Fixing a broken VHS tape? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BrownEyedGirl523 · 08-30-2006, 05:03 PM

This isn't directly trading related, but I recently borrowed a tape of my brother's friend's dad with recordings from the 80s. I copied it to DVD, but the tape was wearing so thin at the beginning that it broke, and now it's separated from the reel thing (I'm not very technical, LOL). I've already copied it to its entirety on DVD, so I could always just copy that, but I think he wants the original tape back. I know I've read somewhere that you can open the video and cut away the broken part and fix it somehow, but I don't know exactly how. Has anyone ever had this happen, or would know how to fix it? Do you have to have technical expertise? Please let me know if you can help at all. Thanks!

wew3 · 08-30-2006, 05:41 PM

You could take out the five screws from the back, then put tape top side up so the pieces inside don't fall out and scotch tape the tape(that sounds redundant) to the reel and then put the screws back on. It's kinda delicate. I know that a vcr repair shop probably can do it. I think they might even sell kits for this specific purpose.

T-Greg · 08-30-2006, 05:47 PM

Like the previous poster stated, there are delicate pieces inside, rollers, springs, etc. One thing you can do is take a new tape and experiment taking the back off (slowly), so you can see how things are supposed to line up, especially the tape guided correctly around the rollers. Then, just duplicate that with the broken tape, but don't touch any part of the tape itself, or it will erase that portion. The easier alternative is just to dub the DVD back onto a new VHS tape.

BrownEyedGirl523 · 08-30-2006, 06:19 PM

Cool, thanks for the advice. I think I will just copy back to a VHS tape, because I did a little more research about fixing tapes, and apparently it's not a good idea to replay a broken tape even after it's fixed, unless to make a copy, because the splicing or something can ruin the heads of the VCR. Thanks for the help!

Hazel Anyday · 08-30-2006, 06:53 PM

For years I thought that you couldn't open a VHS tape and fix it. Well, after years of never having to do so I finally did a year or so ago. But my tape wasn't broken, the tape plastic container was broken, so I carefully opened up the broken case and removed the tape remembering where all the springs and threading should be. THen I put the tape into a new unbroken shell, actually it was a new tape that I took the tape out of so I could use just the good shell for my recorded tape. Anyway, it took patience and careful fingers but it is possible to move tapes from one shell to another. I also later once had to splice a tape, using scissors and regular tape to hold it together. It does ruin the show and it's best to not use that part of the tape that's damaged. But if for instance you have 4 shows on one tape and you have to splice it in one section of the tape, at least you will have rescued 3 of the 5 shows by splicing the tape together again and making it usable in the VCR. Tricky stuff though and a spliced show is a ruined show.

But not a ruined tape.

three 14 · 08-30-2006, 07:21 PM

why not just take the dvd and copy it onto a new vhs tape.

Corona Extra · 08-30-2006, 07:41 PM

VCR Repair, Troubleshooting

http://zeus.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/vcr.htm

and this used to be the VHS Tape Repair Guide, but the link seems to not be working (anymore) for me.

http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/bwross/tape_rep.html

I've long since mastered it, so I don't know if that site will return or even when it disappeared. I'd imagine there's something similar out there somewhere.

stoogedog · 08-30-2006, 08:03 PM

hi, i have a videotape that is a how-to guide for fixing videotapes. it is very good and easy to follow. if anyone would be interested, you can email me or pm me. i can transfer to vhs tape or dvd. thanks

08-30-2006, 05:03 PM	#1
BrownEyedGirl523 Dominic Zamprogna Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: May 29, 2004 Posts: 118	Fixing a broken VHS tape? This isn't directly trading related, but I recently borrowed a tape of my brother's friend's dad with recordings from the 80s. I copied it to DVD, but the tape was wearing so thin at the beginning that it broke, and now it's separated from the reel thing (I'm not very technical, LOL). I've already copied it to its entirety on DVD, so I could always just copy that, but I think he wants the original tape back. I know I've read somewhere that you can open the video and cut away the broken part and fix it somehow, but I don't know exactly how. Has anyone ever had this happen, or would know how to fix it? Do you have to have technical expertise? Please let me know if you can help at all. Thanks!

08-30-2006, 06:53 PM	#5
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	It's possible For years I thought that you couldn't open a VHS tape and fix it. Well, after years of never having to do so I finally did a year or so ago. But my tape wasn't broken, the tape plastic container was broken, so I carefully opened up the broken case and removed the tape remembering where all the springs and threading should be. THen I put the tape into a new unbroken shell, actually it was a new tape that I took the tape out of so I could use just the good shell for my recorded tape. Anyway, it took patience and careful fingers but it is possible to move tapes from one shell to another. I also later once had to splice a tape, using scissors and regular tape to hold it together. It does ruin the show and it's best to not use that part of the tape that's damaged. But if for instance you have 4 shows on one tape and you have to splice it in one section of the tape, at least you will have rescued 3 of the 5 shows by splicing the tape together again and making it usable in the VCR. Tricky stuff though and a spliced show is a ruined show. But not a ruined tape.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

08-30-2006, 07:21 PM	#6
three 14 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 20, 2006 Posts: 428	vhs why not just take the dvd and copy it onto a new vhs tape.

08-30-2006, 07:41 PM	#7
Corona Extra Beyond Extraordinary Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 16, 2006 Location: Mi Posts: 43	VCR Repair, Troubleshooting http://zeus.eed.usv.ro/misc/mirrors/cc/vcr.htm and this used to be the VHS Tape Repair Guide, but the link seems to not be working (anymore) for me. http://www.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/u/bwross/tape_rep.html I've long since mastered it, so I don't know if that site will return or even when it disappeared. I'd imagine there's something similar out there somewhere.
	__________________ If you trade wrestling please PM Me. Current Wants - Lacuna Coil on Kimmel Various Survivor Episodes American Idol Season 5 - 5/2/06 Top 5 Perform, The first 15 Min of 4/4/06 and 4/26/06, And the first 8 Minutes of the Finale Current Favorites - 1991 NCAA Hockey Triple Overtime Championship Game 1980 USA Mircale on Ice Vs. Russia and Finland (My Original Recordings - Medal games were full complete replays in 1981)

08-30-2006, 08:03 PM	#8
stoogedog Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 18, 2003 Posts: 747	reply hi, i have a videotape that is a how-to guide for fixing videotapes. it is very good and easy to follow. if anyone would be interested, you can email me or pm me. i can transfer to vhs tape or dvd. thanks

08-30-2006, 05:41 PM	#2
wew3 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 03, 2003 Posts: 166	You could take out the five screws from the back, then put tape top side up so the pieces inside don't fall out and scotch tape the tape(that sounds redundant) to the reel and then put the screws back on. It's kinda delicate. I know that a vcr repair shop probably can do it. I think they might even sell kits for this specific purpose.

08-30-2006, 05:47 PM	#3
T-Greg Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 17, 2003 Location: Louisiana Posts: 1,711	Like the previous poster stated, there are delicate pieces inside, rollers, springs, etc. One thing you can do is take a new tape and experiment taking the back off (slowly), so you can see how things are supposed to line up, especially the tape guided correctly around the rollers. Then, just duplicate that with the broken tape, but don't touch any part of the tape itself, or it will erase that portion. The easier alternative is just to dub the DVD back onto a new VHS tape.

08-30-2006, 06:19 PM	#4
BrownEyedGirl523 Dominic Zamprogna Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: May 29, 2004 Posts: 118	Cool, thanks for the advice. I think I will just copy back to a VHS tape, because I did a little more research about fixing tapes, and apparently it's not a good idea to replay a broken tape even after it's fixed, unless to make a copy, because the splicing or something can ruin the heads of the VCR. Thanks for the help!