Video prob

betterlatethannever

Hi,
I've just tried to eject a tape from my VCR and it won't. Nothing happens and the recorder then switches it self off.
Is that it, have i lost the tape and is the VCR broke? or is there a way of, at least, retriving the tape without harming the tape or the recorder?
Thanks for any help

ABH_3

Pssst: Include the Make and Model number, someone might know something.

If the 'cage' that holds the tape is operated by a cog, then you could try removing the outer shell, then simply applying some pressure to one of the cogs and the cage should move forwards. Watch your fingers, as you don't want to trap anything. Lasttime this happened to me some years ago admittedly, I used a wooden 'fork' from a chip shop to apply the pressure to the cog and out popped the tape.

HTH

FallingDownMan

In my experience, this usually means either a drive band has snapped or come off its rollers (in which case the tape is probably OK) or the tape has got wrapped round the capstan (tape probably damaged).

You can get them out, but it often means removing the main circuit board, so unless you know what you're doing you may want to take it into a repair shop.

It's not the kind of thing you can easily talk someone through via a forum because they're all different and often quite obscure

The cost of repair is such that buying a new tape recorder is most likely going to be cheapest (Tesco do them for £32, but a repair shop could easily charge that just to look at it).

marleyboy

It sounds like the tape is jammed in the VCR, how I used to do it was to unscrew the case and slide it off, you should see the tape with the flap up and the tape either jammed around the head of the VCR or the feeding pin, to save the tape try to carefully raise the tape off the head or pin releasing it and then try to manually move the the eject mechanism (as if it was ejecting the tape), it spits the tape out via cogs which hold the tape into place.

If the tape is chewed, snapped or twisted around the head or pins, it means the tape is history, in which case you will see it and have to pull the tape out from where its fed before ejection (which should save the VCR).

Its difficult to explain, but once the case (lid) is off, you should see it is pretty simple to do. I hope you havent lost the tape, but I dont think you have lost the VCR as once the tape is out, it should function normally. good luck

betterlatethannever

Thank you for the replies, looks like all is lost! will have a go at taking the tape out tomorrow though.
If it helps its an old Bush VCR model vcr818vp.
Really helpful advice, thanks

Donnie

FallingDownMan wrote: »

In my experience, this usually means either a drive band has snapped or come off its rollers (in which case the tape is probably OK) or the tape has got wrapped round the capstan (tape probably damaged).

You can get them out, but it often means removing the main circuit board, so unless you know what you're doing you may want to take it into a repair shop.

It's not the kind of thing you can easily talk someone through via a forum because they're all different and often quite obscure

The cost of repair is such that buying a new tape recorder is most likely going to be cheapest (Tesco do them for £32, but a repair shop could easily charge that just to look at it).

Removing the main circuit board? What on earth....?

It's generally just a matter of removing the outer cover, as suggested.

You never cease to remind us of the fact that you used to work for PC World.

FallingDownMan

Donnie, butt out if you don't know what you're talking about (and we know how often that is). You are one sad little specimen, aren't you

I can tell you from absolute and definite experience that ON SOME MODELS you have to undo the circuit board and lift it off before you can get anywhere near the drive bands. The OP needs to be aware of such details before wading in with both feet. I've repaired them before and - unlike you (yet again) - I KNOW.

All right :rolleyes:

And I can't believe the OP actually thanked you for that pointless, useless (as usual), and moronic response.

Donnie

You can get them out, but it often means removing the main circuit board, so unless you know what you're doing you may want to take it into a repair shop.

Often? I have never had to remove a circuit board to free a stuck videotape.

My brother used to have a successful video duplication business. So I've seen the insides of a few, at least.

I think the OP will know soon enough as to whether there was a circuit board to remove.
So your suggestion that he take it to a repairman and indeed buy a new one, before he's even had a chance to take a look inside, is so typical of your ilk.

You've already proved yourself lacking in knowledge, even about the company for whom you worked. PC World.
The more you post, the less respect you command on the board. PC Worm.

FallingDownMan

Yes, donnie is the one who resorted to calling me an idiot (along with other posters who presumably were reciprocating any 'support' they may have received from him) in a recent thread about PC World. All thanking each other for saying it, if I remember.

He was also probably the one who hypocritically reported my last post, which has been removed, explaining a few things to him.

He has a habit of trying to contradict others over pointless issues - presumably to make himself look better. He's doing it for no apparent reason to ABH in another thread. And there was no reason for him to butt in on this thread as his input was completely negative and intended to contradict. I suspect he knows that.

The last thing we'd want on here is a noxious little clique, isn't it?

Fact: some VCRs have circuit boards mounted component side down over the mechanical assembly and to get at the capstan and drive wheels you have to unscrew it and lift it off. It is possible that a jammed tape might need such board removal to get it out. They don't all pop out just by poking a screwdriver into them, especially when the drive belt is off.

Donnie

First you wrote often, now you write 'some'.

You were all but telling the OP to throw his machine away and to purchase a new one before he even had a chance to look inside.

On the other thread, you were insisting that you were right and that every else was wrong. Considering that you worked for that company and you still got it wrong, I would have to conclude that you are an idiot.

The only posts that I report on this forum are Spam.

I'm happy for your posts to stay, as they are an excellent illustration as to your personality and the standard of service that you gave at PC World.
They must have sacked you, for all of the negative publicity you are giving to them.
Carry on.

PS. There is a big difference between the harmless banter between ABH and myself and your poor advice and pathetic attempts at abuse.

Clique? Probably just a growing group of people agreeing, independently, that there is something not quite right about you.

Donnie

I won't, on the other hand, resort to simple name calling or contradiction without providing information along with it.

I think you are lacking certain skills of comprehension.

That is exactly what you did on the other thread.


Yes, you are right, you should have chosen your words. If advising on technical matters, it's important.

You were and are wrong about Capita being DSGi Tech support. They are a Customer Contact Centre.
So your inside information counts for nothing.

I don't think that you'll find ABH complaining. It was friendly banter with no abuse on either side.

Your posts consist of the same old line..."Play the game by DSGi rules and you will win....blah, blah, blah"... Useless.

I'm certainly not implying that you're an idiot. Ya big girl's blouse.