On a tv/dvd/vcr combo the vcr is eating tapes after running a cleaning tape - any thoughts?

VCR ?? With the possible age of the device, there could be a lot of issues with grease that is old, belts that are stretched etc. A VCR senses tape tension in order to prevent eating the tape. Clean the unit and check all the belts.

Sorry I know very little about the dvd side but my experience with several VCRs is they need cleaning sometimes just like audio tape recorders and players need cleaning. Early in my days of VCR ownership the engineer I used was sick of seeing me and taught me how to clean the heads, guides and rollers myself to restore performance and help prevent tapes being chewed. Head cleaning tapes simply did not reach the parts needing cleaning though the the wet type sometimes helped.

A VCR might work normally for several months and then suddenly it would happen again. Sometimes I needed to do a clean several times in a month. I did have a Sharp VCR once and that had something called an idler reel that would "suddenly" need replacing (several times) due to chewed tapes but other than that manual cleaning did the job every time.

Later VCRs were fitted with a self cleaner that worked well and meant there was no trouble for a long time but when the self cleaner became loaded with filth they actually made matters worse.
Matter of interest, I use clean newspaper and methylated spirit for cleaning.

Sorry,no the VCR mechanical systems pully is out wax.Not worth fixing because the VCR technology it in the past or probabally have no more parts for analonge tv or produced by the tv manufacture anymore.If u vaule ur VHS tapes,just don't used the VHS tapes in this machine.

THE VCR NEEDS REPAIRING.THE REASON WHY YOUR TAPE IS EATEN THE TAPE PATH NEEDS RE- ALIGHNMENT AND LUBICATED AS THE HEAT FROM THE TV WOULD OF DRIED THIS OUT.

Clean the tape path, that any thing the tape come in contact with. there is a roller that presses the tape against a metal guide. The roller should be dull not shining.

clean all moving parts

clean all moving parts

buy a new 1 dummy!!!

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

clean the heads and retime the gears.