JVC BR-S605U SVHS Professional Editing VCR - No Workie, I Fixie?

Today, I'm fighting with an SVHS VCR I probably should have thought twice about buying, a JVC BR-S605U. I have no service info, no owner's manual, no sanity, and no love whatsoever for fixing VCRs. This'll be fun, right? No, probably not.
Japanese user manual available here: www32.jvckenwood.com/jvc/syst...
Idler tire used: PRB ST1.211 (1.211" x 0.120" CS x 0.160" wall) - slightly too large in outer diameter, must be modified to work. This appears to be the transport from the HR-S8000U, so this idler should be adaptable to that model as well.
Facebook: / theweatherwolf
Insta: / oklawolf
Camera gear I use:
Nikon D800, Nikon Z50, iPhone XS Max & 13 Pro Max, DJI Action 3, Autel Evo Nano+, Autel Evo Lite+, DJI Mini 3 Pro
Music:
猫 シ Corp. & Stereo Component - オリーブコーラ Late Night Drive ➾➾➾

[@Oklawolf]

For anyone interested, once I was able to translate the manual I've discovered this machine has about 3300 hours of power on time and 1500 hours on the drum. It's been well used, but not used up.

[@3dsmaxrocks699]

A VCR with VU meters. Didn't know they existed!
Also I am wrestling with the idea of buying a older Tascam 244 Multitrack because:
1: They look cool and it's a break from from my PC DAW
2: It'll be fun to refurbish and calibrate
3: I couldn't afford one back when they were first made LOL (although they ain't cheap now either...even ones that are beat up)
It would probably collect dust afterwards though. LOL

[@eleanorschrag4759]

Well at least your fingernail matches your screwdriver in colour 😂 good luck on this one!

[@asbcustom]

A green fingernail? You Canadians sure are a hoot, aye ...

[@bobsbits5357]

hi got to say you get the same with black face adat units i had to do work arounds like you had to got my adat working
it's a lotto wen you buy gear

[@bobsbits5357]

sorry betacam liner can out do this i have the same deck nice to have big time all them button's