I have a VHS panasonic NV-FJ760B. The tape inside will not eject. The machine *attempts* to do the eject when "eject" remote or panel button pressed then switches off before tape cassette moves.

Other functions, rewind, fwd, etc work. The tape plays but image is scambled. Any attempt to eject tape causes the VHS to switch off. I' ve had the lid off and can see that the tape is seated properly and I cannot see any obstruction (label etc) fouling the eject mechanism.

This VHS has been a great workhorse and this fault just suddenly happened the other day. Play went scrambled and I thought "bad tape" - eject...but nothing happened.

Any help appreciated before I call an expensive engineer!

Chris Neary, July 2006

In conclusion.
I'm now the happy owner of a repaired and working Panasonic VCR thanks to all the advice that Cobweb gave me.

I got it repaired at Midlands Co-Op TV/Video Service Centre Warwick Rd Birmingham UK.

Engineer report:
Replaced Pinch Roller assembly (worn)
Takeup arm assemby (gear teeth broken)
Cleaned heads and surfaces. Checked OK.
Total Cost parts and labour £58.26p
(Cobweb guestimated £50 - how good is that!)

Altruism is alive and kicking on howtomendit.com thanks to people like Cobweb.

Chris Neary, August 2006

I'm pleased to hear the information was of help.
The item required 'take-up loading arm unit' part no. VXL2670.
The part cost would be around £6.

Fitting it is simple (a 15 minute job) but as alignment of the mechanism parts needs to be precise and it can easily be disturbed during replacement, it's best left to a video engineer.

Directions are as viewed from the front of the video & looking down.

Ty for the url, i'll keep a note of it as it may help me to save a lot of typing and confusion.

Cobweb, July 2006

Just to say Cobweb, when you said "The take-up loading gear is the small white gear visible at the centre of the upper mechanism, which bites against a metal sliding toothed rail. The teeth shear off (usually one or two)and can often be spotted stuck in the grease as very small white plastic specks...."

You were bang on right! Just after the open face of the cassette in the middle of the chassis floor is a little 1.5 inch metal sliding toothed rail lubricated with a bit of grease and sticking in the grease....two little white plastic teeth! Talk about a perfect diagnosis! I have also observed that neither the supply or takeup arm travel all the way to their respective V stops ( stop bout half inch away) and I guess neither are they travelling all the way home and that's what's stopping the eject from working.

To have plastic teeth on one gear, meshing with metal teeth on another almost guarantees failure eventually. Talk about built in obsolecence!

5 stars for your diagnosis and help.

If I could source the part, I'd fix it myself but it's unlikely, but at least I can now clearly tell an engineer what needs doing and determine if the repair cost is fair.
Once again thankyou!

Chris Neary, July 2006

Thanks Cobweb!
Your answer is very clear - I'm just trying to get my head around the terminolgy so I can understand what I've been told better. I found a really useful site I wanted to share for the novice VCR repairer http://www.fixer.com. Within this site http://www.fixer.com/osm/parts.php is a schematic of the mechanical parts of a VCR with appropriate naming (besides loads of other useful vcr fixing stuff). Would be really useful if you could refer the parts you mention to the A-Z list from that schematic. Oh, one really dumb Q....when refering to left or right - I take it that's looking from the front of the unit?

If I need a £50 engineer, it would be worth it - I like the Tape Library Function of this unit - what a shame the tape library has been discontinued in newer panasonic models.

Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

Chris Neary, July 2006

Correction: Where I wrote...
'check if the take-up loading arm (the left side arm pulling the tape around cylinder) is fully against the end stop, compared to the supply loading arm on the right side.'
This should read...
'check if the supply loading arm (the left side arm pulling the tape around cylinder) is fully against the end stop, compared to the take-up loading arm on the right side.

Slightly confusing, as the take-up loading gear (right side) is the part which fails but this jams the mechanism causing loss of gear drive/correct tension to the supply loading arm on the opposite (left) side.

Cobweb, July 2006

I think you'll need an engineer. It's almost certainly the take up loading gear has damaged teeth.

The take-up loading gear is the small white gear visible at the centre of the upper mechanism, which bites against a metal sliding toothed rail. The teeth shear off (usually one or two)and can often be spotted stuck in the grease as very small white plastic specks. It's replaced via the bottom side. You'll need an engineer to supply and replace it.

If you want to confirm it yourself:
With power disconnected...
Assuming the tape is fully loaded,.. check if the take-up loading arm (the left side arm pulling the tape around cylinder) is fully against the end stop, compared to the supply loading arm on the right side. If the gear is faulty it will be a little slack or not reach the end stop on the left side. This is a 'very' common fault on the Z-mechanism fitted in that model. (Cheap part and a really simple repair, but still expect to be charged maybe £50, which is about half the price of a new Panasonic video), without the tape library btw, which is now a discontinued feature.

PS: with the lid off, light entering the machine can upset the end sensors and cause misoperation. Covering the mechanism from the light slightly will help.

Cobweb, July 2006