Entertainment Center: TVs, Stereos, VCRs and DVDs - Sansui TV/VCR combo - snowy VCR picture
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Sansui TV/VCR combo - snowy VCR picture
CaribbeanQueen
02-14-08, 10:14 PM
Hey
I have a Sansui tv/vcr combo and i was recently watching an old movie on it when the picture just went "snowy" (the audio works fine though). I looked up the problem online and the apparent solution was to get a video head cleaner tape. I bought one and ran it three times before I figured it might not work (you can only run it so many times before it's used up). The video head cleaner tape didn't work and my picture is still snowy...what should I do now? :(
Any help would be great, i just want to be able to use my vcr again!! LOL. Thanks.
I have a Sansui tv/vcr combo and i was recently watching an old movie on it when the picture just went "snowy" (the audio works fine though). I looked up the problem online and the apparent solution was to get a video head cleaner tape. I bought one and ran it three times before I figured it might not work (you can only run it so many times before it's used up). The video head cleaner tape didn't work and my picture is still snowy...what should I do now? :(
Any help would be great, i just want to be able to use my vcr again!! LOL. Thanks.
Rick Johnston
02-15-08, 03:06 AM
Hopefully you bought a cleaning tape that uses cleaning fluid. The dry-clean tapes can do more harm than good.
When you say "old movie" do you mean old tape? As tape ages or if it's been played a lot, its magnetic particles can become loose. They build up on the head, causing it to clog.
The cleaning tape works well to remove the buildup of gunk that accumulates during normal use, but severe clogs require manual cleaning. You've probably exacerbated the problem by playing the same old tape immediately after cleaning.
Try the cleaning tape again. Twice. Then insert a brand-new tape in the machine and record about an hour's worth of anything handy. Rewind the tape to about 50 minutes and play it to see if the problem's been fixed. (New tapes can actually clean and lubricate as they pass over the heads.)
Don't try to play the old tape anymore.
If that doesn't work, you have a severe clog that requires manual cleaning. The main symptoms of a severe clog are a flickering picture that alternates between noise and picture, a tearing (ripping) in the top or bottom half of the picture, an unstable picture when the deck is paused, and in the worst case, a completely snowy picture.
Manual cleaning isn't rocket science, but it does require access to the round drum inside the unit. Unplug it from the wall before you take it apart. Because this is a TV combo, you may want to read HotinOKC's sticky (http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=309110) about TV safety at the top of the index for this forum.
You'll need chamois-tipped cleaning swabs and a bottle of denatured alcohol. These used to be available at RadShak, but lately I don't know what they carry. Do not use Q-tips, and do not use rubbing alcohol.
Saturate the chamois with alcohol. Hold the swab vertically by the end of the stick and press the chamois tip against the side of the drum where the upper (rotating) part meets the lower (static) part. Holding the stick at the tip will prevent you from putting too much pressure on the head. Slowly rotate the drum counterclockwise. Do not move the cleaning swab. After four or five complete revolutions, saturate a new swab and repeat the procedure.
Let the head dry out for a few minutes before you insert a tape.
If this doesn't work, it's time for a repair tech to take look at it.
Good luck -- let us know how it works out.
When you say "old movie" do you mean old tape? As tape ages or if it's been played a lot, its magnetic particles can become loose. They build up on the head, causing it to clog.
The cleaning tape works well to remove the buildup of gunk that accumulates during normal use, but severe clogs require manual cleaning. You've probably exacerbated the problem by playing the same old tape immediately after cleaning.
Try the cleaning tape again. Twice. Then insert a brand-new tape in the machine and record about an hour's worth of anything handy. Rewind the tape to about 50 minutes and play it to see if the problem's been fixed. (New tapes can actually clean and lubricate as they pass over the heads.)
Don't try to play the old tape anymore.
If that doesn't work, you have a severe clog that requires manual cleaning. The main symptoms of a severe clog are a flickering picture that alternates between noise and picture, a tearing (ripping) in the top or bottom half of the picture, an unstable picture when the deck is paused, and in the worst case, a completely snowy picture.
Manual cleaning isn't rocket science, but it does require access to the round drum inside the unit. Unplug it from the wall before you take it apart. Because this is a TV combo, you may want to read HotinOKC's sticky (http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=309110) about TV safety at the top of the index for this forum.
You'll need chamois-tipped cleaning swabs and a bottle of denatured alcohol. These used to be available at RadShak, but lately I don't know what they carry. Do not use Q-tips, and do not use rubbing alcohol.
Saturate the chamois with alcohol. Hold the swab vertically by the end of the stick and press the chamois tip against the side of the drum where the upper (rotating) part meets the lower (static) part. Holding the stick at the tip will prevent you from putting too much pressure on the head. Slowly rotate the drum counterclockwise. Do not move the cleaning swab. After four or five complete revolutions, saturate a new swab and repeat the procedure.
Let the head dry out for a few minutes before you insert a tape.
If this doesn't work, it's time for a repair tech to take look at it.
Good luck -- let us know how it works out.