I'm always glad to help my past buyers, or at least try to, no matter how many years have passed.
Several possible issues.
It may just be the tape, or tapes(s).
If you're sure it's not more widespread, then I'd look at the tape path. The main resistance is the middle of the path, the widest part for guides to move around. Insert mostly, but sometimes eject.
DIY tip:
- Try to lube the tape track with "white lithium grease" (about $4 for a small tube from Ace Hardware).
- Get a non-cotton (foam) swab, then squeezing the tube, swipe a tiny amount on the swab end.
- Turn off VCR, tapes ejected, unplug even.
- Be
very careful and dab several dots along the edge of the guide path, near where the guides rest (when tape NOT inserted), staying far away from the head cylinder.
- Do NOT get any of this on any rubber or plastic!
- I use both hand to keep as steady as possible.
- Take tape, insert. The guides will spread the grease for you.
- Repeat as needed.
- It should be a faint white film, not globs.
- Insert, eject, insert, eject. Your tape is essentially f'ing the VCR during this process. In, out, in, out.
- You can take dry unused swab to remove excess, even start over if you screwed it up.
If you want to first clean the path, use a non-cotton swab, alcohol (70%+ IPA), and clean. Do not get alcohol on the boards, do not douse the swab dripping.
I know you're on the ocean (literally blocks away, right?), and ocean air can be ruinous to video gear. It tends to dry up grease, rust metal, brittle rubber. The salty moisture is what does it.
