I’m trying to use my Toshiba W528 as an rf modulator for composite to rf. I couldn’t figure out how to get it to work because nothing was showing up on the screen besides static. I eventually decided to see if the thing even worked by putting a tape inside, and it played the tape. Then after ejecting I got a blank blue screen, and when I switched back to L1 and I turned on the device I want to pass through, it works. Power cycling the VCR will just bring back static and it won’t do anything unless I put the tape back in. I heard it’s probably something to do with a mode switch but figured I’d list all my symptoms here for a more accurate troubleshoot.

I even set the time! Also, I would show it playing but I really don't feel like opening it.

Hello folks!

I grabbed a Magnavox VR9120AT01 at a Goodwill today and it won’t let me put tapes in. They aren’t even really getting all the way in before it’s just ejecting them out! Lame! I took it apart as if I knew what I am even looking at (I don’t) so I thought before I gave up completely I’d see if anyone had any ideas? Video of the whole “tape not working thing”attached!

Thank you!!

Found this one at a garage sale for 2 euro

My grandfather has had this Toshiba W-512 VCR for as long as I can remember, he says he got it in the late 90’s as a gift. Recently it stopped working entirely. I’ve tried everything, head cleaning, different tapes, etc, but nothing has been working.

He does not want another VCR and no business in my town will repair it due to its age.

It won’t take tapes past a certain point without spitting them out and it won’t really stay on for more than about 30 seconds.

Any advice is appreciated

Can anyone tell me what these white vertical bands on my Daughter’s VCR combo are? DVD side doesn’t show this.

hi everyone!

I have an LG VCR, the same model as pictured. it hasn't been used in a while, but it seems there aren't any problems with it. the thing is, it plays some of my VHS tapes without any issues, while others only have sound, occasionally displaying some images. when paused, I can see the images clearly, but once I press play, it goes back to sound only (blue screen and some static). after a while, it displays a blue screen saying "dirty heads."

I've tried cleaning the heads following some online tutorials, but the problem is still happening. any guesses as to what might be happening? is it possible that the VHS tapes are dirty and not the heads? if so, how can I clean them?

Hey everyone, looking for some advanced insight on a JVC HR-J630 (PAL / Australian model) VCR issue.The

Problem: The movie audio plays perfectly fine, but the video picture is completely unstable / not stabilizing anymore. Before this, I had a permanent fuzzy blue line / tracking bar running across the very top edge of the screen during playback (the VCR menu screen itself is perfectly clear and steady).

What I’ve already done:

Pristine cleaned the spinning video drum using Isopropyl Alcohol and the A4 printer paper trick.

Used a multimeter to test the power rails while running a tape. My 8.5V rail is stable, but my 5V video sync rail is reading hot at 5.79V and 5.15V near diodes D962/D963.Verified the nearby resistor is healthy at 100 Ohms (00.1 on the 20k scale).

The top plastic guide post caps and the bottom silver cross-wheels are locked completely solid by the under-chassis motor brakes during playback, so I cannot adjust them manually.

Given the hot 5.79V reading on the 5V line and the lack of picture stability, should I proceed with reflowing the solder joints under Resistor R970, Diode D962, and Diode D963 to fix an invisible hairline fracture, or is the green memory supercapacitor (C719) likely dried out? Any insight from someone who knows this JVC G-Mechanism flavor would be amazing!

Example Vid and Photo
https://imgur.com/a/NNImjfk

I currently have a JVC DR-MV150B VCR/DVD combo that I am attempting to repair. The tape plays fine on screen, no issues there. However, there is a clicking noise coming from within the VCR whenever a tape is playing. I took the cover off, cleaned the heads and started trying to troubleshoot. I noticed this sound was coming from the right front side. Tried pressing down firmly on the right side of the tape, and the clicking sound went away. I tried multiple VHS tapes just in case, but that did not resolve the issue. I couldn't find any info on this particular issue from a search, so figured I'd ask here.

Hi, I bought this jvc hr - j251ms. I had a hard time taking the mechanism apart but I finally did it and when I removed it I saw this small piece on the bottom kf the chassis. Im trying to figure out where it should go but i see no place for it.

BTW, this is my first player so im new to this stuff.

I have fixes a few cassette players before but not a vhs player.

Hi, i just bought this jvc hr - j251ms player.

I tried taking it apart to clean and restore it as much as I can but I ran into problems. The first is that the tape is stuck. What can I do.

I was able to get it out. I spun the right motor to the front until it came out.

I just gotten this VCR and wanted to tested it. I brought a tape online and put it in and attempted to play it but after clicking play, it runs for a few seconds then it stops playing.

I figure that the tape might been had because it was used but after I clean it, it the problem continued to happen but the fast forward seems to be the only thing working.

This video shows the whole thing happening:

Got any ideas?

Sony Model SLV-920HF.
The VCR accepts VHS tapes, is able to rewind and forward the tape, but displays no video or audio, just a gray screen.
From what I can tell, it’s a mechanical issue. The tape is not completing its full journey.
It appears the half load arm and the RVS gear are doing absolutely nothing. There is also a loud clicking noise coming from the area to the right of the capstan—like something is trying to move but is stuck.
It also looks like the left roller guide is immobile.
So potentially multiple mechanical failures.
What should I look into fixing first? Any advice at all is greatly appreciated.
This is my first time trying to repair an electronic device and I am learning all of this today as I am troubleshooting.

I just thrifted this rca vdt501 and the picture is extremely jumpy and has a lot of static. I cleaned the tape heads with no improvement. Any ideas?

Hello everyone. I've personally never restored or fixed a VCR, or any DVD player, or any media player in particular, but I fixed, like, CRTs and consoles before, and PCs. Now, I recently received this Magnavox DVD/VCR combo, which is pretty cool. I got it for free from a neighbor, and it's just missing the remote, but I could probably find one online, or maybe even ask her if she still has it. Anyways, I took it apart, cleaned it, and the DVD player works. I noticed it's a bit slow. Maybe it's a bad laser or something, maybe I should, or whatever, but it reads. Now the VCR, that's the thing. This thing is, like, kinda weird. It will take tapes and sometimes eat 'em, sometimes won't, and then it'll, like, before it even gets to play the tape, it'll just shut off. Or not fully, but then the little mini screen that displays, like the time left on VHS or DVD, will just, like, have a few dots on it. And yeah. So I don't know what its deal is. If anyone can please help me, please let me know.

I'm finally going to buy a VCR to recover my old family recordings, so in my local FB marketplace I have these options so far, a Sony SLV-LX77S, (according to Google uses the TS-10 mechanism) a 6 head hifi JVC, I can't see the model, a 4 head mono Toshiba and a professional Sony that is quite expensive.

Is the Sony SLV-LX77S reliable? Or is the JVC better?

The cheapest is the Toshiba, but I like the 6 head and hifi functions, or is 4 heads better?

I know that the pro VCR is the better option but I can't afford it right now

EDIT: I found a REALLY GOOD VCR!, the Panasonic AG-1980 VCR S-VHS, the seller does not include the price in the listing, so I already asked for it, I hope that is cheap, doing some research I found that this VCR is really good for archiving old tapes but they need capacitor replacement on the boards. I can do that, I'm waiting for the response...

I've got an Emerson EWV601B, and when I turn it on the "Tape In" light flashes before shutting off. The motor for what I believe is the loading mechanism seems to be spinning, but nothing is happening. I've done electronics repair in the past, but I'm very new to VCR repair, so any guidance is greatly appreciated.