Repair options for defective JVC HR-S9600 VCR?
 

Hello,
I’m planning to digitize old skate-videos on VHS (professional releases that were once commercially available in retail stores).

My goal is to achieve the highest possible image quality. I’ve already digitized several tapes using the following setup:
Targa DPV-5100x (VHS player) → Panasonic DMR-EH495 (A/D converter) → HDMI splitter (to bypass HDCP) → Blackmagic Video Assist 7" (recording device).

Now I’d like to further improve the overall image and sound quality, so I recently bought a used JVC HR-S9600 on Kleinanzeigen — a German marketplace for used gear.
Unfortunately, it arrived already defective — the player doesn’t keep the tape inside and ejects it right away, sometimes even causing tape jams.

Here are two videos showing the issue:
Video 1 (right after receiving the unit):
https://youtube.com/shorts/gmE57w-qx...AurQU9SYI2-K6l

Video 2 (a few months later, the device wasn’t used in between):
https://youtu.be/ssVmadt1VO8?si=QayAldU7xdaVAvbt

The seller refused to issue a refund, so I had the unit inspected by a local repair service here in Leipzig.
Diagnosis: “Mode select switch defective / Capstan control defective / Replacement part no longer available. According to the manufacturer, production of the part is discontinued.”

I’d still like to give the player another chance, so I’m looking for another repair option.
My second option would be to sell the JVC as partially defective and buy another VHS player that’s less likely to arrive broken or fail soon after purchase.

Does anyone know a repair shop or specialist for the JVC HR-S9600?
Alternatively, can you recommend another VHS deck in a similar performance class?

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will come along with a better response, but I had a thought.

You can ask your repairman if they can get what they need from a parts unit, and if they can, they actually seem reasonably priced on ebay.de (compared to US Prices at least.)

Good luck! I'd love to capture some rare skate videos. It has crossed my mind before.

If you were in the USA, I'd say I could fully refurb the 9600 for a fee, but shipping it back and forth across the Atlantic ocean probably isn't worth the shipping costs and various tariff/import fees.

One thing of note - that 9600 machine has definitely been "messed with." The head drum is completely disconnected - the ribbon that plugs into the green connector is not inserted into the green connector at all and there's no way this machine worked when it was shipped as all of the video signals from the tape go through there. That's probably not causing your loading issue though since it should still load as normal without that, you just won't get a picture output.

The head drum ribbon being disconnected at this point isn't necessarily a bad thing since you'd need to disconnect that to remove the deck and that's one of the most risky things about pilling the deck is that you can damage that ribbon.

The P2 and P3 guides not attempting to pull the tape out says says to me that something is definitely missing or disconnected underneath the deck, so that's going to need to be pulled to see what's going on underneath.

I was looking into sending things off to other countries for repairs, and if you document that the item came from Germany, and was returned back to Germany after repair (country of origin for repairs would be US) -You will only be billed with tariffs on the repair cost. as long as you file the paperwork properly.

The shipping may be cost prohibitive though. I just ran some numbers and it would cost about $117 to ship the HR-S9600 from California to Germany. Probably closer to $100 from the east coast. Might be worth it if he can get a full refurb. It's a nice VCR to own fully refurbished.

In your test(3) lights are on the vcr and the tape sensors (left and right side) don't like light-> tape eject / shutdown...classic
Not saying the capstan can't fail on these jvc's, i have yet to see one fail ( hr-s8600, hr-s7700, hr-s7600, dd869, J595, V505 etc..)
And the mode switch -> big deal, just clean it

As themaster1 described. Cover sensors or place something like a sheet of cardboard above. This is described in SM too, the same for JVC and Panasonic (from K mechanism, not related to G). Or try in low light.