Well, after almost 2 1/2 years of near non-stop service, my RCA VCR is starting to throw in the towel. It started a few weeks ago when a TDK Revue tape got jammed. When I finally managed to get it out, there was a long strand of chewed up tape that came out with it. While we've gently tried to still use it, and it still records and plays OK, whenever I eject a tape, it has the same problem, it's not winding it before ejecting it, making for easy damage to the tape. My question is, does anyone here recommend VCR repair or is there an easy way for me to fix this myself? The attitude today seems to be "they're cheap so when they break down just get a new one" but I have loads of tapes that I recorded with this VCR and it's just never the same watching them on a different machine, ya know? I am pretty handy with stuff like that so it would probably be no problem, so if anyone could recommend a book or some way to fix this, I'd appreciate it! :(

Hmmm, if that were me I'd just be buying a new VCR. It's not worth risking putting those tapes in and end up having them chewed up. Then you would be out your tape as well.

I dont know what to recommend about repair. Look in your phone book and see if you can come up with Electronics Repair.

Yeah, it goes without saying that I haven't been using the VCR since it's been having problems. But, like I said tapes are always better on the machine's they came from. Plain and simple. And I mean I have a LOT of material that was recorded on this VCR. All of Kate & Allie, tons of ALF, Bob Newhart, etc...not to mention all the other stuff I record...and I know that repair will probably cost more than the VCR itself did, so I'll probably just be looking for a "VCR Repair for Dummies" book at the library or something...

Oh I just thought... does anyone know if one of those wet VHS head cleaners would help at all? Seems like I read somewhere that a cause of tapes being chewed could be dirty heads or tape path...? I'd much rather go spend a few bucks on one of those than have it repaired, where they'd probably just do the same thing...

Originally posted by bb25
Oh I just thought... does anyone know if one of those wet VHS head cleaners would help at all? Seems like I read somewhere that a cause of tapes being chewed could be dirty heads or tape path...? I'd much rather go spend a few bucks on one of those than have it repaired, where they'd probably just do the same thing...

Do they even make the wet ones still? I use a tape cleaning tape that I bought for something like $10 - it works fine I think.

i always preferred to remove the top and use a q-tip to clean everything. if you got webferret or another search engine, type in vcr repair. i found a site a while ago that had trouble shooting and how to's.... was a great site. if i find it i will post the link. good luck.

Yes, they still sell the wet ones. And they are Maxell & TDK brand actually...this VCR does actually have an auto head cleaner, but I assume by now the brush is pretty dirty and the whole tape path could use a cleaning. I think I might try one...

I do VCR repair. If interested visit the Treasure Chest. Those tape cleaners do work but only does half the job you have to get inside to do it right.

http://secretdefender.sifen7.com

Well I went to the store last night to buy one and it was $11.99!! Now I'm not Fred Mertz or anything but I didn't want to spring that much for something that's not guaranteed to help it. They did have a cheaper TDK version, but of course it was sold out. But there's some good news...I ejected the tape that was in it last night and it came out fine with no tangled mess trailing the tape. So maybe it was just a flukey thing? Not sure...but I may still try to clean it...thanks for the link!