JVC HR-S 7700 scratches tape

[frankfarm]

Hey everyone!

After three years without issues, my JVC HR-S 7700 (7711 to be precise, but that should be the same in black) recently scratched a tape. It was one deep scratch at the same height along the whole tape. This caused some error with playback that wasn't there before. Same as with the tape itself, along the whole length of the film and at the same height. So I opened the VCR and cleaned the tape path, there was a little piece that looked like cardboard from a slipcase in one of the head cavities so I figured maybe something from a slip went under the dust lid of that very tape and somehow and got stuck in the head, and then became like a small strip of sanding paper with the high rotational speed of the video head. So after carefully removing that, and trying several other tapes, everything seemed to be alright. Until today. The very same issue appeared again, but this time on a tape that I'll have a pretty hard time to replace. Different to last time, I didn't fully rewind the tape before noticing the issue. The VCR became so noisy rewinding, that I stopped and pressed play to check if there was any damage to the tape, with that same error appearing again. So I used my NV-FS200 to find out if the scratch happened while rewinding, but it's along the whole tape (even at the very beginning), once again. So it must have happened from the second I pressed play. But not the first time, as the TBC of the JVC made the picture more noisy so I rewinded and turned the TBC off. What could cause this issue? There doesnt seem to be anything along the tape path that could cause this. A tape I played earlier today played just fine, and didn't have any scratch even after I tested it again after that second destroyed tape.

Short version: my JVC randomly scratched tapes along the whole path. Those errors don't seem to affect every tape and even those affected don't seem to show that issue every time.

[davexnet]

Hold open the flap and take a clear picture of the tape issue and post it here.

[frankfarm]

Sure, it's a bit awkward to photograph.

[davexnet]

Try cleaning the capstan, pinch roller and the other guides
and posts.
I don't think the rotating head drum is to blame

[dellsam34]

You need to observe the tape during playback to make sure it looks steady, if it's waving, lifting up or sinking then you have a transport problem. If unsure take a 5 min video with your phone moving very slowly across the tape path and changing angles while shooting.

Alternatively, inspect the affected tapes, take them apart and see if there is any broken parts inside the cassette shell or anything unusual, Post pictures if unsure.

[timtape]

The photo isnt totally clear but it's possible the damage was incurred from the back side of the tape, not the oxide side we see in the photo. But having the tape with you, you should be better able to tell from which side of the tape the damage occurred. Then work out which stationary parts in the tape path press against the tape and from which side. This should help you narrow down which part or parts in the cassette and/or the VCR likely did the damage. It could be a small piece of hardened dirt stuck to a guide or perhaps a scratch or sharp edge in a metal part in the tape path of the VCR or cassette. There arent a lot to check.