Got a JVC VCR from 1985 that put up a real fight today

Picked up a JVC HR-D140U off Facebook Marketplace for $20 last week. The owner said it just needed a belt. Took me three hours of cussing in my shop to figure out the loading mechanism was cracked - someone jammed a tape in wrong back in the 90s I guess. Anyone else run into these old JVCs where the plastic gears just crumble on you?

3 comments

3 Comments

williamhenderson10d ago

Man that loading mechanism cracking is a classic pain point. I ran into the same thing on a JVC HR-S3600 last year and ended up 3D printing a replacement gear after hunting for months. The plastic they used back then just gets brittle with age, especially if the unit was stored in a hot attic or garage. What worked for me was pulling the whole mechanism out, cleaning the old grease off thoroughly, and then using a dab of silicone lubricant instead of the heavy stuff. Also check the mode switch on the bottom of the mechanism, those get crusty and cause all sorts of weird problems.

daniel_cooper3410d ago

Honestly, sounds like you spent more time hunting for that gear than watching any tapes, @williamhenderson. Ngl, I respect the dedication to a busted VCR though. Tbh, at that point I'd probably just tell my client it's 'character' and mark the house down.

the_viola10d ago

Huh, I think your HR-S3600 actually uses a belt drive, not a gear, for that mechanism.