Video stuck in TV/VCR combo

I have a year old phillips tv/vcr combo and the tape is stuck. Can anyone help me out and tell me a way to get it out. Thanks. Kevin

 

I know this is asking a lot but would you give us a model number of the set involved. Only Big Mike is psychic.


Smokey

 

Of the model those are a real SOB to get into. After you get the case off and expose the VCR there will be metal shielding that will have to come off. The VCR should slide out of the back of the unit, after you get shielding etc off look to the rear right hand corner, you will see the loading motor, turning the shaft/pulley/gear box counter clockwise should start unloading the tape. As you re-assemble the unit, make sure no wires are crimped, the shielding is back in right and as you slide it in, watch the door on the front that it is in the up or open position or you will have to slide the VCR back out after you get the case back on. Watch where you put your fingers, across certain areas even after the set has been off that will make you dance and pee your pants if you get across the high voltage areas. To be honest your best bet on something like this unless you have some knowledge of these combo sets is to take it in for repair. They are difficult to work on and quite frustrating if it was made right…

 

Does all the above info apply to ALL VCR's? Mine is just a VCR (not combo). Can't give a model number but if it helps it came from JC Penney's and has to be the oldest VCR still in use (up until Saturday when it passed away with my daughter's favorite video inside).

 

No yours is completely different but in some ways much more difficult to work on. Most likely what you need to do is belts and cleaning. If you will look under my handle in “Tips and Tricks” here on the forums I have posted detailed instructions on how to clean your VCR like a pro would do. The belts however are a different story. If you take the “Can” or top off the VCR you should be able to look to the right with the (door facing you) next to the large basket that holds the tape and see a shaft that runs towards the rear of the VCR to a belt or maybe a motor. This is the loading motor and most likely will be clutch connected to the belt/motor. By turn this shaft counter clockwise this will eject the tape. Careful because this will not unload the take-up posts etc just the tape so don’t break the tape. Now comes the fun part. Take the bottom off the unit, should be about 5 to 6 brass looking screws and a screen like cover will come off. Do you see the belt mechanism or a component board in two large pieces covering the entire bottom? If you see the large two piece board this is going to get not so much complicated but intense in taking it apart. You will only want to take it apart enough to reach in with hemostats if you have them to get to the belts to replace them. It’s a real bummer to do and you will need to watch out for plugs coming undone etc. You know what I am going to say next don’t you? $69 at Best Buy or Wally World will replace it. Of course the one you have is probably much better quality so it’s up to you. If you have patience and are good with your hands you can repair this but it will be a bugger. Now if it doesn’t have the old split board it will be easy to do and you can find the belts at http://www.tritronicsinc.com/aboutus.html by model number. Don’t forget to replace the pinch roller (black rubber about 3/4” tall) that actually pulls the tape along and the idler assembly between the two supply reels (looks like a tire on a wheel). You may have to pull the capstan motor to get the idler out, three screws and watch the wires. Back in the day these were very expensive units and costly to repair.

 

I'm not interested in repairing it. It doesn't come on when you hit the power switch so I replaced it this week-end. I just wanted to get her video out!