Comments on: How-to: Repair a VHS tape http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/ Get the most out of your gadgets! Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:05:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Cathy http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2378 Cathy Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:12:13 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2378 I bought a tape of "The Snowman" for about two bucks at Goodwill. It was stuck. I opened a second tape to use as a guide, being careful to use JC franke's suggestion about flipping the tape over after removing the screws. So, I could see where they are all supposed to go. I put the tape back together and it is not stuck anymore. Thanks for posting this How-To! I bought a tape of “The Snowman” for about two bucks at Goodwill. It was stuck.

I opened a second tape to use as a guide, being careful to use JC franke’s suggestion about flipping the tape over after removing the screws. So, I could see where they are all supposed to go.

I put the tape back together and it is not stuck anymore. Thanks for posting this How-To!

]]> By: Chris Duckworth http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2328 Chris Duckworth Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:26:45 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2328 Hi Irv, it might be a security screw. You could head out to an electronics store and find a matching driver head, or you could break the current case and transfer it to another case with normal screws. It is all guesses though. I haven't come across this problem, nor tried to transfer a tape myself. Hi Irv, it might be a security screw. You could head out to an electronics store and find a matching driver head, or you could break the current case and transfer it to another case with normal screws. It is all guesses though. I haven’t come across this problem, nor tried to transfer a tape myself.

]]> By: Irv http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2308 Irv Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:54:36 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2308 Hi Chris, I have a VDR tape that doesen't want to play. I put in the VCR,hit play, It acts like it starts up but stops suddenly and the "err"(error on lcd display) comes on. I ejected the tape, Inspected it and found it stretched a little right at the start point. The spools will not turn so I can't adjust it manually. I read your info and removed 4 of the 5 screws and found the center screw has a different head on it with 3 slots instead of the normal 4 slots like a phillips head. What can I do and/or is there another way to free up the spools? Thanks for anything you can help me with. Hi Chris, I have a VDR tape that doesen’t want to play. I put in the VCR,hit play, It acts like it starts up but stops suddenly and the “err”(error on lcd display) comes on. I ejected the tape, Inspected it and found it stretched a little right at the start point. The spools will not turn so I can’t adjust it manually. I read your info and removed 4 of the 5 screws and found the center screw has a different head on it with 3 slots instead of the normal 4 slots like a phillips head. What can I do and/or is there another way to free up the spools? Thanks for anything you can help me with.

]]> By: Chris Duckworth http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2245 Chris Duckworth Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:44:21 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2245 Hi Paul, two of the tapes that I played with appeared to be stuck, as in glued. I think it was a tension issue. Pulling apart the tape to roll it past that point fixed the problem for me. Pressing the little square button by the flap may allow you to manually wind the tape without removing it from its case, but this could stretch the tape. I think you will find when you open it up, that you won't be able to notice the problem part fo the tape. VCRs are very sensitive to minor problems. I should add, if the tape is irriplaceable, you may want to see a professional. Everything in this article was writen based on my own trial and error. There may be better ways of doing this. Hi Paul, two of the tapes that I played with appeared to be stuck, as in glued. I think it was a tension issue. Pulling apart the tape to roll it past that point fixed the problem for me. Pressing the little square button by the flap may allow you to manually wind the tape without removing it from its case, but this could stretch the tape. I think you will find when you open it up, that you won’t be able to notice the problem part fo the tape. VCRs are very sensitive to minor problems.

I should add, if the tape is irriplaceable, you may want to see a professional. Everything in this article was writen based on my own trial and error. There may be better ways of doing this.

]]> By: Paul W http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2244 Paul W Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:08:36 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2244 Chris, I have an irreplaceable home Christmas video from 1992, that hasn't been played in about 10 years. i noticed it is not rewound all the way, but is in the middle, so I tried rewinding it, but it's stuck (not in the VCR just wont rewind all the way). I will practice your procedure on another useless tape first, but what if the tape I want to fix is stuck to itself, like ti's glued? Is there a way to unstick it, or is it more likely the parts of the tape are the problem? Thanks Chris,
I have an irreplaceable home Christmas video from 1992, that hasn’t been played in about 10 years. i noticed it is not rewound all the way, but is in the middle, so I tried rewinding it, but it’s stuck (not in the VCR just wont rewind all the way). I will practice your procedure on another useless tape first, but what if the tape I want to fix is stuck to itself, like ti’s glued? Is there a way to unstick it, or is it more likely the parts of the tape are the problem?
Thanks

]]> By: J. C. Francke http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2153 J. C. Francke Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:11:02 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2153 The thing that really needs to be stressed about this procedure is that once the screws are removed, the two cassette halves should be held together tightly until the tape is flipped, label side UP. All the springs and movable parts are held in by gravity and the pressure of the lid. If you lift the bottom (screw side) up - everything falls out. I've worked in video retail for about 20 years and I can't tell you how many people have brought me a home repair job with all the little parts in a bag. The thing that really needs to be stressed about this procedure is that once the screws are removed, the two cassette halves should be held together tightly until the tape is flipped, label side UP. All the springs and movable parts are held in by gravity and the pressure of the lid. If you lift the bottom (screw side) up - everything falls out. I’ve worked in video retail for about 20 years and I can’t tell you how many people have brought me a home repair job with all the little parts in a bag.

]]> By: Red http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2138 Red Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:00:50 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2138 John, above, I don't know if you'll check back after so much time, but I just did the same thing. Slide the retainer out sideways, but snap it back into place by pushing straight down towards the center of the hub (with the leader underneath, of course) John, above,

I don’t know if you’ll check back after so much time, but I just did the same thing. Slide the retainer out sideways, but snap it back into place by pushing straight down towards the center of the hub (with the leader underneath, of course)

]]> By: Terri http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2102 Terri Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:56:09 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2102 Thank you so much for this! I have an unreplaceable 8-hour tape (part of a 48 hour marathon!) that my mother somehow ran over with her power scooter. I can't wait to try this. I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you so much for this! I have an unreplaceable 8-hour tape (part of a 48 hour marathon!) that my mother somehow ran over with her power scooter. I can’t wait to try this. I’ll let you know how it goes.

]]> By: Grant http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2089 Grant Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:04:12 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2089 Thanks Chris. The notification when you first replied must have gone to my junk mail.. anyway.. Thanks for the info. I haven't attempted it yet as I haven't managed to borrow a VCR yet. The spool does seem 100% fine though, so it should just be a case of transferring that. I'll post a comment here when I get around to it though to let you know how it goes, and any tips etc if I come up with any. cheers Thanks Chris. The notification when you first replied must have gone to my junk mail.. anyway..

Thanks for the info. I haven’t attempted it yet as I haven’t managed to borrow a VCR yet. The spool does seem 100% fine though, so it should just be a case of transferring that. I’ll post a comment here when I get around to it though to let you know how it goes, and any tips etc if I come up with any.

cheers

]]> By: Henry http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2073 Henry Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:12:15 +0000 http://www.inspectmygadget.com/2008/01/23/how-to-repair-a-vhs-tape/#comment-2073 i also wanted to thank you for a very informative and helpful site. i was able to repair my broken vcr tape...even after losing one of the springs. haha! my particular tape was weird. there were the five screws, but there was one more rivet in the center that i had to pry open. but in the end, with your guidance, it worked! thanks and keep up the good work! i also wanted to thank you for a very informative and helpful site. i was able to repair my broken vcr tape…even after losing one of the springs. haha! my particular tape was weird. there were the five screws, but there was one more rivet in the center that i had to pry open. but in the end, with your guidance, it worked! thanks and keep up the good work!

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