1979 Zenith "Video Director" Beta VCR Doesn't Play

[ESigma25]

I got this enormous Zenith "Video Director" Beta VCR from 1979, model number is VR9000W. It threads tapes really well and the belts are in good shape but for some reason it just will not play. It will make kind of a solenoid click sound and push out a tape guide but then immediately click again and move the tape guide back in, and I don't know why. Could it be a dirty mechanical sensor inside, maybe?

Here's some pics of the unit:

https://i.imgur.com/nbTCQY9.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/UDMT3W6.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vEvYOgv.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aJHJPoT.jpg