Broken Sony SLV-696HF
 

Picked up this Sony VCR the other day, they had two identical units in similar condition, I took the one with the higher serial number because I figured it was newer, if only by a few weeks.

I could only power it up and see if it would run a tape in the store, it did, no way to hook it to a TV to see if it had a picture.

Tried it at home, had sound and a blue screen, problem turned out to be the tape wasn't being pulled out on the left side, the lever wouldn't retract far enough to get behind it.

If I poke the lever back with my finger then drop the tape it works great!
Beautiful picture and sound.

Turned out to be a broken gear on the left lever, must be common as they are easily available from several places like MCM.

Problem is the gear is only about $7 (what I paid for the unit) but they want $10 to ship it, that's pretty s'pensive.

When all is said and done I could have bought a cosmetically excellent SLV-900 from the Goodwill for about what it'll cost to fix this somewhat cosmetically challenged unit, if I fix this.

Anyone here have a NOS gear to sell?

Can you just go back and get the other VCR?

It was still there on Saturday, don't know what's wrong with it, possibly the same thing?

I had one of those once. it had the exact same problem as yours. The part is obsolete from Sony. You may be able to find one somewhere. I just threw mine away after is sat in the other room in pieces for months.

Yes very common failure on those Sonys. I've done many of those repairs. $7 ain't bad for that gear, I think that's about what the dealer cost was from Sony! I's under constant tension from a spring within the gear which is what eventually causes it to break. Takes a bit of disassembly to replace it including removing the TU side guide roller base and arm assy. Be careful around the heads!