How Do I remove a jammed VHS from a VCR?

Question

I have a Panasonic VCR. I had it for ten years. I was trying to play a rental movie when the vcr stopped working. Now it can't eject my movie from the vcr nor can watch it. I Have managed to open the top of the vcr but cannot take the tape out because the vhs is stuck. I don't want to go to a service center unless it it impossible to take the vhs. Please haelp me with an easy way to take it out!

Answer 1

to add to andy

do not touch the LARGE drum. it holds the heads which are VERY fragile.

once u get it out u must open the front door by pushing in the lock tab on the side then lift it open in order to rewind the tape as the closed door locks the reels in position.

the key is getting the tape free then the mechanism will spit the cassette out.

Answer 2

Unplug Your VCR And Turn Place The Top Side On The Ground. Remove All The Screws Around The Outside Of The VCR And Remove The Shell/Case. Then Just Simply Remove The Jammed Taped If It's Visible And If Not Take It To A Electronics Shop & Get It Fixed..

Answer 3

depends on what part of the cassette loading cycle the VCR failed on!
remove the case, you will see a shiny revolving cylinder with two much smaller rollers on either side[if the tape has laced]
if you cannot see the two smaller rollers, that is good - it means that the machine failed early in its loading cycle.

the eject mechanism is usually driven by a worm drive on the right hand side of the frame surrounding the cassette.

carefully, using a small flat blade screwdriver, rotate the worm drive or the motor gear if accessible and watch the cassette . It should start to rise first then move towards the front of the player. AS THE CASSETTE LIFTS THE PROTECTIVE HINGED COVER OF THE TAPE ITSELF STARTS TO MOVE BACK OVER THE FRONT OF THE CASSETTE. IT IS THIS MOTION THAT CAN POTENTIALLY DAMAGE THE TAPE - TAKE CARE TO CAREFULLY UNLACE THE TAPE AS THE CASSETTE DRAWS OUT
its a long winded process as the motor usually runs at high speed so a little patience is required.
eventually the tape will be ejected far enough for you to extract it from the player

THIS IS THE NEXT DODGY BIT - AS THE CASSETT IS REMOVED, THE DUST COVER ON THE FRONT OF THE PLAYER WILL FLAP BACK INTO POSITION - AGAIN A POTENTIAL OF TRAPPING THE TAPE!

after the cassette is safely in your hands you should be able to manually take up the slack in the tape by winding on one of the spools with your finger

good luck
Andy

Answer 4

If you can find the load motor & try winding it backwards,then the tape may come out ok, if not there may be broken or misaligned gear in the loading or carriage mechanism.
You should notify the store where you rented the tape from, it may have been a bad tape to begin with, which means they should be responsible for the repair. Ran into lots of cases like that & for that reason you may want to take it to a repairman before you do any more damage.