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An important step to refurbishing a Beta is the preliminary clean up, visual inspection and initial repair. The nine segment photo above shows the cleaning. To begin all the trash is carefully removed using compressed air and light brushing. Then the machine is tricked into performing the threading operation without a cassette inside. This makes all the tape path components available and also checks the loading and threading operation. Any loading hang-ups found must be corrected before further cleaning and refurbishing can continue. It is only later on that various other measures will be taken to return the VCR back to as close to new as feasible. Look these nine steps over and then click on the numbered blocks as I go over each one step by step. Starting in the upper left corner with number 1 click on it to make it larger. Here we see an example of tape shard debris. This is an indication of past tape damage due to some kind of alignment, cassette or tape travel malfunction. After physical cleaning and examination the corrections can begin. The cause of this shredding issue would be discovered and a repair performed before proceeding. Extreme care is always exercised during all of these cleaning steps to insure that no damage is inflicted on any of the parts. Click the photo and step number 2 shows the number three guide being cleaned. To do this a special coarse crocus cloth is soaked in a special solvent and then drawn over the pin using forceps (hemostat). This is also done to the number two guide plainly seen emerging from under the plastic guard in the right corner. Cleaning the number one guide/tension lever is shown in the upper right. Click the photo and number step 3 is illustrating the cleaning of the plastic tracks and related components. A cotton dental wad soaked in solvent held by a hemostat and toothpick (not shown) are used for this. Click to go to photo number four 4. It shows cleaning the ACE head assembly and adjacent areas using a special chamois coated plank and a foam swab soaked in solvent. Next photo number five 5 shows removing the crusty oxide and graphite that builds up on the capstan. A soft wood plank soaked in solvent is pressed against the capstan shaft while it is turning. The pinch roller has been removed and the machine has been placed in the play mode. Click and photo number six 6 shows cleaning the rear track ways at the back of the threading platform. Extra care is used to avoid contacting the delicate video heads (reddish colored chip seen in the drum slot). Photo number seven 7 shows using a swab soaked in solvent to clean the full erase head. Photo number eight 8 illustrates using a tooth pick to remove the oxide that builds up in the tape rail (very important and difficult). This groove is machined into the video drum and it is where the bottom of the tape rides so it can maintain its proper position on the round cylinder. Photo number nine 9 shows my method for cleaning the video heads. There are always two or more and they are mounted on a rotating disk that spins inside the drum (explained in more detail in another section). They are very delicate. A light back and forth movement is all that is needed. Up and down can break them off. I usually hold the swab in place as shown and use the circular balance wheel (damper) on top of the drum like a knob. This method allows me to slowly move the video head back and forth against the chamois plank. The circular damper can be seen better in block number 7 of the original composite photo. You can click on the picture once again and the composite photo will return. After getting everything clean we move on to the next step, performing the service measures dictated by the manufacturer for each particular model. To go to SERVICE INFORMATION AND DIAGRAMS click here.
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