In the end, the repair was not attempted. I did not go as far as removing the deck mechanism to look underneath. The machine was repaired by a dealer who replaced the Main Lever, that had cracked. For the benefit of readers, it is a rather intricate and greasy piece of plastic that reaches across the whole deck. It resembles an Airfix model before you remove the parts for building. The thing slides from side to side, and it is supposed to operate numerous moving components as it moves. It is obvious that it would have been impossible to get the deck working without the guidance of a service manual and plenty of time, as well as pretty good working conditions. Some readers will appreciate the implications of putting a motor car engine together without paying attention to the exact positioning of the rotating components when their gears are put into mesh. Some of you may have had the expensive experience that can ruin an engine when the so-called Timing Belt fails, with the result that some of the engine's moving parts collide with each other. Well, these days it is impossible to correctly position all of a VCR's parts with their numerous alignment marks without carefully following the maker's instructions. The result of an error can either be erratic operation, or else much grinding and a shower of broken nylon teeth from cog wheels. In short, even if a service manual could be obtained, it is probably best to entrust the repair to someone who is accustomed to dealing with the deck. Thanks again Cobweb.
topolino, February 2005
