VHS Cassette -- Magnetic Tape Split off From Leader

[MrEightThreeOne]

Hello all! I once posted a few questions on this forum with regard to tape captures, and now I'm back with another dilemma on my hands that I wondered if anyone here knew the best way to resolve. Pardon if this is the wrong category, feel free to move it if not.

I was capturing one of our family home videos. However, something went wrong during the capture (the short -- I forgot to pull up my mouse jiggle program, and Amarec doesn't override the computer's idle settings so the capture suffers in quality if you leave the computer alone too long). So, I rewound the tape so I could restart the capture from the beginning. However, I think it failed to stop one of the spools from spinning, because when it reached the start, it ripped the tape leader (the clear translucent part at the start) off from the magnetic tape. Now I'm not sure what to do to fix it. Obviously, the easiest method is to use Scotch tape to join the two parts back together again, but I was wondering if there was a more permanent fix. It isn't like I'm going to be repeatedly using this tape after I'm done, but I can't imagine Scotch tape will hold up for very long, certainly not as long as the adhesive that's usually used to join these two parts together. And yes, I know my goal with this is to digitize these tapes for the long term, but still, preserving the original masters as long as I can is in my best interest. Would it be better to find someone who could repair the tape for me?

Help would be greatly appreciated!

[Cornucopia]

99% of VHS tapes use hubs that are plastic with a plastic snap-in, in-line locking tab. You can use a tweaker (skinny flathead screwdriver) to pry it out of the hub, then just run the loose end of the tape in the depression and then press the snap-in tab back into where it should rest. DONE!


Scott

[MrEightThreeOne]

99% of VHS tapes use hubs that are plastic with a plastic snap-in, in-line locking tab. You can use a tweaker (skinny flathead screwdriver) to pry it out of the hub, then just run the loose end of the tape in the depression and then press the snap-in tab back into where it should rest. DONE!


Scott

Thank you for the pointer, but I believe you misread it. The leader literally split from the magnetic tape; the leader is still tucked into the spool just fine. This isn't a matter of putting the leader back in, it's rejoining the two halves together.

[dellsam34]

Yes, that's what he explained to you, remove the clear leader and insert the tape directly into the reel's hub, you risk breaking it again though since the VCR no longer knows when to stop the rewind. Although using Scotch adhesive tape would last for years in climate controlled rooms, You can still get tape splicing supplies if you don't trust Scotch adhesive tapes.

[Cornucopia]

Don't use scotch, it's too gummy, which could wreak havoc with the heads, rollers.
Actual splicing tape, or nothing. Unless you have something SUPER IMPORTANT at the VERY BEGINNING of the reel, it is much easier just to skip taping the splices, and just attatch the mag end.


Scott

[MrEightThreeOne]

Okay, my mistake. Most of the things I found online were based on the scenario where the leader snapped off, so I had figured that was what was thought.

Still, I can't say I'm on board with that idea. This tape has stuff literally the moment it starts (again, it's a family home video) and I would hate to lose that. Plus, I wouldn't want to risk more tape damage. So it looks like tape splicing kits will be the way to go for me. Thank you for the pointers!


As far as Scotch tape being "too gummy", I'm curious to know how that would be an issue? As far as I know, I wouldn't be leaving any adhesive exposed at all, and I don't see how the adhesive could bleed through. But I'm all ears if there's a reason.

[Cornucopia]

Adhesives work much like a slow liquid, so it will flow out the sides and onto the edge and then the other side, and then it WILL be touching the heads and rollers, And if it is gummy, this messes up the speed of the rollers (and worsens the timebase), but worse it can get into the heads and ruin the contact (and lose signal) and/or catch a section of tape and start eating it up.

But by all means, use scotch tape if you aren't worried about the longevity of the tape or the deck. /s

Btw, If you attach the mag end, you might be losing AT MOST ~3-5 seconds of footage.


Scott

[timtape]

Ordinary sticky tape is OK for a while but eventually the adhesive can ooze out from underneath the clear base and some can become transferred onto adjacent tape winds. When the tape is unwound at those points it's not pretty. Often permanent damage to the tape at multiple points. This is so for all tape formats.

Possibly the original splicing tape in your cassettes had dried out and let go, which is common. It may happen again with your tapes. I suggest buying an inexpensive (1/2") VHS/Betamax tape splicer and some 1/2" splicing tape or precut tabs. Follow the instructions including wearing cotton gloves. Of course never attach the slicing tape to the wrong side of the tape as it may destroy your VCR's video heads when they crash into it at high speed. Always attach on the in side of the tape as it's wound onto the reel.

In the world of pro audio and video tape transfers, cleaning up the residue of old splices with suitable solvents and remaking them with new splicing tape is just part of daily work. Real tape transfers are very hands on, and it's the transfer which is the most important part of the process, contrary to views that "restoration" is confined to the later process with software and mouse clicks. Before making an important splice on your actual valuable tapes, maybe hone your cleaning and splicing skills on an unimportant old tape.

Another issue is that many of the later VCR's kept the tape fully engaged with the spinning head drum at all times. Dont assume that in Rewind or Fast Forward the tape is only winding within its cassette. I keep some early model VCR's so I can wind unknown tapes through without them being withdrawn from the cassette and threaded through the machine's complicated tape path. We never know if someone has ignorantly made a tape splice mid reel or there is some other tape damage which can damage the machine and the tape.

The splice between the clear leader and the mag tape is designed not to touch the actual spinning heads. The VCR is designed to sense the clear leader optically and stop the tape before that point. Possibly too your VCR's brakes arent up to spec and werent able to stop the reels before too much tension was placed on that possibly already weakened splice.

[MrEightThreeOne]

Okay, sounds good! Splicing tape it is then. You guys seem to know very well what will happen, and since this is such an important tape to me and my family, I will spare no expense in making sure I do this right. Where is the best source for splicing tape? I see Amazon has a few offers for splicing tape, but I know Amazon is also...well, Amazon, haha. I see a few deals where you can buy splicing tape supplied with trays that you lay tape down on for doing the splice which will be really handy. Just curious if there is a trusted store you guys use. I have had this VCR rip the leader off one other tape in the past, but it was on a commercial tape that didn't really have much value so I just chunked it without bothering to repair it. It does seem unusually aggressive when reaching the start while rewinding (it's a JVC-SRV101US for those curious), so I may just try to avoid rewinding to the start on this VCR from now on. I do have a tape rewinder but I need to replace it, it has a nasty habit of not stopping even when the tape reaches the end.

Yes, even losing 3-5 seconds of video is a deal breaker for me here; 100% non negotiable as far as I'm aware. Sorry, not trying to be difficult, but this tape is really important to me and I'm not willing to sacrifice it if I have other better options, which I do appear to here.

Way ahead of you guys on trying it on a tape that doesn't hold much value first. In fact, just the other night, I did that exact thing on a commercial tape that I intentionally sacrificed just to see if it was reparable to give myself a peace of mind. The solution was extremely inelegant -- just Scotch tape wrapped around the leader and magnetic tape, without me really bothering with proper alignment -- but it at least proved the concept worked in theory. It didn't need to be good either, I just wanted to know if it was fixable. I'll probably continue to use that tape to do some practicing on before I nail down.

Thanks again for all you guys' help! It's very appreciated!

[Alwyn]

...

[Alwyn]

I do have a tape rewinder but I need to replace it, it has a nasty habit of not stopping even when the tape reaches the end.

I found that out the hard way, I inherited a rewinder but after a snap, I realised it doesn't have the optical sensor and just crash-stopped at the end. WOFTAM!

[Cornucopia]

Get it from a reputable AV retail distributor: B&H, Sweerwater, Markertek, etc.

And to do it right, you should also have a splicing block on hand for a tape aligning & cutting guide. (And demag safety razors). VHS is 1/2" width, IIRC.


Scott

[MrEightThreeOne]

Cool! I don't think I need any cutting tools because I just need to tape the two parts back together. Appreciate all the help! I'll come back here if I have any questions about what I'm thinking of buying. Feel free to let me know of anything else!

[lordsmurf]

Yes, that's what he explained to you, remove the clear leader and insert the tape directly into the reel's hub

I've done this, but with the tape (video) being taped (adhesive) from one side, with clear 1.6mil sealing tape. If gives the reinforcement needed, even if hub clamp is tighter fit. In some cases, I use a knife on the hub clamp, to scrape away a tiny <1mm clearance boost.

There's many ways to repair tapes. Sometimes a permanent fix isn't as needed as a "just play it one more time" fix.

This is why good recording practice was needed when the tapes were originally made. The first few minutes of a tape should be blank or nothing. And yet, we all know people would press the record button at the exact moment when singing "Happy Birthday". (See also issues with DV transfer, as it misses seconds of footage actually on the DV tapes when transferred via analog!)

[MrEightThreeOne]

Just want to give an update to this: I got the last tool in the mail today that I needed (a splicing block) and I did the repair. The tape is working again! Woohoo! All the way back to the start and everything -- not a single second was lost!

The damage was actually crazier than I realized. It didn't rip the adhesive off...the leader actually *split in half*. Yikes. This is the second tape this VCR (a JVC SR-V101US) has ruined in such a way too, so I will probably never rewind a tape all the way in this machine again. I'm just thankful it was the leader that split and not the magnetic tape.

I've already done a capture of the tape. My splicing tape wasn't quiiiiite perfectly aligned but I think it should be fine. Hopefully this is the last time I need to play this tape. Thank you all so much again for all your help! You all really helped me out of a jam, and now I have the tools I need in case it ever happens again (it probably won't, but you never know haha). I appreciate it!

[rgr]

99% of VHS tapes use hubs that are plastic with a plastic snap-in, in-line locking tab. You can use a tweaker (skinny flathead screwdriver) to pry it out of the hub, then just run the loose end of the tape in the depression and then press the snap-in tab back into where it should rest. DONE!


Scott

Thank you for the pointer, but I believe you misread it. The leader literally split from the magnetic tape; the leader is still tucked into the spool just fine. This isn't a matter of putting the leader back in, it's rejoining the two halves together.

You can use thin adhesive tape and glue it. Important -- glue only from the bottom. Not from the top, because that's where the head works. I've done it many times.