My new vcr

[fmctm1sw]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50606&item=3095554393&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

There it is. Actually mine is a Hitachi F430 but I can't find info on it anywhere. It looks exactly like that though. I picked it up at the thrift store for $5. It has a little trouble ejecting the tape and doesn't seem like it wants to rewind but it produces a great picture. On par with my Sony 575UC but the picture is a little brighter for some reason. It features a "studio edit" button and a "spectra sonic" button. I havn't figured that one out yet. It has individual controls for color and sharpness. Seems to have the same tracking issues on my older tapes as my Sony does. Testing underway....

[Roundabout]

If it doesn't want to eject the tape, there could be a couple of causes. One could be a bent loading tray, you should be able to verify this by eye inspection. Another is loading belts. If the belt is worn or stretched (a good possibility) then it will be slow to load or unload.

Another cause of slow ejecting could be because the unit isn't taking up the tape properly or fast enough into the cassette cartridge. This could be tied together with your problem of lack of rewind. You should be able to replace the rewind belt (if it has one, some use only gears and felt friction pads). Try using denatured (not isopropyl) alcohol to clean all the rubber parts. Try lubricating all the pivot points where levers move, being careful not to get any where any tape ever contacts.

There could be other things, this is just some of the more common possibilities on your problems. I don't know what the other functions are you mentioned, some proprietary name for a sharpness or luminance control, most likely. Can't help you much there. Let me know if I can tell you anything else, if you have some other observations on what is going on with it.