Summary

Combo CRT/VCR intended for commercial use. Generally used in libraries and other educational settings.

Literature

• Service Manual

Repair Notes

The VCR is pretty bullet-proof - here are some general troubleshooting tips:

• Spits tapes back out- check if the top metal cage of the VCR is straight - these have a tendancy to be bent/bowing inwards which blocks the travel of the tape transport. Grab a hold of the top of the cage and pull it back straight to see if the problem improves. If you need to bend it even more, remove the whole cage and bend it straight by hand. If your cage isn't blocking the tape and its just being returned for no physical reason, try cleaning the mode switch with Deoxit (its the black plastic box with 3 color wires going to it in the VCR - see last 2 images on this page). Be sure to align the parts properly when you reassemble it, read the service manual for more info. If it still spits tapes back out you need to remove the VCR module from the CRT chassis and watch the tape move down the path to see where it's getting stuck. If the VCR motor controller detects the tape getting stuck it will try to eject it back out.
• VCR has no power (timer display is off and VCR doesn't make any noise when you put a tape in) - the VCR goes into shutdown mode if it detects a jam when trying to spit a tape back out. To clear the shutdown mode, unplug the CRT for 10 seconds and then plug it back in. If the VCR is still dead, remove it from the chassis, take off the metal shield and check both fuses on the inner-most VCR circuit board - there are two. One is 250v 1.25A and the other is 250v 3A. DO NOT SUBSTIUTE FOR HIGHER VALUES - USE EXACT VALUES ONLY. If you keep blowing one of the fuses then likely your loading motor is overheating from binding against something and you have a mechanical issue (see tips above for spitting tapes).
• VCR shuts down after inserting a tape (tape is now stuck) - first try turning the CRT off, waiting 10 seconds, then turning it back on. The VCR may eject the tape. If it shuts off again you will need to open up the CRT, remove the VCR module from the chassis, and carefully remove the tape yourself (see service manual for more info). Once you remove the tape you should move the tape basket by hand along the path and see where it's gettings stuck. There are two positions where it's normal for it to stop at because there is no tape inserted, so if you want you can test run it with a tape inserted (while powered off) and watch what the mechanisms are doing and where the tape gets stuck.
• VCR has no picture or picture is distorted and snowy - clean the heads and every other roller that comes into contact with the tape during playback. My preferred way to do this is with a clean piece of printer paper and some 99% isopropyl alcohol. Soak a corner of the paper with alcohol and then press the wet paper gently against the side of the top half of the head cylinder (where the tape gets wrapped around for playback, it has grooves) and manually spin the head around a few times using your finger on the TOP of the head cylinder (DO NOT TOUCH THE SIDE OF THE HEAD CYLINDER WITH YOUR BARE FINGERS). Repeat this for the pinch roller (the rubber roller that pulls the tape along) and all the metal/plastic catch spindles the tape wraps around. I do not recommend using head cleaner tapes unless you can buy a brand new one, and even those can't do as good of a job as manual cleaning. However if you don't trust yourself to clean the head properly then the tapes are your best option as they will decently cover all of the necessary areas and will not cause damage.
• Front adj. knobs don't work correctly and/or speaker volume slider makes scratching noises - spray inside the pot with deoxit and turn the pot/run the volume slider up and down several times.
• No power at all - check both fuses on the main TV board - there is a large one in the rear near the AC input and there is a smaller one in the front left corner (on the VCR side). Both fuses must be good for the TV to power on.