VCR Repair Question - VCR Won't Let Go of Tape

[Patrick Teffenretter]

Hi. I've got two old VCRs and would like to know if I can fix them
myself before I junk them. Each has a separate problem:

1. Sony DVP S330. Maybe about 5 years old. Plays fine, but it won't
eject a tape UNLESS I HOLD the door open. Otherwise, it works
perfectly. Is there an easy way to fix this door myself?

2. Samsung VR5901(maybe about 11 years old!). Worked fine until
recently. It recently ate a tape. After opening it up, I can see
that the tape is being "held" in the play position, even with I
haven't pushed PLAY. It will not let me play the tape, but if I push
FF, I can "see" the video going forward; same with reverse. The shiny
metal wheel (sorry for the layman's term) keeps spinning even when I'm
not trying to watch anything. Again, the tape is spooled out of the
cassette at all times, so if I try to eject the tape, the tape is
sandwiched between the head and other parts.

I used these VCRs for the kids, so I'd like to try to fix them myself
if possible.

Any help would really be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[LASERandDVDfan]

1. Sony DVP S330. Maybe about 5 years old. Plays fine, but it won't
eject a tape UNLESS I HOLD the door open. Otherwise, it works
perfectly. Is there an easy way to fix this door myself?

This is a DVD player, not a VCR. The problem may be related to a limit switch
that is supposed to signal the player SYSCON that the drawer is fully open when
actuated. You will have to check the limit switches on the drive assembly to
find if there are any switches that aren't being actuated or aren't working.
After repair, prevention of this problem is closing the drawer by pushing the
OPEN/CLOSE button, and not on the drawer itself.

2. Samsung VR5901(maybe about 11 years old!). Worked fine until
recently. It recently ate a tape. After opening it up, I can see
that the tape is being "held" in the play position, even with I
haven't pushed PLAY. It will not let me play the tape, but if I push
FF, I can "see" the video going forward; same with reverse.

Sounds like a mode switch problem. The Samsung VCRs of the 90s used what is
known as a fast-load system. The tape is kept fully threaded at all times
whenever it is in the VCR until you EJECT it. This is supposed to reduce the
time it takes for the machine to go into any of the transport modes. However,
a faulty mode switch can cause the VCR to do some funny things, like eject
without spooling the tape back into the cassette first. Another possibility
could be the power supply, believe it or not. Samsung VCRs of 1990s vintage
with switch-mode power supplies can develop bad electrolytic capacitors in the
secondary side over time, which can also cause odd behavior.

Hope this helps. - Reinhart

 

[Patrick Teffenretter]

Reinhart,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I mistakenly looked at my DVD player.
LOL!

My VCR is a Sony SLV 765HF. Again, it works fine with the exception
that the VCR door never opens unless I prop it.

Is EITHER problem something I can fix easily? Or do I need to take
them to the junk yard?

Thanks.

laseranddvdfan@aol.com (LASERandDVDfan) wrote in message news:<20040112145609.15365.00003257@mb-m03.aol.com>...

1. Sony DVP S330. Maybe about 5 years old. Plays fine, but it won't
eject a tape UNLESS I HOLD the door open. Otherwise, it works
perfectly. Is there an easy way to fix this door myself?

This is a DVD player, not a VCR. The problem may be related to a limit switch
that is supposed to signal the player SYSCON that the drawer is fully open when
actuated. You will have to check the limit switches on the drive assembly to
find if there are any switches that aren't being actuated or aren't working.
After repair, prevention of this problem is closing the drawer by pushing the
OPEN/CLOSE button, and not on the drawer itself.

2. Samsung VR5901(maybe about 11 years old!). Worked fine until
recently. It recently ate a tape. After opening it up, I can see
that the tape is being "held" in the play position, even with I
haven't pushed PLAY. It will not let me play the tape, but if I push
FF, I can "see" the video going forward; same with reverse.

Sounds like a mode switch problem. The Samsung VCRs of the 90s used what is
known as a fast-load system. The tape is kept fully threaded at all times
whenever it is in the VCR until you EJECT it. This is supposed to reduce the
time it takes for the machine to go into any of the transport modes. However,
a faulty mode switch can cause the VCR to do some funny things, like eject
without spooling the tape back into the cassette first. Another possibility
could be the power supply, believe it or not. Samsung VCRs of 1990s vintage
with switch-mode power supplies can develop bad electrolytic capacitors in the
secondary side over time, which can also cause odd behavior.

Hope this helps. - Reinhart

 

[Sofie]

Patrick Teffenretter:
There is a small and delicate plastic lever that opens the door as needed.
Either the lever or mechanism that operates the lever is broken....
..... or SOMEONE took the VCR apart and took off the front panel and did not
reinstall it correctly.
Usually when reinstalling the front panel you have to hold the door
completely open as you snap it in place.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"Patrick Teffenretter" <pteffenretter@mail.com> wrote in message

My VCR is a Sony SLV 765HF. Again, it works fine with the exception
that the VCR door never opens unless I prop it.

 

[Mark D. Zacharias]

The front panel of the Sony may not be on quite right. Many vcr's engage the
front lid via the front panel. You may need to pull the front panel back a
bit, open the door halfway or so, then slide the front panel back on. May
take a couple tries.

Mark Z.

--
Please reply only to Group. I regret this is necessary. Viruses and spam
have rendered my regular e-mail address useless.


"Patrick Teffenretter" <pteffenretter@mail.com> wrote in message
news:3dcf9020.0401121357.2c2f74a2@posting.google.com...

Reinhart,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I mistakenly looked at my DVD player.
LOL!

My VCR is a Sony SLV 765HF. Again, it works fine with the exception
that the VCR door never opens unless I prop it.

Is EITHER problem something I can fix easily? Or do I need to take
them to the junk yard?

Thanks.

laseranddvdfan@aol.com (LASERandDVDfan) wrote in message
news:<20040112145609.15365.00003257@mb-m03.aol.com>...
1. Sony DVP S330. Maybe about 5 years old. Plays fine, but it won't
eject a tape UNLESS I HOLD the door open. Otherwise, it works
perfectly. Is there an easy way to fix this door myself?

This is a DVD player, not a VCR. The problem may be related to a limit
switch
that is supposed to signal the player SYSCON that the drawer is fully
open when
actuated. You will have to check the limit switches on the drive
assembly to
find if there are any switches that aren't being actuated or aren't
working.
After repair, prevention of this problem is closing the drawer by
pushing the
OPEN/CLOSE button, and not on the drawer itself.

2. Samsung VR5901(maybe about 11 years old!). Worked fine until
recently. It recently ate a tape. After opening it up, I can see
that the tape is being "held" in the play position, even with I
haven't pushed PLAY. It will not let me play the tape, but if I push
FF, I can "see" the video going forward; same with reverse.

Sounds like a mode switch problem. The Samsung VCRs of the 90s used
what is
known as a fast-load system. The tape is kept fully threaded at all
times
whenever it is in the VCR until you EJECT it. This is supposed to
reduce the
time it takes for the machine to go into any of the transport modes.
However,
a faulty mode switch can cause the VCR to do some funny things, like
eject
without spooling the tape back into the cassette first. Another
possibility
could be the power supply, believe it or not. Samsung VCRs of 1990s
vintage
with switch-mode power supplies can develop bad electrolytic capacitors
in the
secondary side over time, which can also cause odd behavior.

Hope this helps. - Reinhart