Just picked up a Panasonic PV-1730 Hi-Fi VCR

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

OK so I got a chance to plug in and power on the VCR and unfortunately its not working, when you go to power it on, it attempts to go through the power-up sequence but then it gets stuck at the part where it attempts to test the takeup reel motors and only the left takeup reel motor does anything the right takeup reel doesn't do anything, its just "dead".

Do you have a dummy test tape to put in it? A tape shell minus the tape and innards? So you can run it through its paces without ruining a tape.You're finding out about the complexity of those machines.

With all of this in mind what might be wrong with this VCR and can it be repaired easily?

Without a service manual to check voltages and signals it will be difficult. Could be a reel drive IC. First thing needed is to check all power supply output voltages.

I have some photos I'll upload as soon as my google photos account starts to cooperate again, because right now its not loading correctly for some weird reason.

Why bother with Google? Just upload the images to the Videokarma website.