18-09-2025, 07:18 AM
Hi all.
I finally dragged my Pioneer Laser Disc Player out of storage and had a look at it. It was mostly all there in its original box, remote control, transit screws, and original remote control's batteries.
There were two PAL laser discs in the box that I could use to test the machine, 1. Vanishing Point. 2. Che. (Che Geuvara.) I had down loaded all the service data that I could find some time back but nothing real helpful.
Anyway, in for a penny, in for a pound. I had the machine, I had discs, and I had time. So.... I opened up the machine and to my horror, it became immediately obvious that there was no way to perform adjustments to the machine without Factory Jigs. I remember the servicing jig for the Philips Laser Disc Player, It was a concrete slab with four corner posts, onto which the Philips machine sat with its bottom cover removed and its two bottom boards swung down, the whole thing looking like a Lancaster Bomber with its bomb bay doors open.
The Pioneer appeared like wise. This thing could not be operated on any angle other than upright. I pondered putting the top cover on and trying to operate up-side-down but chickened out. The discs are big, thick, and heavy. And I did not want to see what would happen if the disc were to let go at eight hundred R.P.M.
I checked all that I could inside the machine to find that it was remarkably clean and that it looks to have never been played with. So, with nothing more to delay me, I put the bottom cover on, (essential to operate the machine) and tried to play a laser disc.
The R.F. output to the T.V. was about Ch. 36 No On-Screen-Display. Too early for Pioneer in 1983. Akai had O.S.D. from 1982. Buttons were pressed, lights came on, motors spun, sled assembly moved and servos hunted. The result? Drum roll please, “It tried to play.” With a bit of time an unstable picture would appear in black and white, sound and colour also coming on intermittently as the servos tried to lock.
My conclusion. I feel that there is nothing basically wrong with this machine other than to adjust the servos. I'm sure that if I were to study the three manuals I have for the machine, I could write myself an abridged version of only what is needed to adjust the servos. After all, it does not need EVERY control adjusted!
By the way. The sled assembly is a magnificent thing to behold. A laser tube, lenses, a die cast platform, and a prism?
Preview.
I am about to begin work on my National Video Cartridge Recorder,
NV 5120A I'm unable to find any service manuals for it. I like to have manuals for anything that I work on before I begin. Also needed, the once common place 8 pin connector, EIAJ-2 E8M. My machine does not have the optional R.F. Modulator. Maybe the modulator from the later V.H.S. machine NV-8600 will fit, but I doubt it.
Best wishes
Desmond.
I finally dragged my Pioneer Laser Disc Player out of storage and had a look at it. It was mostly all there in its original box, remote control, transit screws, and original remote control's batteries.
There were two PAL laser discs in the box that I could use to test the machine, 1. Vanishing Point. 2. Che. (Che Geuvara.) I had down loaded all the service data that I could find some time back but nothing real helpful.
Anyway, in for a penny, in for a pound. I had the machine, I had discs, and I had time. So.... I opened up the machine and to my horror, it became immediately obvious that there was no way to perform adjustments to the machine without Factory Jigs. I remember the servicing jig for the Philips Laser Disc Player, It was a concrete slab with four corner posts, onto which the Philips machine sat with its bottom cover removed and its two bottom boards swung down, the whole thing looking like a Lancaster Bomber with its bomb bay doors open.
The Pioneer appeared like wise. This thing could not be operated on any angle other than upright. I pondered putting the top cover on and trying to operate up-side-down but chickened out. The discs are big, thick, and heavy. And I did not want to see what would happen if the disc were to let go at eight hundred R.P.M.
I checked all that I could inside the machine to find that it was remarkably clean and that it looks to have never been played with. So, with nothing more to delay me, I put the bottom cover on, (essential to operate the machine) and tried to play a laser disc.
The R.F. output to the T.V. was about Ch. 36 No On-Screen-Display. Too early for Pioneer in 1983. Akai had O.S.D. from 1982. Buttons were pressed, lights came on, motors spun, sled assembly moved and servos hunted. The result? Drum roll please, “It tried to play.” With a bit of time an unstable picture would appear in black and white, sound and colour also coming on intermittently as the servos tried to lock.
My conclusion. I feel that there is nothing basically wrong with this machine other than to adjust the servos. I'm sure that if I were to study the three manuals I have for the machine, I could write myself an abridged version of only what is needed to adjust the servos. After all, it does not need EVERY control adjusted!
By the way. The sled assembly is a magnificent thing to behold. A laser tube, lenses, a die cast platform, and a prism?
Preview.
I am about to begin work on my National Video Cartridge Recorder,
NV 5120A I'm unable to find any service manuals for it. I like to have manuals for anything that I work on before I begin. Also needed, the once common place 8 pin connector, EIAJ-2 E8M. My machine does not have the optional R.F. Modulator. Maybe the modulator from the later V.H.S. machine NV-8600 will fit, but I doubt it.
Best wishes
Desmond.
