disturbing the counter belts mentioned, however I'm a little concerned as the bottom front brass bar as indicated below pivoted when lifted and I didn't pay attention as to how it was positioned. If problems arise when reinstalling I have the other player as a reference, I didn't expect it to swing.

 

All explained in section 4.4.5 Page 4-8. As you don't have a cassette housing jig try and get the four legs exactly were they were on the deck chassis, they will have left some marks.

Before you refit the housing apply pieces of pvc tape over the two tape end sensors and lock down the cassette switch with another,  you can operate the deck without the cassette housing or cassette fitted and watch the various actions of the mechanism.

I sussed the housing and its all back as before used the other player as reference.

I have partial improvement, now both wheels on the relay spin, the tape starts to advance when FF is pressed but it slows after a few seconds and the function stops. Tried rewind that does the same. I did note that each time it has improved a little. Would this be other belts slipping?

Yes, basically all the rubber will need attention. Replace all the drive belts and use platen clean or wet and dry soaked in IPA on the idlers and reel table tyres. 

OK will replace the rest of the belts on the underside tomorrow as its getting late now. Fingers crossed once we're past the mechanical hurdles the electronics will be fine.

Ready for tomorrow

p.s.  the counter is working now, it wasn't before so the belt change on that fixed it.

Final update for tonight:

After a few attempts it now always rewinds. It will not FF, it starts, the tape advances a little then the function rejects. Pressing play does not make any attempt to lace up whatsoever.

The underside belts, four of them look simple, all except one (Capstan belt marked in red). It shares the far right relay pulley but is a fat belt going to the huge capstan wheel, it looks a nightmare as I'm going to have to disassemble. 

Tomorrow, is another day? 

close-down..................... 

With the four belts fitted to underside and the three up top I've now replaced all seven. That's the relay belt, capstan belt, drum belt. reel drive belt. unloading belt and counter belts (x2). Happy to report the transport is working, rewind, fast forward and when play is pressed the tape laces up.

Next step is to hook a TV up and see what output I'm getting if any.

Well its still got mechanical problems. The rewind and FF are not as fast as one would expect. Although the tape laces, its not running at any great speed and before long the play action is rejected. I had it connected to a TV and briefly saw sound and vision from a tape before it stopped.

edit:

rewinding the tape further back I managed to get it to stat playing, I had to adjust the tracking and had a reasonable picture with sound, it didn't abort.

Although I think there's still an issue with the speed of REW & FF, Its actually running. I decided to choose a different tape as the test one I was using was a very old, one that had been around the block a few times. I got out an old pre recorded Fools and Horses tape, its been running quite a while now.