PD170, Tape chewing...
 

Hi everyone,

I hope everyones doing fine, i've had a pd170 for about 2 years and recently i encounted my first real problem, which was when ever i rewinded my dv tape, the dv tape would get slightly chewed from one side. This happened before but has started again? The tape reel does not get jammed in the deck but its like its hitting something? and when the tape is played, i have loss of pixcels due to the damage

Any thoughts on what the problem might be? Anyone faced a similar problem?

Any comments would be appreciated

Thanks,

Ismail

The PD170 has an hours meter - have you had a check to see if it's time for a Sony service? If you look into the tape compartment, does it look all shiney bright and clean in there? Have you run a head cleaning tape recently? Have you been using the cam in dusty conditions or down by the sea side?

I'd do a tape path clean. This is quite different from a head clean and requires that you remove the door, use good strong light and foam tipped buds wet with isopropyl alcohol, as shown here:

http://www.fortvir.net/gallery/v/tom...g_4_6.jpg.html

If this doesn't cure the tape crinkle problem it's most probably a feed and take-up platter tensioning problem. Sony's TRV900 suffered in the same way, so they know all about it and know how to fix it.

tom.

tom.

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the insight, i really appreciate it, i will definetly try both options with a head cleaner and cleaning solution mentioned, also regarding servicing the camera, do you know how much run time it needs to have done before a service?

As with a car service it's impossible to say. You might run no-name tapes and shuttle them endlessly backwards and forwards. You might work in dusty or chemically nasty environments. You might be in a high humidity area. You might change tapes on the beach.