Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

dj_fivos_sak · 28th Sep 2015, 6:34 pm

Hello everybody! Today I managed to get one of the earlier Grundig VHS machines. The machine came with with a stuck tape inside and has some mechanical issues:
1. The front flap (the one with the VHS logo on it) doesn't open when I eject the tape
2. The mechanism gets jammed and won't thread
3. The display gives me F1, F6 and F7 error codes.
4. The capstan belt was broken so I replaced it with a rubber band (temporary fix).
Tip: The loading mechanism is U-load type, like Betamax!
Can someone help me?
Thanks!
Fivos

TonyDuell · 28th Sep 2015, 7:12 pm

It appears to have separate motors for each reel (photo 3). Does it have a normal back tension band (I cant see one in photo 2) or does it pass a little current through the supply spool motor for this? Philips V2000 machines did that IIRC.

dj_fivos_sak · 29th Sep 2015, 1:03 am

I cannot see any tension band like the Japanese machines. Maybe the motor gets a current like you said.

gec2110 · 29th Sep 2015, 12:22 pm

These machines I have to say were terrible. the mechanics are really fragile, too complex and were not easy to operate for some customers. I thought the Philips charley deck was bad, but these win hands down.

toshiba tony · 29th Sep 2015, 1:40 pm

As each spool has its own motor a back tension belt wasn't needed. But as a previous poster said, they were terrible. I had a teletext one, it was novel using it, but each motor function it carried out made me wince, wondering what will break off next, happy days.

Nickthedentist · 29th Sep 2015, 2:41 pm

Surely a real rarity though nowadays! I've certainly never seen anything remotely like it.

dj_fivos_sak · 30th Sep 2015, 4:21 am

Thank you guys for your replies. Yes, the machine has a terrible mechanism but with a litte bit of help I got it to play but I have to press the pinch roller manually!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaR2...ature=youtu.be

ben · 30th Sep 2015, 9:22 am

It certainly seems like there are broken parts. That left hand tape guide does not seem to be connected to the gear train, and the same goes for the pinch roller. Unfortunately I can't see the linkages involved and both my Grundigs of this era (VS180, VS200) are now stored away.
Interestingly, mine load from the right, whereas yours seems to load from the left (like the 'Charlie').

dj_fivos_sak · 30th Sep 2015, 2:10 pm

Yes. The VS 200 has a different mechanism from the VS 310. VS 200 parts are not compatible with the 310.

Welsh Anorak · 30th Sep 2015, 4:14 pm

The main problem with these machines was that recording (or even playing) something was very complicated, especially if the customer was used to a Japanese machine. As for setting the timer...
Luckily I didn't see too many of them, though I recall shorted capacitors in the audio circuit, odd power supply faults and the brake solenoid losing its 'pull'. I liked the odd metallic ding it made when loaded though!
The Mitsubishi with separate reel motors and no tension band showed how it should be done.

28th Sep 2015, 6:34 pm	#1
dj_fivos_sak Heptode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Lefkada, Greece Posts: 969	Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR Hello everybody! Today I managed to get one of the earlier Grundig VHS machines. The machine came with with a stuck tape inside and has some mechanical issues: 1. The front flap (the one with the VHS logo on it) doesn't open when I eject the tape 2. The mechanism gets jammed and won't thread 3. The display gives me F1, F6 and F7 error codes. 4. The capstan belt was broken so I replaced it with a rubber band (temporary fix). Tip: The loading mechanism is U-load type, like Betamax! Can someone help me? Thanks! Fivos Attached Thumbnails

28th Sep 2015, 7:12 pm	#2
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR It appears to have separate motors for each reel (photo 3). Does it have a normal back tension band (I cant see one in photo 2) or does it pass a little current through the supply spool motor for this? Philips V2000 machines did that IIRC.

29th Sep 2015, 1:03 am	#3
dj_fivos_sak Heptode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Lefkada, Greece Posts: 969	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR I cannot see any tension band like the Japanese machines. Maybe the motor gets a current like you said.

29th Sep 2015, 12:22 pm	#4
gec2110 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Croydon, London, UK. Posts: 408	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR These machines I have to say were terrible. the mechanics are really fragile, too complex and were not easy to operate for some customers. I thought the Philips charley deck was bad, but these win hands down.

29th Sep 2015, 1:40 pm	#5
toshiba tony Heptode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Accrington, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 978	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR As each spool has its own motor a back tension belt wasn't needed. But as a previous poster said, they were terrible. I had a teletext one, it was novel using it, but each motor function it carried out made me wince, wondering what will break off next, happy days.

29th Sep 2015, 2:41 pm	#6
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,846	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR Surely a real rarity though nowadays! I've certainly never seen anything remotely like it.

30th Sep 2015, 4:21 am	#7
dj_fivos_sak Heptode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Lefkada, Greece Posts: 969	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR Thank you guys for your replies. Yes, the machine has a terrible mechanism but with a litte bit of help I got it to play but I have to press the pinch roller manually! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaR2...ature=youtu.be

30th Sep 2015, 9:22 am	#8
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR It certainly seems like there are broken parts. That left hand tape guide does not seem to be connected to the gear train, and the same goes for the pinch roller. Unfortunately I can't see the linkages involved and both my Grundigs of this era (VS180, VS200) are now stored away. Interestingly, mine load from the right, whereas yours seems to load from the left (like the 'Charlie'). __________________ Regards, Ben.

30th Sep 2015, 2:10 pm	#9
dj_fivos_sak Heptode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Lefkada, Greece Posts: 969	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR Yes. The VS 200 has a different mechanism from the VS 310. VS 200 parts are not compatible with the 310.

30th Sep 2015, 4:14 pm	#10
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,921	Re: Grundig VS 310 P/S vintage VHS VCR The main problem with these machines was that recording (or even playing) something was very complicated, especially if the customer was used to a Japanese machine. As for setting the timer... Luckily I didn't see too many of them, though I recall shorted capacitors in the audio circuit, odd power supply faults and the brake solenoid losing its 'pull'. I liked the odd metallic ding it made when loaded though! The Mitsubishi with separate reel motors and no tension band showed how it should be done.