help me figure out where these loose pieces go from my Panasonic VCR

[TurboJoe]

Hi gang , Great forum you have here! I recently decided I wanted to dust off my Panasonic VCR and check out some old tapes I hadn't seen in years and unfortunately I found it is no longer working. You put in a tape, it loads but then shuts itself off. I noticed there was a rattle inside the machine so I opened it up and two pieces fell out. I have been on my knees with a flashlight with my nose right up to this thing trying to figure out where these pieces go so I can use the machine again. I remember the picture quality was very nice and as far as I can tell the machine seems like it would operate just fine if I could get these pieces back inside. I believe it has something to do with how the tape moves, as the machine loads the tape just fine but it doesn't end up moving on the play head and at that point it shuts down. If I was going to get an answer from anywhere someone here would know. Thank you!! Joe

[lacywest]

I believe your done using it ...

Question ... What happened ... it stayed in storage and the parts magically became no longer attached ??

The large piece looks like the rubber pinch roller ... that piece is what actually pulls the tape across the VCR Head at an accurate speed.

The other two spindles ... provide ... FF and RW and to take up the tape within side the tape cartridge.

The rubber wheel ... seen loose on your table ... pinches the tape against a metal shaft ... the metal shaft is attached down below ... where it cant be seen .... there will be a large flywheel as part of the metal capstan shaft ... to smooth the speed and keep the tape being pulled across the head at a accurate speed.

I would say ... some small metal clips are used to retain the parts ... and they have somehow become ... not attached and perhaps ... lost.

[aedipuss]

i'd agree with lacy. the capstan and pinch roller assemblies appear to be missing from inside your vcr. not likely you will be able to fix it.

[TurboJoe]

alright, thanks guys! In the bin it goes! It was my back up-back up and now I have two new machines coming from eBay so I won't miss this one much. Thanks again for your expertise!