How to Clean Video Heads
Cleaning Video Heads
Note: This article is for informative purposes only.
We are not responsible for any damages caused by your attempt to clean
your VCR's video heads. Never touch a moving video head drum.
Sometimes simply loading and unloading a tape several times can unclog a video head (the Panasonic AG1980 has an automatic head cleaner that taps the heads every time a tape is threaded). Sometimes running a tape in the fast-forward "scan" mode for a few minutes may also unclog the video head.
Warning: the following is a dangerous procedure, this may damage or break your video heads (a $500+ part) Never use a Q-tip type swab on the video heads, this can catch the fine wires of the video head and break them. If you don't feel comfortable cleaning your video heads, please contact us for information about our service packages.
Before you start: We don't recommend using "cleaning tapes" as they often use abrasive materials to wear away at the clogged heads. As you can imagine, over time, this also wears down the video heads. Never used "canned air" spray to clean the video heads. The propellant used in these sprays can quickly freeze the delicate video heads and crack them!
Unplug the VCR and open the lid. Identify the video head drum and gently turn the drum from above so you can become familiar with the location of the video head tips (see photo at the top of the page). Depending on your VCR's model, you might have 2, 4, 5 or 6 video head tips.
In this first step, clean just the tape path. Do not touch the head drum or video heads, we'll get to that in the next step. Begin by carefully cleaning the tape path, linear audio/control head, tape guides, the black rubber pinch roller and the capstan that it presses against. Be careful to avoid the video head tips. Use a good quality swab dipped in 91% or 99% Isopropyl alcohol. Remember, do not touch the video heads with the swab, we'll get to those in the next step.
(above left) The linear audio/control head (above right) tape guide rollers.
While cleaning the linear audio head and the tape guides be on the lookout for black, sticky tape residue. If the residue is stubborn, dampen with alcohol and repeat the process several times until it's removed. Do not use any metal tools to clean the guides or rollers.
Now for the video heads. Do not use cotton swabs or chamois sticks on the video heads! Get a small piece of white printer paper, about 3" x 6" and fold it over once (it should now be about 3" x 3"). Soak the paper with 91% or 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and blot up the excess. Note: Various video head cleaning tools from the 1980s are not recommended, and may, in fact, damage your video heads.
Gently hold the damp paper with one finger against the side of the head drum. With your other hand, carefully rotate the head drum counterclockwise while applying gentle pressure with one finger, to the damp, alcohol soaked paper.
Hold the paper in the center, and make sure that the edge of the paper doesn't catch on the video head tips as they pass by. Do not move the paper, and keep light, gentle, pressure on the paper while slowly turning the video head drum. You should feel a very slight "bump" as the video heads pass under the wet paper. Do not press hard and do not move the paper up or down. Especially avoid moving the cleaning paper vertically as this will damage the video heads.
After a few rotations of the head drum you should see a black streak on the paper. In the photo below, the dirty part below the black streak is from gunk on the video head drum. Carefully repeat the process until the paper comes up almost clean.
Sometimes it may take 10-20 strips of alcohol soaked paper strips to properly clean a head, you just have to be patient and keep repeating the process until the paper comes up clean.
Also, you don't want to overlook the four or five circular grooves above the video heads. They're there to provide an air lift to the tape, so it doesn't stick to the video head drum. Very often they're also thoroughly dirty and they can't do their job.
After cleaning it's very important to leave the machine alone for about thirty minutes to allow the isopropyl alcohol to evaporate. If you play a tape too soon, the tape will stick to the wet video head drum and make things even worse!
If you follow the above cleaning tips, your video playback should be nice and clear again!
~ Tom Grant Nov 2013 TGrant Photo LLC
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We offer complete repair services for the Panasonic AG-1980.