Playback is poor quality, tracking wont fix it and have cleaned head

Dear Iain, Do you route your Cable / Antenna through your VCR's Inputs (at rear) ? If yes, Do you find that the video of these cable /antenna channels is good? If the answer is yes again,then, in all likelihood, you are having a machine with dirty Video Heads.Did you use a 'Wet' Type Head cleaning cassette? If no, then I suggest you get one and use it. Again it is entirely possible that the Video Heads are worn out. How old is the VCR? How many tapes have you played back on it? Do you observe some black streaking along the edges of the images on the screen, which increase or decrease when u change the tracking? If yes, then it is time to get the Video Heads replaced.In India they would cost an equivalent of US$ 10-15. I do not know how much they would cost in your country, but it cannot be much more.

CLEAN THE HEAD WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL

These vcrs are notorious for capacitor failures on the video I/O and video YC boards. I have rebuilt several dozen of these decks, so I speak from experience. Typical repair involves replacement of ALL capacitors on these boards, occasionally needing replacement of caps on the TBC boards. Video head failure is a possibility, but I would bet on the caps.