Clean the VCR heads
gianluigi70
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Hello, I apologize for my imperfect French!
I was in the process of transferring old VHS tapes to my PC when the VCR stopped working properly. Now I can hear the audio, but there is no video. I would like to find someone in Brussels or nearby who can help me with an effective cleaning of the VCR heads (I think that’s the problem). I tried to buy a cleaning tape and liquid to do it myself, but I'm confused because the reviews for these products often say 'not effective enough.' Thank you for your help.
The tapes I need to transfer have a lot of sentimental value.
Gian Luigi
I was in the process of transferring old VHS tapes to my PC when the VCR stopped working properly. Now I can hear the audio, but there is no video. I would like to find someone in Brussels or nearby who can help me with an effective cleaning of the VCR heads (I think that’s the problem). I tried to buy a cleaning tape and liquid to do it myself, but I'm confused because the reviews for these products often say 'not effective enough.' Thank you for your help.
The tapes I need to transfer have a lot of sentimental value.
Gian Luigi
1 answer
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Hello
you can perfectly clean the heads yourself, you just need to "not have two left hands" and be meticulous
**you open the player (usually 4 screws)
**the drum to clean is clearly visible, it's the big round white thing
you take a lint-free cloth, like "chamois leather", that you soak with special head cleaning fluid, or failing that, 90° alcohol, or failing that, methylated spirits
**you clean gently by moving around the cylinder, never vertically, several times
**check for any other dirt in the path of the tape
**let it dry, imperative, for at least 5 minutes before playing a tape
**normally it should be fine
if it happens again, identify the tape in question, it's trash now