VCR parts unavailable, irreparable now?

[vikinagy97]

I have a FUNAI 31D-850 VCR and its pinch roller is not good anymore. A mechanic said that the pinch roller got damaged because of using 240 min. tapes. He also said that it cannot be neither replaced nor repaired.

However, I have found a (Hungarian) Facebook group in which the members repair VCRs. They also say that certain parts can be asked to be manufactured. I have also read there that a pinch roller can be repaired by abrading its surface, eliminating the layer that got too hard after many years of use. I have talked about this FB group with the mechanic, and he said that a manufactured part cannot be good. So, I don't know, cannot decide, who is right: the mechanic or the Facebook group?

[hodgey]

I believe there are people that do custom make pinch rollers for cassette tape/reel to reel tape players at least. I don't think it would really be worth it for this vcr though, it's a 2000s funai so very cheaply made. The pinch rollers on vcrs are typically attached with a plastic retainer thingy that can be pulled out to swap it. If you have some specific attachment/need for the vcr there are millions of these out there you could salvage one from (one from a different brand from the time might work as well.)

There are certainly also ways to try to make a bad pinch roller less bad like sanding, washing, treating with acetone etc that can be an option.

[latreche34]

Pinch rollers have common sizes, Post the outer diameter of the pinch roller in mm the hole size and I will help you find one. Keep in mind that pich roller diameter is not important as long the contact point with the capstan shaft does not change, Inner diameter however is very important. The length of the pinch roller is the same for the format.

[vikinagy97]

A mechanic measured the sizes of the roller and made this drawing.

[latreche34]

Where can you get your parts from? I'm not sure what's available in Hungary, What online websites you shop from?

[vikinagy97]

I have bought things from eBay, but LS says that it's not recommended to buy video gear from eBay. Can you link a webshop where this pinch roller is available? And I will see whether the seller ships to Hungary or not.

[latreche34]

If you don't know what you are buying it is not recommended to buy from anywhwere, But can you find pinch rollers in your local store?

Since eBay is your only choice then you just type in VCR pinch roller in the search bar, set the shipping location to your country and browse thru the results and see the right match to your part, Note, the best way to determine the inner diameter of the pinch roller is to remove it from the shaft and measure the shaft thickness with a digital caliper since you can't measure it at the center of the pinch roller, There is no guarantee you get the right part if you don't do this.

[vikinagy97]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36408159786...Bk9SR4qQgIXuYQ

It is good for FUNAI and also for PHILIPS VCRs. Would it be good?

I do not have a digital caliper; I cannot measure it. But a mechanic measured it (I don't know if he did it with a digital caliper or not) and I attached the drawing on a photo.

[latreche34]

No, I would not be able to tel you if the part is good or not, I showed you how to measure the part, That's all what I can do so far.

[vikinagy97]

But the mechanic didn't measured it well? What he measured, cannot be the size of a pinch roller? In TV and video services, they usually have a (digital or analog) caliper, don't they? (I think they do, for cases like this, measuring a part of a device.)

[vikinagy97]

Would it be better if I uploaded a photo of the roller itself?

[hodgey]

It looks to be a new original part though not sure if it's worth spending that much on a 2000s Funai VCR, you can find these VCRs sold for less than the price of that roller.