Emerson EWD2004 vcr eating vcr tapes

This is caused by mechanical problems in the VCR. Depending on the age and maker of the VCR, the take-up reel in the cassette is driven by a gear, a belt or a rubber wheel. This isn't happening properly in your VCR, so the tape is piling up inside. Given the low cost of replacement combo players (I don't think you can find just a VCR these days), it's not worth having repaired. You can expect to spend $60 to $100 on a repair for this kind of trouble, assuming there are even shops still willing to take the machine in.

The usual problem with VCR's that eat tape is the rollers and belts that they use , over time they become warn and stretched .
This happens particularly with the pinch wheel that feeds the tape through to the guide rollers that pass the tape around the spinning helical scan head system .. one guide roller folds around mechanically each side of the head and locks into position
the tape runs off the feed roller in the tape cassette on the left of the machine , past the control and sound head also on the right with a roller to effect good contact on to the the head rollers that then pass the tape around the head in a precise track to scan the tape off from there to a tension arm that keeps the tape against the scan head to the pinch roller that pulls the tape through the machine if this wears the tape will rise and fall on the roller shafts causing tape damage .. also after the pinch wheel is the take up spool back in the cassette that should it stop will cause the tape to fold thus causing damage to tape ( there is a sensor on the spools that should tell the machine when they have stopped a magnet attached to the spool base passes a control head at regular intervals confirming to the tape deck mechanism that the tape is moving ) all the movement within the deck is monitored but unfortunately slow to react and by the time they have registered the damage to the tape is usually done . That is why it is so important for pinch rollers and drive belts to be in prime condition and should be replaced on a regular basis . This can be quite a complicated process and requires some dismantling of the machine both mechanical and electrical , it can be accomplished by a dexterous layman but is not advised .
Regards Vortash
It is advised that only qualified engineers should try to repair electronic equipment for obvious safety reasons ..