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Repair guides and support for videocassette recorders including Betamax and VHS (Video Home System) players.

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VCR won't accept all tapes.

Hi.

I recently started digitizing my old vhs tapes, and i notice curious thing where my VCR won't accept all the tapes.
It takes them in, nothing starts running, and second or two spits it right out.
This won't happen with all tapes, maybe 1 out of every 20 or so, and all thous others play normally, takes in, plays, out, no issues.

I have a fate memory if restoring that small plastic cap was on issue (one that determine when ever or not vhs can be record or not), because sometimes putting a tape in there seem to work but i don't know.

If anyone can help me with this one, i would be grateful.

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Hi @joonastaahl

What is the make and model number of the vcr?

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Sony SLV-SE100A2

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@joonastaahl

Are the tapes that don't work all the same brand name?

You could try placing a piece of tape over the record tab (where it has been broken off) but I don't think that this would affect playing a tape, only recording to it.

Check if you can manually wind the tapes which don't work, forward i.e. use a pencil etc to wind forward from the large spool and also to take up the tape onto the smaller spool in the cassette. Sometimes with older tapes that haven't been played for a long time, the tape sticks to itself and doesn't budge. Be careful, not to break the tape when doing this.

Here's the service manual which may help if you have to open the vcr to see if there anything obviously different happening inside when inserting a tape that works and one that doesn't.

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I have the same problem on an old 4 head Emerson Model #EWV404. Thanks for the insight; as I have many old tapes of my kids 35-40 years ago and would like to be able to play them. Am considering converting them to digital format thru Legacybox.com, but until then.....!!!! Thank-you. I'm thinking it is something in the cassette itself as you suggested.

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Joona Ståhl will be eternally grateful.
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