I am having problems with the subject vcr. When the VCR is turned on there are several, barely legible, vertical lines from the top to just below the bottom of the screen. When taping on this vcr, the lines are of course transferred to any tape made using this vcr. Any suggestions?

Hi,
This can be something as simple as cleaning the transport mechanism, or as completely impractical to repair as a damaged spot on the tape head or excessive play in the tape head drive motor. The indication is synchronized interference, which could also arise from some wire lacking a shield ground, or possibly something as simple as interference from an external switching power supply. Try the tape deck on an older television to see if the "noise" goes away as the second step, the first should be to run a demagnetizing tape head clenaer through the unit. If it does, you may have to locate the deck somewhere else.

If the "noise" is definitely from within your deck, start searching for a cold solder joint on the board, a crack, an eroded track on the circuit board, essentially something that might break a connection for a shield ground. While looking, also inspect the tape head carefully for damage or excessive play in the bearings. Slight axial play is normal, but there should be no perceptable radial play (perpendicular to the axis/shaft of the motor).

: I am having problems with the subject vcr. When the VCR is turned on there are several, barely legible, vertical lines from the top to just below the bottom of the screen. When taping on this vcr, the lines are of course transferred to any tape made using this vcr. Any suggestions?