Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Recorded Video

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-11-2014, 04:51 AM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
Trying to revive a cheap Magnavox VCR

A friend gave me a cheap Magnavox DVD/VCR combo that her friend bought at a yard sale for $5, that turned out not to work. Well, when I plugged it in, after a few seconds, it made a loud clicking sound, loud enough to make me jump. On closer inspection, I found a loose piece of plastic, which I removed. Now, when I plug it in, it tries to load a non existent tape (the tape basket stays unloaded, but the loading arms go into place and the head starts spinning), and about 50% of the time it stays like that and goes into "stop" mode. The other time it ejects, makes a weird metallic click sometimes, and turns off.

I know this thing really isn't worth my time, but I love tinkering with these things. It helps relieve stress when i'm having a bad day (and I am having a bad 4 months), and actually the DVD player works fine.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-11-2014, 06:27 AM
Celt's Avatar
Celt Celt is offline
Peanut Head
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Paragould, Arkansas
Posts: 1,746
Those Funai tape transports are horrid. If it were mine, I'd disconnect the power to the tape and just use it for playing DVD's.
__________________

Let me live in the house beside the road and be a friend to man.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-11-2014, 09:30 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by Celt View Post
Those Funai tape transports are horrid. If it were mine, I'd disconnect the power to the tape and just use it for playing DVD's.
IIRC, the Funai VCR's were sensitive to room lighting. Unplug and temporarily replace the cover and plug it back in. see if it will go back to starting position.
I hate those things, with a passion.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-11-2014, 01:49 PM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
I agree, it is cheap. Almost all plastic. But I would like to try to fix it. How can I disconnect the VCR?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-11-2014, 02:28 PM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagevcr View Post
I agree, it is cheap. Almost all plastic. But I would like to try to fix it. How can I disconnect the VCR?
If those things were anything like they were, the entire unit would shut down, if the mechanism hasn't returned to the start position. Try the cover trick, like I suggested! Just a WAG.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #6  
Old 06-11-2014, 03:07 PM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
Tried that. The cassette basket itself moves freely, and the VCR doesn't respond if I push a tape in. It just drops down. Even with it unplugged I can put a tape in and manually lift it out. But the rest of the VCR seems to work, the loading arms move all the way into place when I turn the VCR on, the heads start spinning, and the pinch roller engages. If I press FF, it works for a second then shuts off. Same with play.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-11-2014, 04:10 PM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
A small update: With the unit unplugged, I pushed a tape in. When I turned it on, it loaded the tape. I pressed FF, it worked for about 2 seconds, then turned off. I turned it back on, it reloaded the tape. I pressed play, and it played, and I got a picture! FF and REW worked on play mode. It can't eject on its own, so I have to turn off the power, and lift the tape out by hand.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-11-2014, 07:18 PM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by vintagevcr View Post
A small update: With the unit unplugged, I pushed a tape in. When I turned it on, it loaded the tape. I pressed FF, it worked for about 2 seconds, then turned off. I turned it back on, it reloaded the tape. I pressed play, and it played, and I got a picture! FF and REW worked on play mode. It can't eject on its own, so I have to turn off the power, and lift the tape out by hand.
I'd have to look at what drives the tape carriage. I have one I picked up at a garage sale. Another Funai built junker.
I must be a glutton for punishment.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-11-2014, 07:37 PM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
One motor drives the entire transport.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 06-12-2014, 07:18 AM
Ed in Tx's Avatar
Ed in Tx Ed in Tx is offline
Zenith Walton My 1st TV
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,414
Mode encoder switch bad or out of timing, bad sensor LED... several things can be wrong with those Funai VCR mechanisms depending on which one you have.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #11  
Old 06-19-2014, 12:54 AM
Dude111 Dude111 is offline
Analogue is Awesome
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,406
Im glad you seem to be making progress buddy
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 06-19-2014, 04:54 AM
vintagevcr vintagevcr is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 11
Well, I accidently put a heavy VCR on top of it and now the plastic is bent.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:15 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.