Sharp VC 3300H Restoration - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

andyw25 · 23rd Jul 2014, 9:51 pm

Hi all, Ive just been given a Vintage Sharp VC3300 Portable VHS Recorder and have started Restoring it inbetween other projects.

First impressions good, powers on, ejects and allows insertion of tape, all motors work although tape couldnt rewind or fastforward and would lace up but due to tape not moving would then unlace.

Replaced the idler assembly and this has restored Rewind and FastForward.
After further inspection discovered the tape wasnt moving during playback was due to experied belt underneath head, looks like its the original as its cracked, split and was encrusted in place so badly it snapped upon removal.

Cleaned the mess up and just to check it would work I temporarily used an elastic band of similar size and tension to check playback. And Voila, laced up and began playing, obviously alittle ropey but was just to confirm everything worked.

Now to the issue, where can i find an original specification belt, my current searches have been to no avail, does anyone know any websites or infact does anyone have one that would fit?

Many Thanks, Andy

hamid_1 · 24th Jul 2014, 12:23 am

Try Cricklewood Electronics for spare belts: http://www.cricklewoodelectronics.co...me.php?cat=573

Measure the old belt, then look for a replacement of the same or slightly smaller diameter. (I think it's described as a Flat Section belt on the Cricklewood Electronics website).

Your Sharp portable is a bit unusual. It seems to have a built-in tuner/timer - most portable VCRs had a separate tuner timer and mains power unit which could be detached to reduce the weight.

Libratron · 24th Jul 2014, 1:23 pm

A great portable VCR.

Libra.

andyw25 · 24th Jul 2014, 10:18 pm

Thanks for the website address , I've ordered a couple of replacement belts from there, fingers crossed

It does indeed have an inbuilt Timer/Tuner which I thought was strange myself.
The power supply does detatch though and the recorder can be run off battery charge.

For the size of machine it's actually fairly light.

FERNSEH · 25th Jul 2014, 1:17 pm

My Sharp VC2300 is similar to the VC3300. I've owned this one from new. Dates back to 1982 I think.

DFWB.

andyw25 · 25th Jul 2014, 8:19 pm

I didn't realise Sharp Made Portables until I was given mine. I can see the similarities between your model and mine, both seem very well built.

I found a date of February 1983 on one of the motors inside the 3300

cmjones01 · 25th Jul 2014, 11:44 pm

We used to have the 3200 and 3300 at school, carried around between classrooms. They were still in use in 1990, which isn't bad going considering the tough life they had. I'd never seen them anywhere else until I saw them on this forum.

Chris

andyw25 · 30th Jul 2014, 7:21 pm

Good News
Now fully working again.

Received replacement belt from Cricklewood Electronics and fitted along with a new Idler, found a replacement online but came as a set of 20 so i've plenty of spares, haha

Then given a thorough clean of the tape path and heads as it was extremely grubby.

Very good picture, although it's hard to capture with the camera.

23rd Jul 2014, 9:51 pm	#1
andyw25 Pentode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dumfries & Galloway, UK. Posts: 101	Sharp VC 3300H Restoration Hi all, Ive just been given a Vintage Sharp VC3300 Portable VHS Recorder and have started Restoring it inbetween other projects. First impressions good, powers on, ejects and allows insertion of tape, all motors work although tape couldnt rewind or fastforward and would lace up but due to tape not moving would then unlace. Replaced the idler assembly and this has restored Rewind and FastForward. After further inspection discovered the tape wasnt moving during playback was due to experied belt underneath head, looks like its the original as its cracked, split and was encrusted in place so badly it snapped upon removal. Cleaned the mess up and just to check it would work I temporarily used an elastic band of similar size and tension to check playback. And Voila, laced up and began playing, obviously alittle ropey but was just to confirm everything worked. Now to the issue, where can i find an original specification belt, my current searches have been to no avail, does anyone know any websites or infact does anyone have one that would fit? Many Thanks, Andy Attached Thumbnails

24th Jul 2014, 12:23 am	#2
hamid_1 Heptode Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: High Wycombe, Bucks. UK. Posts: 811	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration Try Cricklewood Electronics for spare belts: http://www.cricklewoodelectronics.co...me.php?cat=573 Measure the old belt, then look for a replacement of the same or slightly smaller diameter. (I think it's described as a Flat Section belt on the Cricklewood Electronics website). Your Sharp portable is a bit unusual. It seems to have a built-in tuner/timer - most portable VCRs had a separate tuner timer and mains power unit which could be detached to reduce the weight.

24th Jul 2014, 1:23 pm	#3
Libratron Pentode Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Martino di Lupari, Veneto, Italy. Posts: 204	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration A great portable VCR. Libra.

24th Jul 2014, 10:18 pm	#4
andyw25 Pentode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dumfries & Galloway, UK. Posts: 101	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration Thanks for the website address , I've ordered a couple of replacement belts from there, fingers crossed It does indeed have an inbuilt Timer/Tuner which I thought was strange myself. The power supply does detatch though and the recorder can be run off battery charge. For the size of machine it's actually fairly light.

25th Jul 2014, 1:17 pm	#5
FERNSEH Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 7,444	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration My Sharp VC2300 is similar to the VC3300. I've owned this one from new. Dates back to 1982 I think. DFWB. Attached Thumbnails

25th Jul 2014, 8:19 pm	#6
andyw25 Pentode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dumfries & Galloway, UK. Posts: 101	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration I didn't realise Sharp Made Portables until I was given mine. I can see the similarities between your model and mine, both seem very well built. I found a date of February 1983 on one of the motors inside the 3300

25th Jul 2014, 11:44 pm	#7
cmjones01 Nonode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Warsaw, Poland and Cambridge, UK Posts: 2,678	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration We used to have the 3200 and 3300 at school, carried around between classrooms. They were still in use in 1990, which isn't bad going considering the tough life they had. I'd never seen them anywhere else until I saw them on this forum. Chris __________________ What's going on in the workshop? http://martin-jones.com/ Last edited by AC/HL; 26th Jul 2014 at 12:01 am. Reason: Off topic item removed.

30th Jul 2014, 7:21 pm	#8
andyw25 Pentode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dumfries & Galloway, UK. Posts: 101	Re: Sharp VC 3300H Restoration Good News Now fully working again. Received replacement belt from Cricklewood Electronics and fitted along with a new Idler, found a replacement online but came as a set of 20 so i've plenty of spares, haha Then given a thorough clean of the tape path and heads as it was extremely grubby. Very good picture, although it's hard to capture with the camera. Attached Thumbnails