VHS-C playback problems

[kicsrick]

Weddings coming up. Time to embarrass the child before he hitched. After searching eternally I find all the old VHS-C and Hi8 video tapes and start the capture process. Hi8, miniDV capture into Vegas just fine. So do most of the VHS-C though some are over 20 years old and are a bit reluctant. That's the background. Here's the problem. There are six of maybe 50 or more VHS-C that will not rewind or play on my machine. I have two adapters and neither work with these six tapes. I decide the tapes are not moving. Maybe the clutch mechanism (my term) is stuck. So I push in on the correct hole and the tapes turn freely. So I start exploring the tapes themselves. Visually they are identical to the working majority. Placed into the adapters, I push the clutch and yes, the tapes rotate as expected. put them in the machine, no they don't work. It a curious thing. The weekend is here for me, I'm out of time. Anyone know enough about these cartridges to suggest an investigative approach?

tanks,
rick

[filmboss80]

Find a different VHS player with a stronger rewind motor.