Is it time to have my PD150 serviced?
 

I bought a used PD150 about 15 months ago. I have used it for eight weddings, a weekly church service, and several other projects. The current hour readings are:

Operation 36X10
Drum Run 28X10
Tape Run 17X10
Threading 48X10

I have only used Panasonic MQ tapes since purchasing the camera. I would guess that I have received the "insert cleaning cassette" message about five times throughout the past year. Each time I have run my cleaning cassette for 10 seconds and afterwards everything has been fine for the next month or so. Is this normal? Does anyone use their cleaning cassette before receiving the "insert cleaning cassette" message.

I have a VX2000 and have used it a little less than the PD150 and have never received the "insert cleaning cassette" message. I am wondering if I should send my PD150 somewhere for a cleaning or just continue to run the cleaning cassette as needed.

Thanks,

Chris

It's difficult to advise from afar, but the problem you face is that one day you might make a recording using blocked up heads, and not know about it till replay time.

If you open the casette door and look at the capstan with a maglight, what do you see? If there's a brown ring of gunge near the main bearing then yes indeed - it could be time for a tape path clean rather than just a head clean (which is all the tape is doing for you).

tom.