Ejecting and re-swallowing tape

[Harriet Bazley]

I've deleted the posting I originally intended to make, because I
managed to get to the bottom of the problem; but I thought it might be
worth summarising the issue briefly for future reference as I couldn't
track down any previous mention of these symptoms.


I realised at the last minute that the programme I'd been asked to
record had already started, grabbed up the last remaining blank tape in
the packet without applying labels, etc., crammed it into our Matsui VCR
and pressed the One Touch Record button. It didn't record. It didn't
fast-forward and didn't eject either.

Later that evening I got into an increasing panic as there didn't seem
to be any way of restoring the machine to working order: I couldn't
get the tape out. Every time I used either of the eject buttons it
would eject halfway until the tape was flush with the front casing, then
immediately swallow it again. I managed to get the blank tape out by
switching off the power at the precise moment that the tape was furthest
forward and then dragging the casing out by my fingernails, but when I
tried again with a commercially-recorded tape the machine then refused
either to play or to eject that one as well!

The answer, of course, was the classic one. There was a loose label
stuck inside the VCR.

Although I'd put in a completely blank tape, because it had been the one
at the bottom of the packet the factory-provided sheet of blank sticky
labels had been stuck to its underside, and these then came off inside
the machine, evidently obscuring some sensor somewhere. I'm still not
sure why the video recorder was ejecting the tape and then immediately
grabbing it back again, but mercifully the stray labels subsequently
adhered to the underneath of the commercial cassette; when I succeeded
in dragging that out the label sheet came too... and the problem
ceased....

[GMAN]

Post by Harriet Bazley
I've deleted the posting I originally intended to make, because I
managed to get to the bottom of the problem; but I thought it might be
worth summarising the issue briefly for future reference as I couldn't
track down any previous mention of these symptoms.
I realised at the last minute that the programme I'd been asked to
record had already started, grabbed up the last remaining blank tape in
the packet without applying labels, etc., crammed it into our Matsui VCR
and pressed the One Touch Record button. It didn't record. It didn't
fast-forward and didn't eject either.
Later that evening I got into an increasing panic as there didn't seem
to be any way of restoring the machine to working order: I couldn't
get the tape out. Every time I used either of the eject buttons it
would eject halfway until the tape was flush with the front casing, then
immediately swallow it again. I managed to get the blank tape out by
switching off the power at the precise moment that the tape was furthest
forward and then dragging the casing out by my fingernails, but when I
tried again with a commercially-recorded tape the machine then refused
either to play or to eject that one as well!
The answer, of course, was the classic one. There was a loose label
stuck inside the VCR.
Although I'd put in a completely blank tape, because it had been the one
at the bottom of the packet the factory-provided sheet of blank sticky
labels had been stuck to its underside, and these then came off inside
the machine, evidently obscuring some sensor somewhere. I'm still not
sure why the video recorder was ejecting the tape and then immediately
grabbing it back again, but mercifully the stray labels subsequently
adhered to the underneath of the commercial cassette; when I succeeded
in dragging that out the label sheet came too... and the problem
ceased....

I have had that happen to a very expensive at the time Mitsubish HS-U770 VCR
i used to have. It was the cheap label that they placed at the bottom of the
box.

[b]

Post by Harriet Bazley
Although I'd put in a completely blank tape, because it had been the one
at the bottom of the packet the factory-provided sheet of blank sticky
labels had been stuck to its underside,

let me guess, it was a sony cassette?! seen that a few times.
-B

[Harriet Bazley]

On 26 Jun 2008 as I do recall,

Post by b

Post by Harriet Bazley
Although I'd put in a completely blank tape, because it had been the one
at the bottom of the packet the factory-provided sheet of blank sticky
labels had been stuck to its underside,

let me guess, it was a sony cassette?! seen that a few times.

TDK, actually. :-)

'Ideal for frequent re-recording'... but I find they do wear out after
six months or so's time-shifting. Either the tape stretches, or they
become demagnetised, or something. I think it simply is wear and tear,
because the beginning tends to go first, and you can go on using them
for a bit by skipping the first half-hour of the tape.

[b]

Post by Harriet Bazley
'Ideal for frequent re-recording'... but I find they do wear out after
six months or so's time-shifting. Either the tape stretches, or they
become demagnetised, or something. I think it simply is wear and tear,
because the beginning tends to go first, and you can go on using them
for a bit by skipping the first half-hour of the tape.

there should never be any stretching. obviously, due to friction, you
will get wear on the tape surface, which shows up as white lines,
spots and comet tails and drop outs in the audio. Anything more
serious probably means you have a worn pinch roller. since the tape is
remagnetised whenever you record this is uinlikely to be the cause of
any problems.

And yes, the start is usually what gets worn out first. if you have
the time and energy, you can unroll 30 feet or so of worn tape at the
start of the cassette, cut it and reattach the 'new' end to the leader
tape. that way you get the use of the remaining hours of 'good tape'.
B