VCR Motor Uncertainties and Related Discussion

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

I have an RCA four-headed vcr, model VR546 (made in South Korea), the last one RCA made. After using some Fuji videocassettes which were defectively difficult to rewind, the vcr motor was weakened so it would not rewind readily in general. After I got some old videocassettes of miscellaneous brands, the motor was further weakened. Now just about all cassettes will not readily rewind. The only way I get around this is by putting a cassette into the play mode and rewinding it thereby so the video goes backwards until the beginning. In most cases a cassette will rewind to within 1:30 min of the start of the 6-hour cassette (without resort to the play mode), then slow to a crawl and eventually stop completely before rewinding fully by use of the play mode. Questions below.
1. First, I'm concerned that by regularly rewinding cassettes in the play mode for long stretches of tape I am misusing that feature and stressing the vcr and someday that feature will no longer work or the unit will give out altogether. Second. I'm concerned I am prematurely dirtying the vcr heads by having so much of that oxide-coated tape pass quickly over the heads and/or aging the tapes by having the oxide possibly come off for the same reason though there's no sign either has occurred. Please comment on my two concerns.
2. Why would a cassette rewind in the play mode when it won't rewind readily or at all in the off mode?
3. I've tried adjusting the cassettes by loosening the fives screws to relieve the "tightness" of the spools (if that indeed is what's wrong with them), but it made no or negligible difference in the Fuji or miscellaneous videocassettes, although sometimes this measure would work with the odd tight cassette in a healthy machine, certainly with audiocassettes. Sometimes I think the problem in the vcr-cassette interaction is not strictly mechanical because the speed or progress I can make backwards on a tape varies occasionally with whether I'm using the index search on rewind or just rewinding, which might go much faster, though a difference in the two should not prevail. What do you think is wrong with the cassettes and/or the vcr?
4. Could I or a serviceperson conceivably do anything to the motor to rehab or boost it? If you've had experience in vcr repair, please mention that.
5. I am considering buying a Samsung dvd-recorder vcr combo if I can get a good price. Kmart used to sell the model in question. Have you had any experience with that unit or other Samsung products? I won't touch many foreign brands of electronics due to bad experiences.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I have the same problem with a CurtisMathes VCR unit that I use solely for dubbing purposes. I think it's part of the "braking control" during rewind-only mode that isn't in use when you rewind during play mode. It seems that some VCRs that have fairly high-speed rewind and fast forward modes will automatically slow down as they approach the end of the tape to reduce hard "impacts" when done. A faulty unit may think the end of the tape is closer than it actually is and could slow down dramatically, stop prematurely, or even eject the cassette altogether before it's done.

Personally, I think it might be easier to replace it with a DVD-VCR combo, but some of those units might require a separate channel tuner depending on the manufacturer or specific model.

Getting your VCR fixed, on the other hand, could also solve the problem--assuming you can find someone that still repairs VCRs. The one drawback could be that having it repair could cost just as much (if not more) than just getting a new DVD-VCR combo depending on who you go to.

Another option could be buying a "new" VCR online, but I'm leery of those because essentially all the ones I've come across have been listed as factory reconditioned or refurbished models.

 

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

C.E. Evans, ironically, my neighbor - who gave me the miscellaneous tapes - has a CurtisMathes, a unit he paid $200 for, maybe a pro one. When you write you think it's the braking control, you mean on yours? I know those Fuji tapes damaged mine as it had been okay. I've never noticed vcr's slowing as they reached the end of a tape in either direction. My vcr is doing what you said: if it rewinds after hitting the end of the tape it will rewind and pop out before reaching the start of the spool, as if it thinks it did reach the start, whereas it might have another 53 min. to go. In a case like that it will go further back than 1:30 min. with the speed it has from the other end of the tape. I have contemplated all the other issues you raised , but I've never had a combo so don't know how the dvd part would get signal.

 

[C.E. Evans]

C.E. Evans, ironically, my neighbor - who gave me the miscellaneous tapes - has a CurtisMathes, a unit he paid $200 for, maybe a pro one. When you write you think it's the braking control, you mean on yours?

Yup. Your problem is essentially identical to mine on my CurtisMathes. It won't rewind fully, gradually slowing down until it eventually stops altogether quite a few minutes away from the end. Now, it'll rewind fine while in play mode, but because that will eventually wear down the VCR heads (as well as the tape), I don't do that. I'll rewind the rest of the tape the regular way (stop, then rewind) on a separate VCR--I've got three units currently in use.

I know those Fuji tapes damaged mine as it had been okay. I've never noticed vcr's slowing as they reached the end of a tape in either direction. My vcr is doing what you said: if it rewinds after hitting the end of the tape it will rewind and pop out before reaching the start of the spool, as if it thinks it did reach the start, whereas it might have another 53 min. to go. In a case like that it will go further back than 1:30 min. with the speed it has from the other end of the tape. I have contemplated all the other issues you raised , but I've never had a combo so don't know how the dvd part would get signal.

It's a tricky thing because it can depend on how your TV is set up (hooked to cable, with other VCRS, etc.). I bought a DVD-VCR combo that required an external tuner, so it's currently still sitting in it's original box essentially brand new (I'm really keeping it around as an emergency backup deck in case my current VCR decides to die on me).

Now as far as tapes are concerned, yes, there's definitely a difference in peformance quality. But I haven't had a brand of cassettes change the performance of a machine before--my VCRs will either just eject a troublesome cassette and/or eat the tape within.

 

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

The key point you mention is that I'm ruining my heads. I have two other vcr's, an older RCA which danages tape and a creepy Sylvania, which I believe has croaked. I might be able tp rewind on the other RCA without using the tape-damaging mode.
______It makes sense that tight tapes would wear on a motor if it were susceptible, but I don't want to weaken another motor. Have you noticed that Maxell tapes now have the shell of Fuji? I intended to incorporate that issue into my opening.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

There are still "new" tape rewinders to be found, cheaply, like $10 - $15.

If nothing else, it will save wear & tear on the VCR.

 

[little_chris]

What is this V C R you all speak of?

 

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

C.E. Evans, I have been monitoring things since your illuminating messages. One thing I want to emphasize is that if I rewind to the start of a 2-hr. recording using the signal index, many times now it can take forever whereas if I display the counter on the screen and manually rewind to the desired counter number the speed of rewinding will be normal; I mean with these affected cassettes. Not always will it be normal, however, depending on vagaries, and never in the first 2-hr. slot. This irregularity could suggest some braking could be occurring. I still haven't called Maxell about their Fuji "shells", but I will. I shall also reorient my setup to allow me to play the other vcr's. Note that when I wrote of vcr's not slowing when they approached either end of a cassette I meant normal vcr's; obviously, my VR546 is no longer normal and does slow (and stop prematurely before the start of the spool).

little chris, v c r = videocassette recorder.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I think little chris was pulling on your leg.

 

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

^I delayed my reply in case they were.

 

[zephramc]

What is this V C R you all speak of?

It was a tool used by primitive humans many, many years ago. I think you might be able to find a cave painting of one.

 

[C.E. Evans]

What is this V C R you all speak of?

It was a tool used by primitive humans many, many years ago. I think you might be able to find a cave painting of one.

Pipe down, child.

Those of us who still use VCRs do so generally because we still like them (I've got two DVD players actually hooked up to my system). In other instances, it's because we don't have a DVR so there isn't any other way to record TV shows we might otherwise miss.

C.E. Evans, I have been monitoring things since your illuminating messages. One thing I want to emphasize is that if I rewind to the start of a 2-hr. recording using the signal index, many times now it can take forever whereas if I display the counter on the screen and manually rewind to the desired counter number the speed of rewinding will be normal;

I had same problem too using the index search on an earlier model VCR.

 

[Trekker4747]

I heard they found a VCR during an archaeological dig once.

 

[Santaman]

I still have a VCR oh and a 1961 reel to reel tape recorder which is called "portable" its around 14Kg's..

 

[Kemaiku]

What is this V C R you all speak of?

It got involved with MiniDisc, neither where heard from again.

 

[Balrog]

Somebody's got a huge collection of old porn.

 

[Bartholomew Diogenes]

C.E. Evans, for two weeks now I've been rewinding cassettes when needed on my other vcr, but I haven't linked it in series to the other so I can't see screen data from it as yet. Today I phoned Maxell, and a look at the cassettes I bought in KMart shows that the Maxell casings are identical to those of Fuji and don't have the Maxell logo embossed in the upper left corner on the front or any other indication they are not Fuji. The clear plastic reels inside the black casings match neither the old Maxell nor the Fuji, but the key point is that these KMart-bought ones are hard to rewind, like the Fuji.
________Lloyd Dobler, I've never seen an x-rated movie except "Midnight Cowboy", cut for tv, if you're referring to me. What is your home address?

 

[Gary Mitchell]

There are still "new" tape rewinders to be found, cheaply, like $10 - $15.

If nothing else, it will save wear & tear on the VCR.

As Ar-Pharazon said, get a rewinder.

 

[The Squire of Gothos]

Those of us who still use VCRs do so generally because we still like them (I've got two DVD players actually hooked up to my system). In other instances, it's because we don't have a DVR so there isn't any other way to record TV shows we might otherwise miss

As well as for recording shows, there are still enough tapes of films or TV series I like showing up in charity shops to make it worth my while retaining one. For Doctor Who alone its worth it.