A VHS tape has been stuck in my Hitachi F361 4 head Hi-Fi VCR for a long time. As far as I can tell the tape is intact (not broken). I just can't get the VCR to eject the tape. I've tried plugging & unplugging it and even opening it up to see if there is a button or spring mechanism I can trip to release the tape, but so far no luck. I'd really like to retrieve the tape. Can anyone help?
If you don't see a loading motor near the carriage assembly, the capstan motor is used to eject the tape. If so, and you want the tape out without being damaged, you've got to get under the metal base. Unless you can turn the capstan shaft, what pulls the tape through, from the top.
Thanks for your help! If you hadn't told me about getting under the base I never would have known. As far as what else to do; I just answered my own question. I turned all the plastic gears until the tape released and then I pulled it out. Would you recommend not inserting another tape and forgeting about the VCR or would you try using the VCR again?
You can try using it. Sometimes they just get stuck in a certain mode and don't know what to do. Now that you know how to get the tape out, try a tape you don't care about and see if it works. It probably won't work, but it might.
I turned the VCR on and it only stays on for about 5 seconds then it shuts itself off. So I can't put a tape in. I guess I should just forget about using it again unless you think there's something else I can do?
I had the same problem -- almost exactly a year later, yesterday. I Googled, found your post, I got my tape out and fixed the problem. Too hard to write it all out. Email me and we can talk -- if you even still have the unit.