Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hello

I have an Ageing 1985 Ferguson Videostar 3v55

It no longer takes the tape in onto the drum

Can anyone help me source a service kit etc etc

Thankyou in advance

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Used to see a lot of Thorn stuff. I'm sure lacing, as it's called, takes place via a worm gear and standard belt and motor. I assume it accepts a cassette and it's lowered ready for lacing. If I remember correctly the belt is accessed from underneath and may necessitate the deck being removed. Access my be given by removing the bottom cover, as on the 3v29\30. They are an engineer friendly machine. After the cassette is taken in can you hear a motor whirring as if there is no load on it?

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Just looked at the loading motor for the 3v55. Apparantly the lacing is not belt driven. The info I gave you earlier is for a previous deck. I'll look for the exploded view of the mech.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

As there is no loading belt then it could be grease starting to harden.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Exactly, if it is grease then a CP may have failed as well. Thorn stuff tended to be full of them, they often failed for no reason. If the original poster is at all ok with electronics he could meter the voltage on the loading motor when loading takes place. To ex engineers it's a doddle. At least it's not one of those horrible ones with a SMPS. They didn't scare me. 3V31 ???
No wrong model, anyone?
29 no
30 no
35 no
31\32 no

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

I will dissasemble the cassette mechanism (spring loaded) and look underneath it. and remove the panel from underneath and report back tomorrow afternoon.

p.s what is a cp ahaha. is it something obvious once you tell me

Thankyou

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hiya, it's the circuit reference Thorn use. Circuit protector, or as we call it a fuse. It looks like a transistor but the give away is it only has two legs.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

A diagram would be great if. if you have one.

is it rubber tyres on idlers per chance.

Thanks :-)

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

It seems from the poster lacing isn't starting so at this stage the reel idler (if fitted) will not be employed. Does the drum rotate at any stage? On vcr's of most makes the mech usually shuffles in both directions, probably to check if the tape has snapped. If either reel goes too fast the vcr will detect this and eject the cassette. Another reason the mech shuffles is to prepare the tape for lacing, (no possible slack).

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hi

If the loading motor rotate.Change the loading belt it is loxated behind the pinch roller.
If the problem still exist maybe you have broken gear.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Right vhs doctor, so this model has a loading belt? looking at the shaft on the motor suggested otherwise as it's not got a pulley on it! I was working from memory on my first post thinking it was similar to a 3v29\30

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

I need a belt then. Can they still be bought ? is it thin like a walkman belt ?

The VCR is at my parents hence the questions.

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Vcr belts usually they are not thin as walkman belts.

Check this
https://m.donberg.ie/descript/7/7076.htm

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hi. The original JVC part number for the loading belt is PQM30003-14. If you don't hear the motor running when you press play, you might have a missing PSU voltage or one or more ICPs have blown. It's a common issue with these JVC machnes and has happened on my HR-D110 (3V38) and HR-D120 (3V35).

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Thankyou :-)
I will report back when i get it working :-)

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hello :-)

After cleaning the front panel/LCD/etc

Unplugging all the connectors inside.

It takes the tape in.

Starts playing for 3 seconds.

albeit with a slipping clutch

It then stops after 3 seconds playing.

Is that the optical switch ?

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Does lacing take place, (and complete?) Do you briefly see a picture? Lack of take up reference pulses will initiate stop. What is rewind and FF like. Does the drum turn? After lacing does the LM stop, that suggests lacing has occurred corectly. Select pause straight after lacing has completed, Does the tape remain laced. Ability to use a scope would be a great help. Pulses should be checked. Particularly FG and PG pulses.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

It fully laces and the tape starts moving (top cover removed. drum spins. the LM stops fully. and yes a picture briefly appears. I will try pausing straight after lacing.

The VCR is now at my Girlfriends.

:-)

Great Progress :-)

Mine is a 1986 UK built version.

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Right, getting there, I have dementia but I follow your symptoms. As I've said, as soon as lacing finishes hit Pause and report back. We are nearly there.
Tony Walker

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Try put the lid back on for initial testing as the deck may be light sensitive.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Is that due to the optical tape sensor/switch)

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Yes, and it can lead to much head-scratching!

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hi
The tape counter for 3 seconds measures or not ( in any function FF, REW, PLAY)?

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hitachi, Sharp and LG were the biggest offenders to be affected by external light. Between us all I think we have got the guy sorted. Aiding engineers on the phone was one of my roles at Sony,80's, although it's rusty these days. This is a fantastic site in helping people.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

I think on this model the tape counter and tape used counter works on the time honoured method of ACE pulses. If the pulses are absent this wont stop the tape. Whereas take up reel pulses will.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

As i remember this mechanism does not have option for. ACE pulse. JVC use these mechanisms in HR-D150/140.
The first mechanism which use ACE pulse was in HR-D5** models.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Right, not in the trade now, stayed in it till two years ago, at LG, sorting their LCD\LED rubbish out. Still have two VHS machines in regular use. They get neglected. One is a Philips turbo deck that doesnt require grease, but the mini gear on the end of the shaft breaks, and the other a Sony that recently died due to the mains smoother going S\C. But down to to you, who's obviously more familiar with this model I'll just watch. Curious though, take care,
Tony Walker
PS But I think he's a lot better off now than when he first posted about his faulty Thorn. As I said before, people on here take the extra step. I was made global moderator on a similar site years ago, and enjoyed sorting people.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

283589322931 ebay item number for the belt kit for this machine.

I did notice from working on mine that they dont like to operate in bright light with the lid off.

Theres also one of the capacitors on the power supply if faulty stops the machine playing when initially laced up.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Ditto with most end sensors do not like much light. I.E Nat Pan,s.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hello :)


What is the number and position of said capacitor.

I think it's that.

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Trying to remember, I've repaired so many, and currently own over 50 ferguson machines now.

I checked the circuit protectors and found one was blown, also replaced the capacitor marked. That was enough for my machine to get it working.

Now that the winter is coming il be getting stuck back into the ones I've been buying over the summer.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Because these machines didn't thread the tape during FF/REW, it wasn't possible to implement a tape counter that measures pulses from the control track. Sony did that in some models like the SL-C30 since on most Betamax machines the tape stays threaded in all modes, but they didn't feature a real-time counter.

Fivos

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

So didn't they half load then? Not even round the audio\ctl head. This particular deck I don't recall.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hello Everyone

After cleaning everything inside etc.

I tested a tape with the cover on and

It works very well indeed.


Iam starting another thread for my 1982 Santo vtc 5000 as it needs it's power supply rebuilding.

It also needs servicing in the electronics.

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Is the 3v55 mono sound ?

I have a 7 pin din plug with 2 RCA's left and right but have no audio

Video obviously works

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

James

Usually the DIN audio connector on these old JVC machines provides mono audio input and output. At least that's the case with my HR-3330, HR-7700, HR-D110 and HR-D120.

Fivos

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

Hello fivos

Thankyou for your reply

How do I connect it to a stereo TV to get sound. I'm currently getting nothing.

Video out works better than RF out.

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

The audio output will be on pins 3 and 5, with 2 common. A 7-pin DIN socket might additionally carry video on pin 6 (in) and 7 (out).

Note the pins are NOT numbered in order 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 as you might naïvely expect, but 6-1-4-2-5-3-7; this is because the original standard was 3 pins for two-way mono audio with a common earth, then later pins 4 and 5 were added to give stereo audio but a 3-pin plug would still fit the 5-pin socket, and even later pins 6 and 7 were added for additional signals.

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

But how do I use it. Newer videostars like the 3v65 has it labeled audio in and out. Is it switched. I'm sorry if I'm not understanding

James

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

The DIN socket is switched when being used as an input -- i.e., it's only used when the TUNER / AUX switch is in the AUX position -- but whatever audio is being sent to the RF modulator (usually TV sound) will come out of pins 3 and 5 of the DIN socket all the time.

How is your DIN-to-RCA cable wired?

Re: Ferguson 3V55 Videostar VCR
 

James.

I made my own DIN to RCA adaptor using a MIDI cable. I just had to use a multimeter to find out which wires correspond to the pins of the plug. I then wired two RCA jacks, one for input and one for output and it worked well. I can also use the same cable on my JVC HR-3330 and Sanyo VTC 9350.

Fivos