Help! I need to fix a snapped VHS tape - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

OH Nuts! · 05-19-2011, 03:51 PM

I was rewinding the cassette back and when I went to play it wouldn't - I discovered the tape broke off inside the spool. I unscrewed the cassette completely and lots of tiny stuff fell out. I tried to "transplant" the two spools into another cassette I "sacrified" but that didn't work. I am sick. The tape that broke had a TV movie on it I really want to dub to DVD. I can't find the movie anywhere. Is there any way to fix this?

I have a few other cassettes that I could sacrifice in order to splice or reconnect the tape to a decent working spool. Any ideas? I'd be really grateful. I really don't want to lose this tape!

(Perhaps my mistake was taking the damaged cassette apart.)

(I hope I NEVER EVER have to deal with VHS tape snafus again. Once everything is dubbed to DVD (

DVDs they're awesome), its good bye and good riddance to VHS!)

tiredmike59 · 05-19-2011, 04:01 PM

that has happened to me many times. you have to make sure the cassette you are transplanting is the exact same brand or type of the one that broke.
pay close attention to how it is put together, after you take all the screws out, turn tape over to the other side before opening it. do it real slow so the springs and clips dont fly out. touch as little of the tape with your fingers if you can avoid it. if all else fails, see if anyone else has that movie.

Zoneboy · 05-19-2011, 07:30 PM

What's the name of the movie that was on the tape?

OH Nuts! · 05-20-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

What's the name of the movie that was on the tape?

It was a TV movie with the Eight Is Enough cast - their first reunion movie. I'm so bummed out - I really wanted to transfer it to DVD. If push comes to shove, I'll look raound for a repair service. (This is why I hate VHS so much - when tapes break it always seems to be something you treasure. )

If you any advice on preserving the remains until I can fix it, I'd be really appreciatove. I was thinking of storing it in a plastic box. I may save fixing it till the end of all my dubbing.

Schmoopie · 05-23-2011, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH Nuts!

It was a TV movie with the Eight Is Enough cast - their first reunion movie. I'm so bummed out -

''
I remember seeing that and thinking how cute Nicholas was! Wow... that was a long time ago!
Sorry that happened to you. Man, that's frustrating and I can so relate. I had a tape of Days of Our Lives break on me once, and I was trying to copy a scene onto another tape. I ended up putting a piece of scotch tape over the broken area and then praying that it would play okay. Fortunately it played okay, and once I copied the part that I wanted, I just threw the broken tape away.

Hope you get it straightened out!

OH Nuts! · 05-24-2011, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

''
I remember seeing that and thinking how cute Nicholas was! Wow... that was a long time ago!
Sorry that happened to you. Man, that's frustrating and I can so relate. I had a tape of Days of Our Lives break on me once, and I was trying to copy a scene onto another tape. I ended up putting a piece of scotch tape over the broken area and then praying that it would play okay. Fortunately it played okay, and once I copied the part that I wanted, I just threw the broken tape away.

Hope you get it straightened out!

I hope I can get it fixed too. I have the two spools put away in a case and once I'm done transferring my other VHSs to DVD I'm going to come back to it. It looks like I'll only have 2 VHSs left out of my 105.It will be wonderful throwing/donating the whole lot out.

I do have the 2nd EIE movie ('90) but it wasn't as good as the first one. ('87)

MrCleveland · 05-25-2011, 03:03 PM

This happened to me once, I was using a tape rewinder and the tape snapped...I threw it away.

It had "30 Years of The Muppets" and "Circus of the Stars"...luckily, I found "30 Years of The Muppets" on YouTube just three months ago.

Family Ties Forever! · 05-26-2011, 02:33 AM

The spools sound like what are on cassette tapes. Are those called the same thing?

05-19-2011, 03:51 PM	#1
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Help! I need to fix a snapped VHS tape I was rewinding the cassette back and when I went to play it wouldn't - I discovered the tape broke off inside the spool. I unscrewed the cassette completely and lots of tiny stuff fell out. I tried to "transplant" the two spools into another cassette I "sacrified" but that didn't work. I am sick. The tape that broke had a TV movie on it I really want to dub to DVD. I can't find the movie anywhere. Is there any way to fix this? I have a few other cassettes that I could sacrifice in order to splice or reconnect the tape to a decent working spool. Any ideas? I'd be really grateful. I really don't want to lose this tape! (Perhaps my mistake was taking the damaged cassette apart.) (I hope I NEVER EVER have to deal with VHS tape snafus again. Once everything is dubbed to DVD ( DVDs they're awesome), its good bye and good riddance to VHS!)

05-19-2011, 07:30 PM	#3
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,366	What's the name of the movie that was on the tape?
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05-25-2011, 03:03 PM	#7
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,222	This happened to me once, I was using a tape rewinder and the tape snapped...I threw it away. It had "30 Years of The Muppets" and "Circus of the Stars"...luckily, I found "30 Years of The Muppets" on YouTube just three months ago.
	__________________ Thank God for kids that love Obscure Things. Lee Hazlewood (1929-2007) You ARE Special to God! Rev. Ernest Angely (August 1921-May 2021)

05-19-2011, 04:01 PM	#2
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	that has happened to me many times. you have to make sure the cassette you are transplanting is the exact same brand or type of the one that broke. pay close attention to how it is put together, after you take all the screws out, turn tape over to the other side before opening it. do it real slow so the springs and clips dont fly out. touch as little of the tape with your fingers if you can avoid it. if all else fails, see if anyone else has that movie.

05-26-2011, 02:33 AM	#8
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	The spools sound like what are on cassette tapes. Are those called the same thing?