JVC HR-DVS1 eject fault?
 

I have had a JVC HR-DVS1 for a number of years. Just recently it developed a fault.
When ejecting it goes through the motions and ejects the tape cartridge but it does not unwind/release the tape off teh rollers. As a result the tape gets all tangled up and stuck/damaged inside.
I have contacted a few repair workshops locally but they show no interest.

Clean and lube the entire mechanism, and clean the mode switch, these tasks are not for the average person though.

I don't see how this could be the mode switch.
Not even sure about lube.
Motors/drives, belts, gears -- those are more likely here, mechanical issue.

Service manual needed. HR-DVS1 is same as SR-VS10.

If it doesn't unwind the tape means the capstan motor is not getting the cycle signal to rewind the tape from the mode switch, This can be confirmed if the deck fast rewind the tape successfully. If it's a belt the VCR will eat the tape, the OP hasn't mentioned that, so that's why I think it's a cycle completion problem. Anyway, this is the kind of problems that can't be fixed over a forum, We don't see what's going on with his machine, and he doesn't know what questions to ask.

It fast forwads, rewinds and plays fine. Its just the eject function.
I appreciate this is a hard question and best answered by an engineer but finding one is not easy.

I don't know if this will help you but over on the tapeheads.net forum, if you are willing to spend the dough you mind find one there if you don't feel confident to tackle it yourself. I believe pacific stereo (the sites owner) knew a lot about servicing these things but not sure if he still does. You cannot really service the mechanism of these yourself beyond some basic replacements without proper test gear due to alignment. Basic things like belts or mode switches should be ruled out. I've been a member there for years and finding a technician who will do any tape machine (for a price) is possible and I have had work done on a WM-D6C there.

If you can post a video of it doing what it does, that might give some insight. I've probably worked on 20 of these mechanisms and usually anything mechanical can be sorted out, it's the electrical gremlins that are harder in my personal experience - namely if the unit won't power on at all, but luckily you are not having that.

If I had to guess, something has probably slipped a tooth in terms of the mechanism timing since that's really what controls when the pinch roller is engaged or not.

I could almost certainly fix it for you for $100 plus return USA shipping (I wouldn't charge if I can't fix it other than return shipping), but by then, you might be better off getting a different unit depending on how much money you want to sink into it.

I've seen this fault before on some VCR brands where the tension arm on the left side gets gummed up and won't retract and release the tape quickly resulting in a tape left behind when ejecting. So you may want to look into that and also check the supply reel table tension belt to make sure it is not holding the reel when it's called for winding the tape.

FYI, ya'll are bumping a post from almost 2 months ago. ;)