Vintage VCR problem

[vcruser]

A friend gave me an old vcr, and I heard rattling inside of the case. I took the cover off, and the right guidepost is in it's place, but the left post was in the loaded position. I pushed it back into place, but it still feels loose. Any advice?

[aedipuss]

probably worth what you paid for it.

[vcruser]

I paid nothing for it actually. I did notice that the plate that holds the cassette "i think its called the carriage" is a bit loose to. It won't be the end of the world if I can't fix it. I just think it would be fun to tinker with it, perhaps getting it to work!

[aedipuss]

then by all means play with it if you have the time. what make/model is it?

[vcruser]

It's a Thomson VG2016

[vcruser]

I plugged it in, and it did turn on. I tried putting a tape in, and it did work, although its not hooked up to a TV. Also, it did not eat the tape. But the loose parts have me worried...

[aedipuss]

iirc that's a rca/ge unit - it might be worth $10 if you get it working....

[vcruser]

I never had a problem with RCA.

[aedipuss]

didn't say there was. they just made cheap units to begin with.

[vcruser]

Still, its a VCR but what should I do about the loose parts?

[aedipuss]

take it apart fully. look underneath. somethings broken or missing.

[vcruser]

Odd, as the transport seems to work.

[vcruser]

Alright, here is the problem: No picture. I watched it load with the cover off, and the left (the loose!) tape post did not wrap the tape around the head.

[vcruser]

I just noticed that when playing, the sound starts to break up then it sounds like it's eating the tape but it actually does not eat it.

[johns0]

Sound like the left tape guide assembly came apart and the loose part came off it,might be screw or a broken part,take the bottom cover off,if you can't see the bottom of the gear assembly because of the main pcb then you need to take the main loading assembly off which is usually 4 larger screws one on each corner,

If you can't do that then it's not worth repairing as second hand vcrs are very cheap.

[vcruser]

I can see the loading gears from the bottom, and I can't find the piece that is rattling.

[vcruser]

What now?

[johns0]

It might have fallen out,shake the vcr to see if the part is still in it.

[vcruser]

It's still rattling but nothing is falling out. If you want I can post pictures of the inside.

[johns0]

Ya,post a pic.

[vcruser]

I can post a picture of the top now, the bottom will have to wait until tomorrow.

[vcruser]

Okay here it is

[vcruser]

I do hope it posted...

[johns0]

Can you post a pic of the bottom of the vcr in higher resolution,can't see anything from the top except that the left guide isn't at the top where it should be.

[vcruser]

I will tomorrow, it's just too dark to take pictures now.

[vcruser]

And my only camera is my kindle fire, so... could be blurry because it was a bit dark.

[vcruser]

I will try to find my micro sd adapter so I can take clearer pictures, if that would help

[vcruser]

Okay here is a picture of the bottom

[johns0]

Can you take a picture of the vcr from the top with the video cassette totally removed?

[vcruser]

Well, I found the part that was rattling around, it was a tiny bit of plastic that looks like it came from a gear. I also noticed a spring that is not really connected to anything... so I know where that part came from, but I don't think I can take the gears off.