JVC HR-S8700EK fault with cassette loading mechanism?
 

Hi all,

I bought a JVC HR-S8700EK S-VHS this week in need of repair. I've wanted for some time to own one of the later VCRs with timebase in order to digitally capture old family camcorder recordings with a decent approach. The VCR powers on with the LCD display functioning and front panel buttons responding but cassettes are not loading in. When you push the cassette in so far where I think the motor is supposed to engage and continue the cassette fully in and down whilst pushing the tape around the drum there is no action. The tape just resists at that point and won't go in any further. I'm not sure whether there is anything jammed within the mechanism, I've removed the lid and there doesn't appear to be anything obviously amiss, bent or broken although I have little to no knowledge with loading mechanisms other than what I've tried to pick up watching various videos this week. I'm unsure whether a dirty mode switch would cause these particular symptoms. Looking at a video on You Tube of a similar model in the JVC range, the S8600EK when that VCR is first powered on there is activity with the dynamic drum which the person filming describes as it reseting its position. My 8700EK does nothing with the dynamic drum when it's powered on so I'm wondering if there is an electronic failure whereby there is no power to the part of the sytem with the motor? or could it just be that the mode switch is faulty/dirty so the system is not initialising and going any further? I've just now downloaded the service manual for the S8600EK so I will read through that now but any advice you have for what first steps I should take in diagnosing the fault/s would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks.

Looks similar
 

Something like that is happening to my Marantz MV5100 (JVC clone). Did you find a fix? I find if I manually move the main loading gear a little bit against a little resistance, the tape loads and then functions as normal.