1986 Sharp vcr model VC6847U rubber wheel
 

The wheel that moves left or right to turn tape is hardened and cracked. Where do i look for a replacement?

You could try rubber rejuvinator or just get the dimensions and buy a new tire. Parts are getting hard to come by!

From http://www.russellind.com/prbline/

VC-6847 ...........REEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1425-64
...................LOADING . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1407-464
...................SENSOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1425-22
...................IDLER ASSY. . . . . . . . . . . . .1408-144
...................IDLER TIRE . . . . . . . . . . . .1428-91

Specs here..
http://www.russellind.com/EVG/idler.htm

This might help too...

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php...1&d=1688916962

Tire for VA63, is that it?

I believe so. ST1.016. Measure yours before ordering it!

In the past I have just used a standard o-ring to replace the idler tire. This doesn't work on all VCRs but on ones it does the VCR works fine. Idler tires and parts are getting hard to find which is expected as there is not enough demand any more which I don't like but this true for all old obsolete things I'm afraid.

Cracked idler tire in this Sharp VCR was very common problem. It would need to be replaced. This fairly poor idler-tire design was responsible for Sharp's lower than expected VCR reliability score by Consumer Reports in their 1990-1994 survey questionnaires, reported by owners.

I like the o-ring idea! I did the same thing with brakes on a mid-80's RCA camcorder. Worked great

If the outer part is rubber on a plastic wheel I've taken the rubber off and wrapped some sewing thread in the groove to fatten up the diameter and slipped the rubber tire back on. Works OK if you're in a bind. I think the last one I done this to was a Quasar (Panasonic) top loader circa 1983. FF / RWD idler wheel.