Don't expect cheap DVD/ VCR combos to last to long, for that fact never buy a modern VCR because videos are not main steam anymore so no care goes into producing them now, they are made and sold cheap to play old tapes that someone may have in there collection, if you are going to buy another VCR then buy one from the mid 90s, I have 2 VCRs from 1994 a Sony ans Panasonic and both are still used to this day and my SONY has racked up many miles and is still as good to day as the day I bought it.
Yes, this is a Funai made VCR, however it is not as hopeless as it seems. A prior post said the ratceting sound is made by the end sensor. This is false. It is made by the loading motor trying to go past the point where it should stop. The Mode Select Switch is most likely the problem. I have had no succes in cleaning them. It needs to be replaced. It has tarnished and is sending faulty data back to the syscon micro.
This is a piece crap that Funai built unit under 100+ brands/models. The idler assemblies in those vcr decks are notoriously bad so the tape will not retract. The clicking noise at the end is caused by an IR end sensor being blocked by the spilled tape.
The deck and main pc board are soldered together making service a nightmare, and the idler design is shit from the start. It's junk at this point.
I think there's something wrong with the brake on the supply spindle. When you eject a cassette the supply spindle (the left spindle watching the mechanism from the front) should rewind the tape back into the cassette, if the brake got stuck the vcr will fail to rewind the tape back into the cassette and it will be caught in the vcr.
Also, I really don't like that rattling noise at 0:40. If that is coming from the vcr deck you probably have some gear out of timing or a bad mode switch.
A mode switch, in the case of this Emerson deck, is a rotary switch that tells the VCR system control what position the deck's mechanism is in (play, stop, fast wind, etc.). Over time, oxidation can develop on the conductors in the mode switch, which can inhibit electrical conduction. This can keep the VCR from working right, from bad tape loading to motors not running.
Access to this switch will require taking the deck chassis out of the unit.
@Watcher3223 I have an old (early 80s) top-loading industrial Beta VCR with this same problem- tape doesn't get pulled back in when ejecting. Would I need to look for the 'mode switch' on this too?
I've never seen a GOOD VHS/DVD machine. One or the other half eventually dies. My main VHS deck is from 1987 and it still works!
@Watcher3223 thanks for the information. it seems i have the same problem. if i managed to get to the mode switch, how would i clean it ? or what would i have to do to it ?
Clean the contacts again with alcohol and swab. Use dielectric grease or a petroleum-based grease (not petroleum jelly).
For grease, I like using Remington Moistureguard rust preventative grease, which is a firearm grease but works well for this application in preventing corrosion and keeping the innards of the switch lubricated.
Carefully push rotor back in and align with tab of rotor to marking on board.
You will have to pull the VCR chassis out to access the mode switch, which should be on the mainboard. The mode switch will have a rotary switch that is either white or black in color. Carefully pull the rotor out. Clean the metal contacts in the lower half of switch with alcohol and swab, then polish the metal contacts clean using swab and metal polish (Noxon 7 or Brasso).
Don't expect cheap DVD/ VCR combos to last to long, for that fact never buy a modern VCR because videos are not main steam anymore so no care goes into producing them now, they are made and sold cheap to play old tapes that someone may have in there collection, if you are going to buy another VCR then buy one from the mid 90s, I have 2 VCRs from 1994 a Sony ans Panasonic and both are still used to this day and my SONY has racked up many miles and is still as good to day as the day I bought it.
ElvisRocksVinyl 1 month ago 2
It turns out that the VCR does not reel the tape back in the cassette.
bpmagruder 3 months ago
Yes, this is a Funai made VCR, however it is not as hopeless as it seems. A prior post said the ratceting sound is made by the end sensor. This is false. It is made by the loading motor trying to go past the point where it should stop. The Mode Select Switch is most likely the problem. I have had no succes in cleaning them. It needs to be replaced. It has tarnished and is sending faulty data back to the syscon micro.
rmont7629 3 months ago
Mode switch? No.
This is a piece crap that Funai built unit under 100+ brands/models. The idler assemblies in those vcr decks are notoriously bad so the tape will not retract. The clicking noise at the end is caused by an IR end sensor being blocked by the spilled tape.
The deck and main pc board are soldered together making service a nightmare, and the idler design is shit from the start. It's junk at this point.
ZombiedustXXX 7 months ago
I think there's something wrong with the brake on the supply spindle. When you eject a cassette the supply spindle (the left spindle watching the mechanism from the front) should rewind the tape back into the cassette, if the brake got stuck the vcr will fail to rewind the tape back into the cassette and it will be caught in the vcr.
Also, I really don't like that rattling noise at 0:40. If that is coming from the vcr deck you probably have some gear out of timing or a bad mode switch.
teletronikoforever 10 months ago
Mode switch is dirty.
A mode switch, in the case of this Emerson deck, is a rotary switch that tells the VCR system control what position the deck's mechanism is in (play, stop, fast wind, etc.). Over time, oxidation can develop on the conductors in the mode switch, which can inhibit electrical conduction. This can keep the VCR from working right, from bad tape loading to motors not running.
Access to this switch will require taking the deck chassis out of the unit.
Watcher3223 1 year ago
@Watcher3223 do you mean the big can size cirlce thing?
akumie 1 year ago
@Watcher3223 I have an old (early 80s) top-loading industrial Beta VCR with this same problem- tape doesn't get pulled back in when ejecting. Would I need to look for the 'mode switch' on this too?
I've never seen a GOOD VHS/DVD machine. One or the other half eventually dies. My main VHS deck is from 1987 and it still works!
eyeh8nbc 1 year ago
@Watcher3223 thanks for the information. it seems i have the same problem. if i managed to get to the mode switch, how would i clean it ? or what would i have to do to it ?
ThePoet011 8 months ago
Clean the contacts again with alcohol and swab. Use dielectric grease or a petroleum-based grease (not petroleum jelly).
For grease, I like using Remington Moistureguard rust preventative grease, which is a firearm grease but works well for this application in preventing corrosion and keeping the innards of the switch lubricated.
Carefully push rotor back in and align with tab of rotor to marking on board.
Reassembly of deck is reverse.
Watcher3223 1 year ago
It could be a dirty mode switch.
You will have to pull the VCR chassis out to access the mode switch, which should be on the mainboard. The mode switch will have a rotary switch that is either white or black in color. Carefully pull the rotor out. Clean the metal contacts in the lower half of switch with alcohol and swab, then polish the metal contacts clean using swab and metal polish (Noxon 7 or Brasso).
Watcher3223 1 year ago