New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Breck37 · 23rd Jun 2017, 1:05 pm

Hi there

I just joined the forum and am amazed at the amount of info that's available on here and the level of knowledge that members have!

A very quick biog about me. I live in Kinross, Scotland with my wife and kids and am an avid VHS collector, first as a youngster growing up back in Lancashire and I then got the bug again a few years ago. I'm now co-admin of a successful VHS related group on facebook and co-organise an annual film festival where we screen cult films from VHS!

I recently acquired a Ferguson Videostar 3v30 as I wanted to get hold of the same deck that I used at home as a teenager. Unfortunately it's not working as it should and the issue seems to be the exact same one raised by another member in this post about their 3v29 model:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=650946

After a quick google I found replacement belts (http://www.donberg.co.uk/descript/1/11052.htm), but apart from being able to clean a VHS tape until its spotless, I'm inexperienced with fixing VCR's but I'm certainly not scared to get my hands dirty. I've seen different views in this forum saying that replacing belts is a fairly simple job which gives me hope, but others say that a novice shouldn't go near it and should try to find someone who can service a unit!

So I have a few questions:

Does anyone have a manual for the 3v30 that I could access?
Can anyone recommend any videos/how-to guides on replacing belts for a 3v30?
If all else fails, does anyone have experience of servicing a 3v30 and are your skills for hire?!

Thanks for your help with all this

1100 man · 23rd Jun 2017, 5:37 pm

Hi, Welcome to the Forum

I am very glad that someone is doing their bit to preserve VHS- I like the idea of showing vintage films from VHS. Recording on tape was a difficult thing to do and back in the '80's when VHS emerged, machines were complicated and expensive. I spent a chunk of my working life servicing and selling such machines and have a great fondness for them!
Unfortunately, experience counts for everything when trying to repair such machines- the alignment of the tape path is critical and an oscilloscope and knowledge of how to use it are essential. Also being able to tell if a fault is mechanical and tape path related or whether it's electronic is really down to experience.
Belts, especially the loading belt are a very likely problem, but as has been proved in a recent thread, changing this without experience can lead to huge problems. The video in question went from working to having a fault caused by changing the belt and loosing the mechanical timing, then more faults were created and finally the machine was in a complete mess

I never like to discourage people from getting involved but beware that it could turn into a mine field

If you can post a detailed description of what is actually happening and include some pictures, I am sure we will all try and help as much as possible!!
All the best
Nick

jayceebee · 23rd Jun 2017, 9:27 pm

The 3V29/30 in my opinion is one of the best machines to learn about VCRs, a lot of people tend to go for the previous 3292/3V00/22 models but the mechanics on these particularly the selector key assembly is very prone to wear and can be difficult to repair. The mech on the 3V29/30 is pretty much bomb proof although some parts are very scarce now, the rubber tyres on the reel tables will be worn or perished and replacements are difficult to obtain.

You won't get your hands too dirty on these but you will if you tackle some Mitsubishi models where the graphite grease goes hard and sticky and needs to be removed

Best of luck with it.

John.

Radio Wrangler · 23rd Jun 2017, 10:17 pm

Hello and welcome!

David... just down the road a bit in Dunfermline.

toshiba tony · 24th Jun 2017, 3:30 am

Belt changing on the 3v29\30 is not too difficult. The only one that causes problems is the loading belt. I used to change it (carefully) without uncoupling the motor. If you remove the motor you have to make sure the loading arms do not jump out of sync. My main problem with them was cassette lamp failure. I seem to remember being told to make sure the machine wasn't turned on when the mains was applied. Otherwise the lamp illuminates briefly when it's plugged in.

Breck37 · 24th Jun 2017, 9:48 am

Hi again. jayceebee and toshibatony think I might be ok and 1100 man think I should steer well clear. Thanks for the advice folks. I'm wondering if I should steer well clear myself too as even though I think I'd be able to change a belt, if anything else came out of place in the process, I'd be lost.

I'd love to get the machine up and running again if possible (although I already have one main VCR and two back-ups ready to go!). I used to spend a lot of time on the Pre-Cert forum discussing tapes and there was a chap on their, Kev, who serviced players specialising in Sanyo's I think. I wonder if he's on this forum? I think his user name was Knight2000 or something like that?

Any how, I'll make a quick video of the problem and post it here later and perhaps someone will spot what the issue might be!

Hi David! It's great to see that there's someone so local to me on here too! If you fancy going to a VHS festival in September in Edinburgh, let me know!

Radio Wrangler · 24th Jun 2017, 2:52 pm

I'm afraid I'm not much into TV. My set in the lounge hasn't been on this year!

I'm more into shortwave and I'm involved with the Kingdom Amateur Radio Society. I'm currently getting my old hifi setup back to snuff.

David

Nickthedentist · 24th Jun 2017, 3:38 pm

Great servicing article here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...34&postcount=9

Welsh Anorak · 25th Jun 2017, 11:39 am

As said above, belt and lamp replacement is straightforward with the exception of the loading belt. Here's the way we did it and never had the loading mechanism jump out of sync.
1. Machine in stop, carriage down and lid off. Change all other belts.
2. Hook the old capstan belt around both guides and both reel tables so it's tight.
3. Remove the loading motor block (two screws) to the wires' limit.
4. Remove the circlip and slide out the worm gear. You may find two shims or they might have been lost on a workshop floor decades ago!
5. Remove the belt, replace and reassemble the block. The shims are not vital, honest!
6. Carefully replace the block and re-engage with the ring gear - it will just slip in.
7. Remove the temporary belt and test.
That sounds a bit involved but is (in my experience) the easiest method that is least likely to end in tears.
Glyn.

Breck37 · 25th Jun 2017, 3:49 pm

Thanks Glyn. I shall maybe give it a go unless someone else responds offering to service the VCR for me! The fact that I don't know my circlip from my worm gear has me worried though!

Thanks for the article Nick!

Would a 3v29 manual suffice for the 3v30 model or are the models very different? I'm struggling to find a manual for the 3v30 anywhere

Welsh Anorak · 25th Jun 2017, 5:49 pm

As far as you're concerned they are very similar - the '30 just had a few extra features mainly to do with the timer. Mechanically they are identical.
I think you are having us on regarding your apparent lack of experience!
Glyn

Focus Diode · 25th Jun 2017, 8:14 pm

Hi Breck,
These are excellent machines and well worth restoring. They date from the early '80s. I gained VHS VCR experience with these machines. Servicing is generally straightforward and great machines to work on.

The JVC original is model HR7300. Thorn rentals with the 8930 version. Service manuals for either will be suitable if you can't find the Ferguson manual.

There was also the Ferguson 3V29 and JVC HR7200 which differ in having a one event timer. Rarer clones badged ITT and Telefunken were also available.

There was also the stereo JVC HR 7350, a model I've never seen but more commonly encountered as the Thorn rentals (Radio Rentals, DER and Multibroadcast) 8340 which is black rather than silver.

The 8340 was the first machine I rented in late 1982. I still have many recordings made from it which playback on a more modern VCR perfectly.

Excellent advice given already, let us know how you get on.

Cheers
Brian

Focus Diode · 25th Jun 2017, 8:37 pm

Some tapes from 1983 recorded on the DER 8940 version and how they look today, ad displayed on an 11" Ferguson personal (900 chassis) circ 1964-5 model.

As good as the day I recorded them.
Incidentally Akai branded tapes were JVC and Hitachi were Maxell.

Brian

Welsh Anorak · 26th Jun 2017, 11:52 am

Hi
Is yours a 'real' 3V30? These are rarer than the 8930 ex-rentals that had a different (and less attractive) front panel. Back in the day we used to buy them ex-rental and had some Ferguson badges made up to fit in the Baird/DER/Multibraodcast slot. Apparently they were delivered to the rental boys new with a selection of the badges in a bag - you chose which one was appropriate.
I thought the stereo 8940 was unique to the rentals - there certainly wasn't a Ferguson equivalent. It always seemed an odd choice for them -= more complex with a feature that most people didn't use, and the Dolby circuit made the recordings muffled when the audio head was a bit worn - this was a strictly lo-fi machine. Turning the Dolby off after a service resulted in happy customers remarking the sound was better than it had ever been!
Glyn

23rd Jun 2017, 1:05 pm	#1
Breck37 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Kinross, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK. Posts: 3	New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hi there I just joined the forum and am amazed at the amount of info that's available on here and the level of knowledge that members have! A very quick biog about me. I live in Kinross, Scotland with my wife and kids and am an avid VHS collector, first as a youngster growing up back in Lancashire and I then got the bug again a few years ago. I'm now co-admin of a successful VHS related group on facebook and co-organise an annual film festival where we screen cult films from VHS! I recently acquired a Ferguson Videostar 3v30 as I wanted to get hold of the same deck that I used at home as a teenager. Unfortunately it's not working as it should and the issue seems to be the exact same one raised by another member in this post about their 3v29 model: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?p=650946 After a quick google I found replacement belts (http://www.donberg.co.uk/descript/1/11052.htm), but apart from being able to clean a VHS tape until its spotless, I'm inexperienced with fixing VCR's but I'm certainly not scared to get my hands dirty. I've seen different views in this forum saying that replacing belts is a fairly simple job which gives me hope, but others say that a novice shouldn't go near it and should try to find someone who can service a unit! So I have a few questions: Does anyone have a manual for the 3v30 that I could access? Can anyone recommend any videos/how-to guides on replacing belts for a 3v30? If all else fails, does anyone have experience of servicing a 3v30 and are your skills for hire?! Thanks for your help with all this

23rd Jun 2017, 5:37 pm	#2
1100 man Octode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight, & Great Dunmow, Essex, UK. Posts: 1,377	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hi, Welcome to the Forum I am very glad that someone is doing their bit to preserve VHS- I like the idea of showing vintage films from VHS. Recording on tape was a difficult thing to do and back in the '80's when VHS emerged, machines were complicated and expensive. I spent a chunk of my working life servicing and selling such machines and have a great fondness for them! Unfortunately, experience counts for everything when trying to repair such machines- the alignment of the tape path is critical and an oscilloscope and knowledge of how to use it are essential. Also being able to tell if a fault is mechanical and tape path related or whether it's electronic is really down to experience. Belts, especially the loading belt are a very likely problem, but as has been proved in a recent thread, changing this without experience can lead to huge problems. The video in question went from working to having a fault caused by changing the belt and loosing the mechanical timing, then more faults were created and finally the machine was in a complete mess I never like to discourage people from getting involved but beware that it could turn into a mine field If you can post a detailed description of what is actually happening and include some pictures, I am sure we will all try and help as much as possible!! All the best Nick

23rd Jun 2017, 9:27 pm	#3
jayceebee Heptode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Durham, County Durham, UK. Posts: 640	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 The 3V29/30 in my opinion is one of the best machines to learn about VCRs, a lot of people tend to go for the previous 3292/3V00/22 models but the mechanics on these particularly the selector key assembly is very prone to wear and can be difficult to repair. The mech on the 3V29/30 is pretty much bomb proof although some parts are very scarce now, the rubber tyres on the reel tables will be worn or perished and replacements are difficult to obtain. You won't get your hands too dirty on these but you will if you tackle some Mitsubishi models where the graphite grease goes hard and sticky and needs to be removed Best of luck with it. John.

23rd Jun 2017, 10:17 pm	#4
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,867	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hello and welcome! David... just down the road a bit in Dunfermline. __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

24th Jun 2017, 3:30 am	#5
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Belt changing on the 3v29\30 is not too difficult. The only one that causes problems is the loading belt. I used to change it (carefully) without uncoupling the motor. If you remove the motor you have to make sure the loading arms do not jump out of sync. My main problem with them was cassette lamp failure. I seem to remember being told to make sure the machine wasn't turned on when the mains was applied. Otherwise the lamp illuminates briefly when it's plugged in.

24th Jun 2017, 9:48 am	#6
Breck37 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Kinross, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK. Posts: 3	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hi again. jayceebee and toshibatony think I might be ok and 1100 man think I should steer well clear. Thanks for the advice folks. I'm wondering if I should steer well clear myself too as even though I think I'd be able to change a belt, if anything else came out of place in the process, I'd be lost. I'd love to get the machine up and running again if possible (although I already have one main VCR and two back-ups ready to go!). I used to spend a lot of time on the Pre-Cert forum discussing tapes and there was a chap on their, Kev, who serviced players specialising in Sanyo's I think. I wonder if he's on this forum? I think his user name was Knight2000 or something like that? Any how, I'll make a quick video of the problem and post it here later and perhaps someone will spot what the issue might be! Hi David! It's great to see that there's someone so local to me on here too! If you fancy going to a VHS festival in September in Edinburgh, let me know!

24th Jun 2017, 2:52 pm	#7
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,867	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 I'm afraid I'm not much into TV. My set in the lounge hasn't been on this year! I'm more into shortwave and I'm involved with the Kingdom Amateur Radio Society. I'm currently getting my old hifi setup back to snuff. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

24th Jun 2017, 3:38 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,843	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Great servicing article here: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...34&postcount=9

25th Jun 2017, 11:39 am	#9
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,918	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 As said above, belt and lamp replacement is straightforward with the exception of the loading belt. Here's the way we did it and never had the loading mechanism jump out of sync. 1. Machine in stop, carriage down and lid off. Change all other belts. 2. Hook the old capstan belt around both guides and both reel tables so it's tight. 3. Remove the loading motor block (two screws) to the wires' limit. 4. Remove the circlip and slide out the worm gear. You may find two shims or they might have been lost on a workshop floor decades ago! 5. Remove the belt, replace and reassemble the block. The shims are not vital, honest! 6. Carefully replace the block and re-engage with the ring gear - it will just slip in. 7. Remove the temporary belt and test. That sounds a bit involved but is (in my experience) the easiest method that is least likely to end in tears. Glyn.

25th Jun 2017, 3:49 pm	#10
Breck37 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Kinross, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK. Posts: 3	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Thanks Glyn. I shall maybe give it a go unless someone else responds offering to service the VCR for me! The fact that I don't know my circlip from my worm gear has me worried though! Thanks for the article Nick! Would a 3v29 manual suffice for the 3v30 model or are the models very different? I'm struggling to find a manual for the 3v30 anywhere

25th Jun 2017, 5:49 pm	#11
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,918	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 As far as you're concerned they are very similar - the '30 just had a few extra features mainly to do with the timer. Mechanically they are identical. I think you are having us on regarding your apparent lack of experience! Glyn

25th Jun 2017, 8:14 pm	#12
Focus Diode Octode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Borough of Gateshead, UK. Posts: 1,420	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hi Breck, These are excellent machines and well worth restoring. They date from the early '80s. I gained VHS VCR experience with these machines. Servicing is generally straightforward and great machines to work on. The JVC original is model HR7300. Thorn rentals with the 8930 version. Service manuals for either will be suitable if you can't find the Ferguson manual. There was also the Ferguson 3V29 and JVC HR7200 which differ in having a one event timer. Rarer clones badged ITT and Telefunken were also available. There was also the stereo JVC HR 7350, a model I've never seen but more commonly encountered as the Thorn rentals (Radio Rentals, DER and Multibroadcast) 8340 which is black rather than silver. The 8340 was the first machine I rented in late 1982. I still have many recordings made from it which playback on a more modern VCR perfectly. Excellent advice given already, let us know how you get on. Cheers Brian Last edited by Focus Diode; 25th Jun 2017 at 8:21 pm.

25th Jun 2017, 8:37 pm	#13
Focus Diode Octode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Borough of Gateshead, UK. Posts: 1,420	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Some tapes from 1983 recorded on the DER 8940 version and how they look today, ad displayed on an 11" Ferguson personal (900 chassis) circ 1964-5 model. As good as the day I recorded them. Incidentally Akai branded tapes were JVC and Hitachi were Maxell. Brian Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Focus Diode; 25th Jun 2017 at 8:59 pm.

26th Jun 2017, 11:52 am	#14
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,918	Re: New member, first post! Ferguson Videostar 3v30 Hi Is yours a 'real' 3V30? These are rarer than the 8930 ex-rentals that had a different (and less attractive) front panel. Back in the day we used to buy them ex-rental and had some Ferguson badges made up to fit in the Baird/DER/Multibraodcast slot. Apparently they were delivered to the rental boys new with a selection of the badges in a bag - you chose which one was appropriate. I thought the stereo 8940 was unique to the rentals - there certainly wasn't a Ferguson equivalent. It always seemed an odd choice for them -= more complex with a feature that most people didn't use, and the Dolby circuit made the recordings muffled when the audio head was a bit worn - this was a strictly lo-fi machine. Turning the Dolby off after a service resulted in happy customers remarking the sound was better than it had ever been! Glyn