Camcorder eating tapes

The reason that a tape player eats tapes is that the take up reel is not turning, There is a sensor that shuts off the machine if the take up reel is not turning. The tape goes between the pinch roller and capstan which pull the tape out of the supply side of the cassette. Since the take up reel is not turning the tape that is pulled out spills into the mechanism of the tape deck, so if it did not shut off about 2 more inches of tape would continue being pulled out of the cassette every second. There is a mechanical problem on the back side of the tape player. A reel, a belt, or a pulley.
If it will not FF it is likely a small belt.

Lots of parts can damage the tape. For example if the tape is not pulled back inside when it ejects. Another good cause is the pinch roller being damaged or out of place.
The best way to find out is put an old tape in the machine (or at least one that you don't mind be chewed up, whilst the top cover is off and you can watch the tape playing. You should be able to see the problem then and take action to correct it.

Clean the rollers of the tape transport mechanism with spirit, failing which you can use whisky as well. just wet and squeeze the swab. dont have it dripping whisky all over and get it intoxicated.

Canon NTSC ZR25 MC Digital video camcorder is eating the tape. I've loaded a new tape and get an "eject tape" message each time. Does anyone know how to fix this issue?

ya sounds like a bad tape loader. your estimate sounds about right. tape sensors also go bad so I would have them check it also.

The capten belt slipped from the motor.so remoce the mechanisum and fix with a new one.

Have you cleaned the tape deck using a DV tape cleaner?

Chances are that that "milky substance" has gummed up the works. Sounds like the pinch roller (the rubber wheel that draws the tape through the machine) may have gunk on it, so when you put a tape in and push play, the tape sticks to it, and simply wraps the tape rounmd and round.... eating the tape - as you say. The capstan SHAFT (see below) could also be dirty. Another possibility is that the take up spool (in the machine) is gunked up so it won't turn - so that the tape is spooled OUT of the cassette and is scrunched up inside the machine and the machine eats it.

There are OTHER scenarios, BUT ALL (including the above) require taking the machine apart and throughly cleaning it with alcohol (or - depending on what you're cleaning - even soap and water!).

Cleaning the capstan pinch roller and the capstan SHAFT concievable could solve your problem. The capstan shaft is the shiny metal shaft that pulls the tape through; the pinch roller "pinches" the tape AGAINST the capstan shaft which is how the tape plays.)

It's hard to "get in there" to do this cleaning (not to mention even SEE what's going on) short of taking the mache apart.

When a VCR eats a tape, it can be cause by a couple things.

1. There is a rubber wheel called a "pincher wheel" that compresses the tape against the "capstan". The capstan is a shiny metal spindle connected to a motor. The pincher wheel can become worn and/or dirty (slick) from the oxide coating off of the tape. You can try cleaning the pincher wheel and capstan with alcohol or try using a re-grip solution on the pincher wheel. Last thing to do is replace the pincher wheel. Look to see that the pincher wheel is doing its job by pulling the tape through.

2. There is a small tire wheel called an idler tire. This tire pivots between the sending and pickup reels of the player. Its also used during fast forward & rewind as well as play. If the tire is worn, the tape won't be wound up as fast on the take-up reel as the sending reel during play. This means more tape is coming out of the cassette than can be wound up on the takeup reel. You can try using a re-grip solution on the idler tire or replace it.

Let me know if you need more information as to where to purchase these parts.

Good luck!
- Jim

When a VCR eats a tape, it can be cause by a couple things.

1. There is a rubber wheel called a "pincher wheel" that compresses the tape against the "capstan". The capstan is a shiny metal spindle connected to a motor. The pincher wheel can become worn and/or dirty (slick) from the oxide coating off of the tape. You can try cleaning the pincher wheel and capstan with alcohol or try using a re-grip solution on the pincher wheel. Last thing to do is replace the pincher wheel. Look to see that the pincher wheel is doing its job by pulling the tape through. The pincher wheel & capstan are not used during a fast forward or fast rewind, so if your tape is getting caught during the FF or RW and not Play, it's probably not related to capstan & pincher wheel.

2. There is a small tire wheel called an idler tire. This tire pivots between the sending and pickup reels of the player. Its also used during fast forward & rewind as well as play. If the tire is worn, the tape won't be wound up as fast on the take-up reel as the sending reel during play. This means more tape is coming out of the cassette than can be wound up on the takeup reel. You can try using a re-grip solution on the idler tire or replace it.
3. You didn't say if the unit played ok. There's also a brake pad that is designed to grab and stop the tape wheels from spinning when you hit stop. If those pads are worn, the wheels will not stop fast enough and the tape will continue to feed (spool) out of the cassette and not be taken up by the other wheel.

So when when you hit eject, the excess tape that should have been wound up tight in the cassette before the eject sequence, is getting caught inside the player.

Let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.

Good luck!
- Jim