stuck video tape

18 years ago

Is there anyway to get a stuck video tape (brand new) out of a vcr/dvd player by myself? I know I can take it in someplace that does repairs...but, I'd have to travel 45 mins to get to the nearest Magnovox dealer. I bought this vcr/dvd player about 6 months ago from Best Buy...on sale (natch). I just really wanted it for exercise tapes. Now a brand new one is stuck apparently. I was quickly previewing the tape...fast forwarding and stopping etc...and than went to rewind and nothing. The power would shut off after about 5 seconds after each try. Didn't matter whether I used remote or manual controls.

I'm wondering if it's even worth it to try to have it repaired...considering the driving distance, cost (of course, I don't know what that will be...but labor is usually the most)...and this was an inexpensive player (maybe that's the problem...I see Magnavox has quite a few issues).

Whattya think?

Thanks

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Comments (6)

pee_wee
18 years ago
Magnavox's name on combo unit, but not made by Magnavox or Philips. Magnavox has NEVER MADE A VCR.

If I were in your situation, I would call several shops in your area and ask about the cost for tape removal only. I would then ask for an estimate for the repair of the unit.

As you may have suspected, I am in the service business and have found that customers do NOT ALWAYS tell the truth and most NEVER the WHOLE TRUTH. I suppose they think that it will be cheaper if they plead ignorance. (Don't tell about the jelly sandwich jambed in the vcr, as he wonders what that "sticky" stuff is on the cassette.)

A cheap vcr/dvd unit will serve reasonably well if not abused. But, whatever......

pw
frannyo
Original Author
18 years ago
Oops...I goofed when I said Magnavox....the make is Sylvania. Anyway, I will take your suggestion and do just that....call around... tho, the pickins' mighty slim since I live in a little hodunk town. I think there's only one electronics repair listing in the phone book.

BTW...my description of what happened is quite accurate. No sticky jam or anything. I have no reason to play with the truth on such a forum. My last vcr was a Hitachi...had it for years and never had an issue w/ stuck tapes. Now a brand new tape stuck in a pretty new dvd/vcr player. Oh well...

Thanks for your reply.
frannyO
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friedajune
18 years ago
The same thing happened to me with an older VCR. What I did--cause the VCR was so old I felt I had nothing to lose--was to open up the machine. On mine (again, an old one, so don't know if yours is the same), there was a screw on each side of the VCR, i.e. 4 screws in all. I unscrewed them, and gently pried the top off. Then I gently, GENTLY (did I mention gently?) pulled the tangled tape out. If the tape had at all resisted coming out, I would have stopped, but the tape came out pretty easily. The tape of course was ruined, but the VCR was OK. I put the top back on, replaced the screws, and the VCR worked fine.

A disclaimer: you are doing this at your own risk, but I am just relaying what worked for me,
jimisham
18 years ago
I had to do the same thing as akchicago with an old JVC VCR. I also had to remove or loosen the front panel. I don't know about a VCR/DVD combination, but it's quite easy with a VCR.
randy427
18 years ago
I, too, have had to remove a tape that was stuck in an old VCR (Hitachi). By removing the cover, I could eventually work the tape out. It was wound up in the VCR spools so it took some gentle pursuation, and an hour or so, to work it loose without damage to the tape or VCR. I found that one of the drive belts on the VCR was slipping so I replaced it with an O-Ring. After manually reeling in the tape to the cassette, both tape and VCR performed well.
priley
18 years ago
Hi, I have a 5 yo Philips large TV/VCR combo with the VHS tape stuck in it, after I tried to rewind the video too quickly after it was fast forwarding while playing. The TV will not stay on now, and the tape won't eject. If I try to push or pull on the tape while the TV is on, it will immediately shut off. Anyone have any suggestions without me going to a shop? I would really appreciate it and even pay some money for advisement if somebody gives me successful advice, and I can just pay to their paypal account. Thanks.

stuck video tape

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pee_wee

frannyo
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stuck video tape

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pee_wee

frannyoOriginal Author

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frannyo
Original Author