I got this vcr some years ago, it was one of the most expensive in the store. I am a bit of a environmentalist too, so I would much rather fix then replace. Add to that the fact that even finding a VCR that records is in itself difficult now adays...
Anyway here is the problem.
If I have been recording for awhile(hour or so?), the VCR starts recording a strange kind of noise onto the tape. The picture shifts or jitters at spots like tiny hooks are pulling at the image misaligning it in spots horizontally. This happens only for a moment but at regular intervals every 4 seconds or so?(not sure of exact time) the sound is slightly distorted too at the exact same spot as the picture. As playback goes on, this effect gets stronger. It is not the tape.
When it is recording, at the point where it starts recording the noise onto the tape, I can hear a kind of squeaking rubbing sound that is difficult to explain at regular intervals equal to the noise/ distortion on the tape which just like the recording itself gets louder as it continues recording.
If I dont use the vcr for some time this effect goes away. But more then say a hour or two of nonuse is required before I can get a half hour/hour of record time relatively noise free.
Talking to repair shops, I get the old "Probably not worth the money to repair, but if you come in, we will do what ever, then charge you (lots of money)" chestnut. General opinion points to it possibly being the motor, and that buying a new motor would be prohibitively expensive.(for the value of the item in question)
If it is the motor, Does the motor have to be exactly for that model? Or could a similar motor be made to work? Could I just open it up, find the motor,(not entirely sure what to look for) and clobber it with a bit of bike chain lub?
Another issue is that the VCR does not accept tapes feed into it well all the time. The solution usually to push it in lightly for a short bit of the distance.Otherwise the tape gets stuck at a spot three quarters back or so, as it struggles to pull it in for a time till it gives up and spits it back out. Sometimes it doesn't spit it back out all the way though, leaving me to actually have to tilt the vcr foreward to get the tap to come out via gravity (otherwise I can't push it in or eject it) The pushing it in a bit method works fine for now (if I remember) but I worry that it might get worse eventually.
Is the motor that is responsible for drawing in the tape different then the one responsible for playing and recording on tapes?