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General discussion

Sony Handycam DCR-TRV260 Playback Problem

Oct 7, 2006 1:20PM PDT

I have a Sony Handycam DCR-TRV260 camcorder (approx 2 years old) that has developed a problem during playback. When the tape is played back, the picture (and audio) is herky-jerky (pauses for a micro second). The glitch is consistent. I have tried cleaning the heads (cleaning tape) but to no avail.

Any ideas what might be causing this problem?

Discussion is locked

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Peter
Mar 10, 2010 8:32AM PST

You need to adjust the pullys I think tey are loose and tigtnem this is sony history problem.

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HOLY CRAP BALLS IN A HAMSTER SACK
Mar 15, 2011 12:22PM PDT

Hitting my camcorder worked for me too!

i tried everything including a head cleaner but a couple of taps on the base of the tape door. And presto!!

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Sony Handycam DCR-TRV260 playback possible solution
Jan 1, 2013 2:19AM PST

I have been reading all the posts on this handycam issues and possible repairs to similar problems I have been experiencing. I appreciate all everyone has posted and continued on the quest to solve my playback issues. Smacking it did not work however I found a youtube posting that did fix my problem. Here it is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUIN-ygjN_g I found just using forceps and squeezing the roller down on it' s spindle not only solved my playback issue but it resolved a digital blocking playback issue which I believe occurs during recording from the tape slipping as well. I new my problems were somehow related to tape advancement through the machine but never realized this roller was a drive roller on a spindle. Apparently it can slip off its' spindle or get worn out and slip. Such a simple issue to resolve and has plagued this machine forcing me to send in for repair twice since i' ve owned it. Now maybe you can put an end to your misery as well.

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Sony Handycam DCR-TRV120 playback
Jan 24, 2013 3:42AM PST

Dear All,
Thank you very much for all of your helpful comments, tips, and updates.
I was having the following playback issues with the Sony Handycam DCR-TRV120 with Digital8 tapes (VideoHi8/Digital 8 mm tapes)
1. Some tapes would play for a few seconds and the go fuzzy followed by a blue screen with just the "Play arrow" showing.
2. Some tapes would not play at all and only the blue screen with the "Play arrow" showing.
3. Some tapes would show an image for a second and then back to the blue screen with the "Play arrow" showing.

I fixed the problem by doing the following:
1. Used a TDK Head Cleaner Cassette for 8 mm camcorders. I had to run the whole head cleaner cassette through as this showed some improvement with each 10 second use in the Record SP Mode using the head cleaner cassette.
2. Finally I used the Dust Destroyer Compressed Gas Duster with 5 bursts of 10 seconds each. I was careful to make sure that I hit every roller and the play head and made sure that the play head spun so that I could hit every part of the circular surface.
Be careful when using this because when the compressed gas canister get cold, it will start to spray moist air which will cause a "Dew/Moisture" problem with the camcorder.
After Steps 1 and 2 the camcorder played all tapes.

I watched the You Tube video for the Roller Solution with the spindle, but I checked my roller and it was fine with no issues such as rising, becoming loose, or misalignment.

I also tried the "Hitting Method" on all of the spots listed above with about 15 hits of hard, medium, and soft hits. None of the hits worked.

This seems to be an issue caused by the normal accumulation of dust, dirt, and metal oxides from playing and using tapes.

I love this Sony Handycam DCR-TRV120, we have over 100 Digital8 tapes recorded with family memories over 18 years, and it is way too expensive to try to get these coverted to DVDs.

We also have a Canon Digital Camcorder too that we use for videotaping our children's sporting events but we have to download these videos to an external hard drive.

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If at first you don't succeed, hit it! TRV460
Mar 15, 2013 5:44AM PDT

Was devastated yesterday when my tapes wouldn't play. They were grainy with lots of horizontal streaks. Tapes from 20 years ago, kid's birth, etc. I checked tapes from 10 years ago and they worked ok.

Went to a video transfer place and it looked fine on their machine, so it was obviously the camera. Head cleaner made no difference.

Then I found this thread, gave it a whack, and now it works! I had to tap mine on the top of the camera.
I have a Sony TRV460.

Thank you, posters.
Thank you Internet!

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whacka Sony
Nov 3, 2013 7:34AM PST

OMG, I just tapped iton the top and the tapes plays beautifully now. THANKS SO MUCH.

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Sony Camera
Feb 6, 2014 9:14AM PST

I tried everything as well to no avail. Then I gave the camera a smack. Just like every other piece of electronics that start to malfunction. Guess what, it worked. Start playing the tape and give it a little smack on the side and the problem might very well be solved.

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Thank You!
Jul 21, 2015 2:19PM PDT

I have made a movie and have it recorded on my TRV460. I nearly had a heart attack when I tried to play it back and it kept pausing every few micro seconds. I used the cleaning tape several times to no avail. Thanks to HeAry's remark about removing the battery and taking out the cassette, as well as keyhano's remark about hitting it, it's now fixed! Thank You so so much!

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A Firm Schlap
Sep 4, 2015 2:21AM PDT

It works !!! our vt department spent 3 day cleaning heads, checking the tapes wern't shedding etc... then we found this forum ... a firm Sean Connery Schlap on top with the flat of the hand was all it took to return the picture to pristine condition, Thank you so much for posting!

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8mm Camcorder not playing tapes
Oct 25, 2015 8:51AM PDT

Many happy responses to the "whack" remedy.
I tried it, softly at first, not a perfect result and so I hit my camcorder a little harder and the picture gets worse. So I stated to knock gently on the tape door, I knocked at one end and gently knocked while I moved to the opposite end and it worked for me. When I knock on the one end it plays correctly. When I knock on the opposite side it goes off track.
Result: I don't know a lot about the details of a camcorder but I do know machines that roll paper into product and the tape player depends on many rollers to process the tape. The alignment and tension are critical factors and I believe this knocking along the tape door sort of places the tape back into alignment with the rollers. I'm guessing the sound track must also need alignment because until the tape tracks correctly the audio does not play.

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Sony Handycam DCR-TRV260 Playback Problem
Oct 26, 2015 9:56PM PDT

I have the same problem with my Sony DCR-HC42NTSC. I read that if you disconnect the battery for a while, then reconnect it after a day or so, it sometimes fixes it. It did for a while. Then it started again. I've never cleaned the heads so I guess I should. Anyone ever find the answer?

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The answer is not one answer but many.
Oct 26, 2015 10:15PM PDT

There are now about a dozen good answers. Try the ones you feel comfortable with first.