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Flywheel Sync, Video Flagwaving
My own recordings play back ok, but others recordings playback but the top of the picture is distorted to one side, pulling

This sounds like a line flywheel fault.
you know that one channel on most sets is reserved for video,
well the only difference between that channel and the other buttons is that the line flywheel sync time constant is increased.
This is so that if a sync pulse is missing from the video signal, the line speed isn't altered.
When you play back your own recordings , the capstan motor and the drum motors are going exactly the same speed as when recorded , by those same motors, so sync pulses are on perfect time, but those tapes recorded on another player are at that motors natural speed, which although very much the same speed, its not perfect.
This means the sync pulses are different, and even with autotracking (which alters the capstan motor speed) there will be differences. So you will need to check and alter the line hold preset on your TV and check the line flywheel time constant components. Also check the autotracking on your video.

I usually check the line hold control on a warm TV by pulling the aerial out a bit till its a snowy pic , and only just holding sync, then adjust the hold control preset whilst changing channels, to get the best line hold lock.

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