Rubber parts for Sony Beta SL-2300 deck?

[Phil Nelson]

I own a Sony Betamax SL-2300 VCR that we purchased new in the 1980s. It was a bulletproof machine, but we eventually replaced it with VHS gear. My son wants to transfer old Beta tapes to DVD, but now the machine is looking tired. It plays, but with streaks of snow across the screen as if something were slipping.

Assuming that some rubber parts (pinch roller, belt, whatever) need replacement, where would one find such things?

It might be nice to get a service manual, too. The Sony website has a document titled Service Manual, but it only contains user information.

Thanks!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[ChrisW6ATV]

Phil-

Studio Sound Electronics has been mentioned as a big supplier of VCR rubber parts, and others I have found include Ken's Electronics in Michigan and Electronics Plus here in the Bay Area; both have online ordering.

The big belt suppliers of the past (PRB, Russell Industries, maybe others) are still supplying some of their long-time items, and others have been replaced by Chinese suppliers; the above sellers may have mixtures of both. I chased down catalogs and lists of belts and idlers, and even a program where you enter the VCR model number and get a list of needed items. Let me know if you want me to look for details on your VCR.

[Phil Nelson]

Thanks, those look like good sources. If you could help me find the dimensions of the parts for my deck, that would be helpful. I'm not confident I could measure the old belts accurately.

Phil Nelson

[ChrisW6ATV]

I had tried that program and it only came up with a belt for the tape counter. Just now, I tried another reference and for the SL-2300 (and SL-2305, a near-identical unit if I remember right), it lists just these three items:

Belt,Counter SCX7.0
Pinch Roller,Assy VPRA2
Video Head VX602

So, it might be best to open the machine and see what rubber parts you find. Maybe it has only those two items (besides the video heads).

Here are original Sony part numbers that the VPRA2 replace; maybe these will help you chase down parts:

Sony: X-3679-264-1,
X-3684-337-1,
X-3669-307-6
Sub: A-6759-344-A

It is also possible that a drive motor could be going bad. I had one that froze up.

If there are any idlers, you may need to remove their tires and try to measure them-it should be easier than measuring belts.

[Phil Nelson]

Removing the top cover, I see the pinch roller assembly, which seems a likely suspect. I got a couple of hits when searching, so perhaps I'll try replacing that and see where that gets me.

Thanks,

Phil Nelson