My JVC HR-S9600U is rippling the top edge of some of my VHS tapes at the first few minutes of certain tapes (that seem otherwise fine).
I opened the deck up, and the ripple seems to be happening as soon the tape passes over the guide pin at the very end of the transport before the tape goes back into the cassette, (see attached photo where pen is pointing).
Upon closer inspection (second picture), the pin appears to have a tapered groove at the top of the pin just under the wider top portion. It seems like tensioned tape being pulled across this non-flat surface may be causing the edge rippling at the top of the tape. The service manual shows that part is sold as an guide arm assembly, LP40106-002E.
Can anyone with an HR-S9600U check to see if the guide pin on a working deck has that same groove in it? If a good one is not like that and is smooth all the way up the pin, that would be a pretty easy replacement. If a good deck looks the same are there any other adjustments that could be made to resolve the issue?
Thank you in advance
Edit:
Higher resolution imgur link