Servicing a Canon VR-HF600

[AUdubon5425]

The VCR in the den died today - it's a Philips VR660 from 2000. It acts like it isn't recognizing the tape after it loads. Well, c'est la vie, I was told it was one of those machines that NAP didn't even offer parts or service literature on.

So I dug out the Canon VR-HF600, which has been in storage since I bought it a few years ago. I got it to play a tape, but it seems like the grease is tacky or dried up and hanging up some of the mechanism, especially the one that loads the tape - I have to turn the motor by hand to fully eject a cassette.

Now this is quite a fundamental machine. I have never done anything with a VCR beyond cleaning the tape path & heads or changing a very accessible belt or two.

I need some guidance on what to lubricate, what to watch out for, etc. I would like to change the belts since this is going into regular service again - Studio Sound lists a kit that rates "uber hard" on their difficulty scale

Also I'm interested in a service manual if anyone has one for sale or to lend.

Ryan