Anybody savvy about ailing VCRs?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I know, I know, they're so twentieth century, but I still use mine to record things off the air and view them later.

Anyway, when I tried to watch a tape that was in connection with a job today (I was supposed to mark the places in the manuscript that corresponded to the accompanying video tape), I was unable to do so. A couple of days ago, I had recorded a program while I was out of the house, and the tape was stuck in there.

I mean stuck.

When I turn on the power, the mechanism goes "whir-rattle-whir," but when I press "stop" or "eject" or anything else, the power goes off.

I'm assuming that the machine is dead, but I'd still like to get the tape out.

On a computer, there's a little hole next to the CD-ROM slot that you can poke with a bent paperclip to eject a stubborn CD. Is there anything comparable to that on a VCR, or will I just have to take the tape to the county's electronics recycling center along with the VCR?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give--aside from dump the VCR and get a TiVo. (Actually, I'd like to get a cheapo VCR to replace it, because I still have some videotapes I haven't watched yet.) :-(

[BigMcLargehuge]

1. Sometimes you can hold the eject button down while you try to power up

I had the same problem and it was the only thing that worked...

word of advice though, get a new VCR. Once it does that it's usually toast.

[AntiCoup2K4]

2. With most VCR's you can take the case off by removing a few screws

it should be easy to remove the tape then. If you're lucky, it won't have been completely eaten, just wrapped around the heads.

[ogradda]

3. unplug it for a while, then plug it back in - at least 15 minutes.

that's what works for me. when i turn it back on i can eject the tape.

[prairierose]

4. the easiest way to deal with it.....

is to unplug it & take it to the table. Look at the case for screws that hold the top on. Take those screws out & lift off the top. Carefully look inside for what is hanging up the tape. You should be able to see & remove the tape. You will probably have to lift the tape over levers. Chances are that it now has wrinkles but would still work.

The most likely problem is that the heads need cleaning & the belts probably need adjusting. If there is a good local dealer that does repair work, call & see what it costs to have it cleaned & the belts adjusted. I have one that needs this but recently my dealer has raised their price to the point where it is cheaper to go buy a new one than to get this one fixed even though there is not much wrong with it.

Good luck!

[4morewars]

5. Sounds like the cassette carriage is no workee workee

If your lucky it just jumped a gear, but there are several other things that could be causing it; a bad power supply, bad or disconnected sensor, foreign object (cassette label, grilled cheese, etc)

Take the cover off and try to cycle it by hand, of course you will unplug it first, right ? Chances are it's the first item and you can gently re align the gears.

If it's something else, i think it's easier to just get a new one. I'd guess you could do that for like 50 bucks. Maybe less at a pawn shop.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. Thanks everybody!

I'll try these suggestions tomorrow!