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Old 11-08-2014, 05:15 PM
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maxhifi maxhifi is offline
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Unusual way to repair a VCR

Have a hitachi VCR from the 80s, and recently picked up three video tapes for a dollar at goodwill. Wouldn't take the tape in, wouldn't eject wouldnt do much of anything - oh no! Long story short it's a bad belt. Remembered a tip I heard years ago... Pulled a new condom out of its wrapper and unrolled it most of the way, cut the long part off and stretched the remaining circle into place where the belt was. What do you know it works like a charm, VCR works perfectly and it's not even too tight. Can't vouch for quality of the repair long term but I can watch a few movies now!
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Old 11-08-2014, 09:41 PM
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.....protected from STDs and SBD (sudden belt death)
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Old 11-08-2014, 09:58 PM
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Yeah it sounded more like an urban legend than a legitimate good idea when I read about it, but I don't keep a stock of drive belts and really wanted to make the VCR play... A rubber band didn't work so I decided to try the unconventional
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Old 11-09-2014, 12:47 AM
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Never woulda guessed that ya can cure a Phucked up VCR with a condom.

My kludges are a bit more business like usually involving rubber bands.

Gonna have to try 'safe VCR repair' real soon.
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Old 11-09-2014, 01:03 PM
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Reminds me of going to the hardware stores and using O rings for belts and idler tires...

SR
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Old 11-09-2014, 05:46 PM
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I've tried that one too.
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Old 11-10-2014, 07:36 AM
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Love it!! Will keep in mind
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Old 11-10-2014, 08:57 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maxhifi View Post
Have a hitachi VCR from the 80s, and recently picked up three video tapes for a dollar at goodwill. Wouldn't take the tape in, wouldn't eject wouldnt do much of anything - oh no! Long story short it's a bad belt. Remembered a tip I heard years ago... Pulled a new condom out of its wrapper and unrolled it most of the way, cut the long part off and stretched the remaining circle into place where the belt was. What do you know it works like a charm, VCR works perfectly and it's not even too tight. Can't vouch for quality of the repair long term but I can watch a few movies now!
Now it'll only work with "X" rated movies.
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Old 11-10-2014, 09:16 AM
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Update: Entertaining yes, long lasting no. 2/3 of the way though the third movie, the VCR malfunctioned and shut down. Looks like a "real" drive belt is in my (and the hitachi's future)

Now I have my eyes open for a "top loader" VCR (the hitachi is a front loading hi-fi unit, nice enough but not too charming) i think it will be a challenge to get my hands on one, I feel bad that the two I used to own have slipped through my hands.
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