VCR stops early in timer-recording

[fjp999]

Hi all, looks like a great group here.

I have been using this one JVC S-VHS recorder for a number of years and
it may just be getting old.

I have been using it to record a 3 hour daily morning show. No problems
except for a few days ago.

The timer recording stopped before the three hours. I noticed it and
pressed the record button three times so that it would record for
another hour and automatically stop. I let it go and then noticed that
it stopped early as well.

The next day the three hour recording stopped at exactlly the same area
causing me to think that it was maybe a tape issue. I put in another
tape for the next mornings taping and it worked. I thought that was
that but then the next day (today) this tape also ended early by about
15 mins.

The first shut down tape of a few days ago, when played, would also
shut down the vcr at the area of the memory recording shut down. It
plays then makes a strange electrical vibration noise then shuts down.
I am playing todays tape and no shut downs at all - yet...

I am guessing that it is a serious problem and just need to find a new
machine.

thanks for any suggestions that might keep this one alive.
frank

 

[Meat Plow]

Hi all, looks like a great group here.

I have been using this one JVC S-VHS recorder for a number of years and
it may just be getting old.

I have been using it to record a 3 hour daily morning show. No problems
except for a few days ago.

The timer recording stopped before the three hours. I noticed it and
pressed the record button three times so that it would record for
another hour and automatically stop. I let it go and then noticed that
it stopped early as well.

The next day the three hour recording stopped at exactlly the same area
causing me to think that it was maybe a tape issue. I put in another
tape for the next mornings taping and it worked. I thought that was
that but then the next day (today) this tape also ended early by about
15 mins.

The first shut down tape of a few days ago, when played, would also
shut down the vcr at the area of the memory recording shut down. It
plays then makes a strange electrical vibration noise then shuts down.
I am playing todays tape and no shut downs at all - yet...

I am guessing that it is a serious problem and just need to find a new
machine.

thanks for any suggestions that might keep this one alive.
frank

Could be a belt, drive wheel, roller, etc.. ever fix one?

 

[fjp999]

Nope, never really had much luck with electronics and dont think I
could do well with these fingers.

The machine just played a 2.5 hour vid with no problems. Would these
issues be possible if it was playing with no trouble then have the
issues with the timer?

thanks for responding,
frank

 

[Homer J Simpson]

The timer recording stopped before the three hours. I noticed it and
pressed the record button three times so that it would record for
another hour and automatically stop. I let it go and then noticed that
it stopped early as well.

Try a different brand of tape first.

 

[N Cook]

Hi all, looks like a great group here.

I have been using this one JVC S-VHS recorder for a number of years and
it may just be getting old.

I have been using it to record a 3 hour daily morning show. No problems
except for a few days ago.

The timer recording stopped before the three hours. I noticed it and
pressed the record button three times so that it would record for
another hour and automatically stop. I let it go and then noticed that
it stopped early as well.

The next day the three hour recording stopped at exactlly the same area
causing me to think that it was maybe a tape issue. I put in another
tape for the next mornings taping and it worked. I thought that was
that but then the next day (today) this tape also ended early by about
15 mins.

The first shut down tape of a few days ago, when played, would also
shut down the vcr at the area of the memory recording shut down. It
plays then makes a strange electrical vibration noise then shuts down.
I am playing todays tape and no shut downs at all - yet...

I am guessing that it is a serious problem and just need to find a new
machine.

thanks for any suggestions that might keep this one alive.
frank

The start of the tape only has a small diameter to wind on to the spool,
as the tape progresses the diameter increases and the amount of torque
required from the drive motor increases. At some point if the slip clutch
slips too much or a drive belt slips then it will cease to rotate, reel
rotation sensor notices this and cuts the drive to avoid great loops of tape
in the cassette. Likely to be the same for playing the ends of tapes as
well.

VCR repair briefs on my file
http://www.divdev.fsnet.co.uk/repair.htm

 

[Bob Shuman]

Check the obvious first. Make sure the tape quality is not set to SP and
you have a two hour (T-120) tape. To get 3 hours, you would need to use a
lower quality and/or an extended tape (T-160).

Bob

Nope, never really had much luck with electronics and dont think I
could do well with these fingers.

The machine just played a 2.5 hour vid with no problems. Would these
issues be possible if it was playing with no trouble then have the
issues with the timer?

thanks for responding,
frank

 

[fjp999]

Thanks everyone for their suggestions.

I have another tape in the machine which gave me the same problem
yesterday but not today. Got my three hours as instructed. And yes the
machine is set to record EP as I am already getting over two hours even
when it doesnt respond accurately.

Anyways, will mark this somewhat resolved, by itself, but will come
back for more suggestions if, cross ones fingers, that it ever returns.

thanks again all,
frank

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I have another tape in the machine which gave me the same problem
yesterday but not today. Got my three hours as instructed. And yes the
machine is set to record EP as I am already getting over two hours even
when it doesnt respond accurately.

I have many tapes which play and wind fine while one from the same batch
won't rewind and stops while recording. Some are just bad.