Tape won't rewind on Emerson EWV603 VCR

SOURCE: Tape stuck in VCR, won't eject.

depending on th einternal design of the vcr. look for the loading/unloading mech, by finding the blak rubber belt that is looped from the motor to a pully. now turn it one way. it may thak 25 to 50 complete rotations of the belt. try turning both ways, one will load & 1 will unlaod. good luck.

SOURCE: VCR eats tape when rewinding

A couple of possibilities: 1. Braking problems: When VCR goes from FFWD, REW, Play to stop, there are a pair of "brake pads" engaged to stop the reels, and prevent tape spillage out into the machine. These pads, often rubber like, are on levers which contact one side of each reel. If you take the cover off the VCR, and look down where the tape is loaded, you will like see these brake assemblies. If the rubber pad is missing, or lever pivot points gummied up, then this is your issue. 2. Take up reel isn't being engaged to take up the tape on tape eject. When a tape is loaded into the machine, tape is pulled from the cartridge and threaded into play ready position. When eject mode is engaged, the tape must be pulled back into the cartridge, or you will have tape hanging out the front end of the cartridge, and may get caught on the VCR internals, or at least be mangled by the cartridge door. The often issue here is likely the idler assembly pivot point is sticky. This idler pivots, moving from the take-up reel (right reel) to the supply reel reel (left one), depending on what mode is selected. FFWD & play to the right, left for REW. If this idler is gummed up at it's pivot point, movement will be sluggish at best, and might not be engaging the right reel quickly enough to pull tape in before tape eject. This idler is sitting right between the reels down where the tape sits. A little light oil on the pivot point may be enough to loosen it up. Otherwise it might need to be removed and the old grease removed, and a drop or two of light oil applied.

SOURCE: Tape stuck in VCR, won't eject.

you posted 2 different problems here...
to answer this one ". The tape is stuck, won't eject and I'd like to get it out without damaging the VCR unit."...open unit, find motor that moves tape ejector and spin that motor by hand (power off)

the other problem, "the VCR will not insert a tape. It keeps rejecting it."...open unit and fully turn ejection motor until home position is reached...this is a home sensor switch not being activated.