Trouble with VCR

[monokrom]

Hello!
Hopefully someone here might be able to help me with this problem. I have a Samsung SV-230X VCR. Yesterday it really made a number on my tape and unspooled it, and on top of this I can't get the cassette out of my VCR Frown See picture here: https://forum.videohelp.com/images/imgfiles/xWtBolNh.jpg and here: https://forum.videohelp.com/images/imgfiles/IeDaMCXh.jpg

Is there any way of getting the tape out without destroying it. I've been reading in the service manual and it seems it should be possible to manually rewind the tape while it's still in the VCR and then ejecting it. https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1111529/Samsung-Sv-637b.html?page=2#manual

I have however never done this before and just the simple instructions in the service manual goes a bit above my head. Is there anything else I can do or does anyone here got any suggestions?

I should probably also mention that saving the tape is a higher priority than saving the VCR.

Thanks in advance!

[JVRaines]

Wow, that is a particularly bad English translation. I have no idea what the manual is talking about.

Unloading the tape is performed by a motor. The idea is to turn the motor by hand (either at the shaft or a connecting part as close to the shaft as possible) and the machine will unload in slow motion. It can take a LOT of manual turns, by the way. While you are doing this, you have watch for any little mechanical catches that must be released and also keep the tape from getting hung up in the works. The last step is holding the cassette door open as the loader rises so it won't snap shut on the tape. (Or let it snap shut and live with the creases.)

[monokrom]

Good to hear I'm not completely lost then but that the manual is weirdly written.
Anyway, I actually managed to unlock the cogwheels that ejects the tape and get it out manually. Unfortunately I managed to get some creasing in one place of the tape but at least I got it out in one piece. Is it probable that the tape is completely unwatchable or should it just be the creased area that is damaged? I'm mainly wondering if there is any risk of issues with the tape getting stuck/unspooled again etc. when playing it?

[JVRaines]

The tape should be fine where it is smooth and uncreased. You may find that playing the creased section a few times improves it as it runs through the pinch roller. It will also flatten a bit after being packed on the reel for a few weeks.

I would not play any more tapes in this machine until it's repaired. It's likely that the takeup spindle is not being properly driven.