How many motors are used to rewind a VHS tape?
 

I’m trying to build a DIY tape rewinder/cleaner and I have it largely figured out but am curious when it comes to rewind/fast forward. I have 2 motors but don’t know if a VCR uses one motor to pull the tape to the right when fast forwarding and then uses the other to pull to the left in rewind and therefore only uses a single motor or does it actually use both motors together when fast forward/rewinding? Does anyone know the answer to this?

Thanks

It uses the capstan motor for both rewinding and fast forwarding by switching gears, Some high end VHS and Beta machines use direct drive hub motors, one motor for each hub.

Some VCR's use one central motor for both forward and reverse but the motor can only wind one reel at a time, not both at once.

Most rewinders just use a single motor. They are pretty cheap pieces of hardware. I have several.
However, they use a less powerfull motor than vhs decks.
Keep that in mind, since using a vhs deck motor you could cut or broke a tape. I have.

My recommendation, if you want a device for cleaning and rewind tapes: use a Panasonic J series deck.
J40, J45, J46, J48, there are several models (it varies deppending on continent/zone).

The J mechanism is different from regular decks: when FF or Rewinding, the tape IS NOT on the head. It takes it away from it to prevent wear. This allows you to rewind and clean the tape in the process.
I recommend having one just for this purpose.

Ofesad