Feedback [Apr. 1990--Electronic Servicing & Technology]

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Replacing the idler pulley

With respect to Victor Meeldijk's article "A VCR Repair Case History - Update to the Sequel" (see the November 1989 issue) concerning replacement of the idler pulley on Fisher VCRs, here is a much easier way of removing the idler assembly on units that do not have a notch for removal of the gear assembly.

Proceed as in the first five steps of the article. Remove the stopper washer from the idler gear and the idler pulley. The large pulley that sits on top of the idler gear is press-fit onto the shaft of the assembly and can be gently pried off.

After you remove the pulley, the plastic, horse-shoe-shaped plate that the black idler gear is attached to can be bent gently downward while the entire assembly is raised off the shaft. Bending this plate downward will allow the black idler gear to clear the metal plate on the chassis. The assembly can then be removed, allowing the idler pulley to be removed.

After replacing the idler pulley, you can replace the gear using the reverse procedure: gently bend the plastic idler gear plate until the gear clears the chassis plate. Replace the large white pulley on the shaft. The stopper washers are then replaced as indicated in the article.

I have used this technique without incident on many Fisher VCRs and have found it to be efficient and time-saving. The entire procedure can be completed in 15 minutes.

-Steven Luzik Coraopolis, PA.