Greetings all,

It's been a very long time since I've posted here but am back looking for some info on what appears to be a very rare VCR: a Toshiba SV-771C. I believe this is the only tray-loading VHS VCR ever sold in the USA, and I bought it off eBay a few years ago for the novelty. It had a very good picture on our flat panel TV but soon stripped a plastic part in the tape loading mechanism so I shelved it.

Fast forward to this year and I finally got through other rubbish on my To-Fix list that I decided to try this again. To my dismay, it developed a whole new problem: it will not even attempt to eject the tape tray or load a tape. It just flashes the cassette symbol on the front panel and sometimes will spin the capstan and left-hand reel (A and B in the attached Chassis picture). Loading Motor C does not spin at all. D is the part that stripped out, but I can't figure out where until I get the whole thing loading again.

I tried manually loading a tape and run the gears to insert the tray, but still nothing. I noticed the video head was frozen up so I gently broke it free and checked the fuses but the fuses were good and still no dice. I cannot find any information about this unit online, and the only place that sells a service manual is www.stereomanuals.com which requires manual contact to get a copy.

Does anyone here have any input or experience with this model of VCR before I decide to part with it? Anything obvious that I'm missing as to why this unit won't try to eject the tray?

It looks like it sees a tape inside when there is none.
There's an IR LED or dial lamp that pops up through the center of the cassette there are photo sensors that detect end of tape and presence of tape...If the light source burnt out it could be confusing the deck.

This is just a guess. I've never seen that model before.

Cool deck. Those IR LED's can easily be checked for illumination with the camera on your phone.

Thanks for the input! The phone idea is really cool, I never about using it for that before even though I've used it to check remote control output.

Well, I did check the IR transmitter and it's indeed working, but while I was taking the picture with my phone the tray suddenly popped out when I pressed the button! It then even accepted a tape and started playing it!

After about 40 minutes of playing with it, I'm feeling my issue may be a bad mode switch, a broken plastic part within the mode selection assembly, or a related item. The VCR now ejects and accepts tapes every time, will load them, play then and sometimes fast forward or rewind, but in all operations its clearly unhappy about something. Every mode change results in the motor/mode selector going back and forth multiple times before deciding to go ahead with the action. One time it stuck in rewind and wouldn't stop until I slid a white plastic part over.

I think now I need to focus on getting a service manual and understanding the mode selector wheel and motor assembly. It clearly wants to work but is not getting feedback from something or is getting conflicting feedback. If anyone has suggestions or comments I'm all ears, but appreciate the input so far. This is one rare and cool VCR so I hope to fix it.

Many of those mode wheels were just multi-pole switches... I'd spray a good contact cleaner in and see if that helps.

That's a simple enough plan for me, lol. I will look into that, I got plenty of cleaner including Deoxit.

Greetings all,

It's been a very long time since I've posted here but am back looking for some info on what appears to be a very rare VCR: a Toshiba SV-771C. I believe this is the only tray-loading VHS VCR ever sold in the USA...

There was also the JVC HR-FC100U. It could handle standard and VHS-C cassettes. I worked on a few of the JVCs and the Toshibas. We were authorized warranty service for both.

That's awesome, I never saw the JVC unit before! What are your thoughts on these tray load units? I've heard the Toshiba was among the more reliable VCR designs in the early 90s, but that's just what I've heard. It does have a very good picture.

I figured out how to take apart the SV-771 last night and located the mode switch on the underside of the blue mode wheel. I also saw quite a bit of grease all over the shaft and opening in the switch, so this makes me wonder if some has made it inside over the years and gummed up the contacts.

Unfortunately, I can't see a good way to take the switch apart without destroying it. Prying on the tan board just bends it hard around the center but nothing feels like it will release nicely. I sprayed some contact cleaner through the tiny opening where the board sticks out for the ribbon cable so we'll see if that helps any. I hate to wreck the switch since it technically "works" and is completely unobtanium.

Also found out the owner of stereomanuals.com, Rick, passed away a few months ago so I won't be able to get a service manual for this bad boy. Hopefully cleaning the switch helps the erratic behavior of my unit.

That's awesome, I never saw the JVC unit before! What are your thoughts on these tray load units? I've heard the Toshiba was among the more reliable VCR designs in the early 90s, but that's just what I've heard. It does have a very good picture.
Really have no opinion on those. Been too long and never owned one. I do know the never came back to haunt me once repaired, a good thing!

btw I ripped off the images from a YouTube video. Once posted there I figure public domain!

Well I'll be! It works!

Cleaning the mode switch did the trick. I soaked it the best I could last night, exercised it a bit, and then let it dry all night and today. Tonight, I put the switch back in and now she plays, fast forwards, rewinds, and ejects with zero hesitation! Who'd thought that a little grease seeping down over the years could cause so much trouble?

Thank you again for your suggestions to clean it. Unfortunately, I have another issue to tend to now that I can play tapes (starting a new thread) but your assistance has been greatly appreciated.

@Ed: I am pretty sure I watched the same YouTube video after you made that post. :D